Open Data Watch is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization that works at the intersection of open data and official statistics. It monitors the accessibility and comprehensiveness of official data in over 180 countries and provides practical information and assistance in implementing open data policies and systems. The Open Data Watch team has unparalleled experience in development data and is committed to making open data a global reality in support of Sustainable Development Goals.

October 2019

October saw meetings all over the world reinforce support for data-driven solutions and strong statistical capacity. PARIS21 and UN Women acted to strengthen national statistical systems and produce quality gender statistics. Palestine held a Data Festival to promote creative initiatives to improve decision making. An SDSN TReNDS event looked at how cities measure SDGs…

Data Deprivation: Progress Has Stalled

At a moment when everyone talks about gushing big data, it may seem contrarian to say the world is short of data. But a look at NSO websites or the database of SDG indicators shows many gaps. The median coverage score of the 178 countries in ODIN is only 44 percent. This blog moves from general to specific, looking at data crucial to monitoring the first SDG goal: eradicating poverty.

September 2019

September was a busy month for the development data community. Held in New York City, the UN General Assembly (UNGA 74) brought together stakeholders, politicians, donors, and statisticians to discuss topics such as data interoperability, civil registration and vital statistics, and financing for data.

Counting on the World to Act

Counting on the World to Act, published by SDSN TReNDS, is an exceptional data report covering some specific areas of data governance that have been missing from the conversation so far, including discussion of amended laws, new data officers, the digital ecosystem, and the case for investment.