Open Data for SDGs Spurs Inclusive Development

Open Data for the SDGs: A Collaborative Journey Towards Inclusive Development

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The journey of open data began as a movement to enhance transparency, accountability, and public engagement. It has since evolved into a potent catalyst for sustainable development, with governments, organizations, and individuals increasingly recognizing its potential. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda marked a significant turning point, propelling countries to embrace data—and open data—as a means to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Advancing Open Data Progress Worldwide

The world has witnessed substantial growth in data openness since the start of the SDGs. According to the Open Data Inventory, from 2016 to 2022, the median score of data openness among 165 countries rose from 38 to 57.

Since the start of the SDGs, more countries are publishing data in open formats than ever; NSOs are moving proprietary publications and PDFs to machine readable spreadsheets as well as publishing more data through data portals.

There has also been a pronounced upward trajectory in the enhancement of environmental official statistics across countries. Notably, this trend holds immense significance, especially in the context of the urgent need for open data to drive effective climate action. In fact, energy and resource use data have demonstrated the largest improvements not only in the environmental category but also across others such as the economy and social realms.

Take Chile for example where the open data has been applied to the environment sector. The country’s open data portal publishes 89 datasets in open format, including laws, meteorological data, environmental impact statements, among others. As additional resources, the portal contains outstanding initiatives in which data visualizations focused on a particular topic are published. Such is the case of the “Open Energy” portal. There are also visualizations and other efforts by the government to facilitate information. The Ministry of Environment’s active transparency portal contains information and visualizations on the evolution of air quality, measurements of atmospheric emissions and the monitoring of meteorological variables, among other aspects.

In addition to environment data, gender data has made notable progress, with a 58 percent increase in overall scores as per the ODIN Gender Data Index since the start of the SDGs. In comparison, non-gender data has seen a 30 percent increase. However, it’s worth noting that despite these gains, gender data scores still lag behind non-gender data in 2022.

While the progress for open data for official statistics  is commendable, the current score of 57 out of 100 for data openness underscores the need for sustained efforts to enhance data openness further.

While most of the responsibility for data accessible for the SDGs rests with national statistical offices (NSOs), the journey is a collective endeavor that involves collaboration—between different government entities within the country and among different sectoral partners outside the country.

Power of Collaboration: A Multifaceted Approach to Open Data

One of the essential lessons learned in the journey of open data is that data governance is not confined to a single office. Effective data governance necessitates collaboration between NSOs, open data teams, and line ministries’ data offices. Regulations that bring together these diverse entities are crucial for realizing the full potential of open data.

The significance of collaboration becomes especially pronounced in the context of SDG reporting. With the SDGs encompassing diverse themes overseen by numerous public offices, a harmonized effort is imperative. NSOs, acting as data creators and collectors, play a central role in SDG reporting. However, the positive correlation between collaboration among open data teams and line ministries and the enhancement of SDG reporting capabilities highlights the importance of unified efforts.

Via implementations of the different thematic Open Up Guides (anti corruption, climate change, care economy) the Open Data Charter has found that collaborations within governments are as critical as backend platforms that allow it technically.

The case of Uruguay is a good example of collaboration and positive synergy to ensure climate information is available in open formats. The Ministry of Environment has worked together with the data area of AGESIC (The Agencia de Gobierno Electrónico y Sociedad de la Información y del Conocimiento) , implementing the Open Data Charter’s Open Up Guide to Advance Climate Action, to make information related to climate change action available in open format. Not only were 30 new datasets opened in the climate change data catalog, but also the reuse of this data was promoted through two Open Data Challenges for Climate Action where organizations, students, activists and others presented projects based on the data published by the Ministry of Environment, working collaboratively on solutions to public challenges. In addition, the government has generated the “Nationally Determined Contribution progress visualizer and other related indicators“, thanks to the opening of data, where citizens can consult the objectives and degrees of progress. This tool is also used by the public administration itself to monitor progress and generate evidence-based public policies.

Despite concerted efforts such as in Uruguay, challenges persist in enhancing the coordination capacity of NSOs. Findings from a 2021 survey assessing the implementation of the Cape Town Global Action Plan for Sustainable Development Data underscore this reality. Notably, approximately 53 percent of NSOs expressed dissatisfaction with their coordination roles. These findings highlight a clear need for increased support and strategic interventions to strengthen NSOs’ coordination effectiveness, enabling them to play a more cohesive and impactful role within the statistical landscape.

Towards the Future: Open Data’s Expansive Horizon

In the realm of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and digitalization and increasing complex global challenges, open data plays a pivotal role. It underpins innovation and informed decision-making, driving the transformative potential of new technologies. Yet, as these advancements reshape industries and societies, collaboration becomes even more critical. The complex landscape calls for concerted efforts that bridge sectors and expertise, addressing challenges and ensuring ethical and effective use of open data.

From transparency and accountability to driving sustainable development, open data’s evolution has mirrored the collective aspiration to build a better world. As the SDGs approach their midpoint, the SDG Summit acts as a pivotal juncture for reflection, collaboration, and envisioning the open data landscape’s future. The path forward lies in collaborative partnerships such as those with Open Data Watch and Open Data Charter to help harness data’s potential to create a world that is inclusive, sustainable, and equitable.

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