Power of Data : Unlocking the Data Dividend for the SDGs
A Letter to Governments from Civil Society and Data for Development Leaders
In support of the Power of Data High Impact Initiative, ODW joined a large group of leading data for development and civil society organizations in signing a letter to world leaders, calling on them to harness the power of data and unlock the data dividend for the Sustainable Development Goals.
The letter was referenced in the High Impact Initiative, ‘Power of Data : Unlocking the Data Dividend for the SGDs,’ at the SDG Summit on 17 September 2023. It is being sent to key ministers in UN Member States and will likely be used beyond the SDG Summit as part of ongoing engagement with Member States.
.Dear World Leaders,
Data is the fuel that powers progress across all the Sustainable Development Goals. Stronger data systems will revolutionize decision making, accelerate countries’ digital transformation agendas, and open up new economic opportunities, for a more equal and sustainable world.
As the world confronts increasingly unpredictable climate, security, and health challenges, now more than ever the power of data needs to be harnessed where it is most needed. We – as organizations that champion the role of data in creating a fairer, more inclusive and democratic future – call on you to commit to the following :
- Demonstrate political leadership for new national data partnerships, bringing together public and private stakeholders to drive timely, ethical and efficient data use and accelerating progress on the SDGs.
- Commit to more and better investment in data systems adopting a transparent and strategic approach to financing data and statistical systems.
- Demonstrate progress by securing commitments to raise the percentage of available SDG data in countries to 90% by 2027
By coming together to create transformational national data partnerships, we will unlock a powerful data dividend with a $32 return for every $1 invested. With strong data systems, we can achieve significant progress towards the SDGs and build a global community that is resilient, accountable, and sustainable. The time to unlock the data dividend is now. We hope to count on your support.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Claire Melamed, CEO, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
Shaida Badiee, Managing Director and Co-founder, Open Data Watch
Daniel Castro, Director, Center for Data Innovation
Joanna Pradela, Director, Equality Insights and Knowledge Translation, International Women’s Development Agency
Joshua Powell, CEO, Development Gateway: An IREX Venture
Krista Baptista, Executive Director, Data2X
Aidan Eyakuze, Executive Director, Twaweza East Africa
Nathalie Delapalme, CEO, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Patrick Watt, CEO, Christian Aid
Danil Mikhailov, Executive Director, data.org
Dr Renuka Thakore, Founder and CEO, Global Sustainable Futures Progress through Partnerships Network
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter FRS OBE, Emeritus Professor of Statistics, University of Cambridge
Adrian Lovett, CEO, Development Initiatives
Tcharbuahbokengo Nfinn, Director General, Federation of Environmental and Ecological Diversity for Agricultural Revampment and Human Rights (FEEDAR & HR), Cameroon
Johannes Jütting, Executive Head, PARIS21
Gwen Hines, SCUK Chief Executive, Save the Children
Asikaralu Okafor, Executive Director, Village Farmers Initiative, (VFI), Nigeria
Andy Tatem, Director, WorldPop
Natalia Carfi, Executive Director, Open Data Charter
Lysa John, Secretary General, CIVICUS
Louise Burke, CEO, The Open Data Institute
Shamira Ahmed, Executive Director, Data Economy Policy Hub (DepHUB)
Tom de Vries, CEO, Akvo
Francis Beland , Executive Director, OASIS Open
Mark Sanderson, CEO, World Wide Web Foundation
Al Kags, Founder, Executive Director, Open Institute
Philipp Schönrock, Executive Director, Cepei
Marianne Haslegrave, Director, Commonwealth Medical Trust (Commat)
Florence Syevuo, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Kenya Forum
Richard Muraya, Founder, The Demography Project, Kenya
Helmi Zakariah, Executive Director, SELANGKAH. Selangor Public Health Advisory Council, Malaysia
Khaled Mohammed Al-Babeli, Executive Director, Soul for Development, Yemen
Fridah Githuku, Executive Director, Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in Sisterhood (GROOTS Kenya)
Josefina Almeda, Executive Director, Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute
Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Director, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Atta ul Haq Khaderzai, CEO, Youth Association for Development (YAD), Pakistan
To add the name of your organization’s senior representative, please contact: fedgina@data4sdgs.org.
