Open Data Watch

World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2025
2025-04-25 - 2025-04-27 | Washington, DC
The 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will take place from April 21 to 26 in Washington, D.C. Key events will include the Development Committee Meeting, the International Monetary and Financial Committee, and events and fora focused on international development, the global economy, and financial markets.

WHO Workshop: How the health sector accelerated improvements in CRVS
2025-04-23 - 2025-04-25 | Chonburi, Thailand
The World Health Organization is hosting a regional workshop in Thailand from April 23–25, 2025, on Getting Everyone in the Picture – How the Health Sector Accelerated Improvements in Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) (2015–2024). Participation is by invitation only.

Southern Perspectives: DPI and Open Data as Public Goods
2025-04-09 09:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | Hybrid
As global discussions advance on the Global Digital Compact, experts will examine how DPI can bridge digital divides, promote data sovereignty, and ensure inclusive, sustainable digital ecosystems—particularly in the Global South. Organized by D4D.net and the Caribbean DPI Summit, this hybrid (virtual and in-person) event will feature policymakers, researchers, and civil society leaders shaping the future of digital governance. The event is part of the Caribbean DPI Summit in Kingston, Jamaica.

11th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
2025-04-09 - 2025-04-11 | Kampala, Uganda
The theme of this year’s ARFSD is “Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.” The event, organized by UNECA and the Government of Uganda in partnership with other organizations, will focus on assessing progress, sharing knowledge, and promoting policy solutions to support the 2030 Agenda in line with regional priorities.
ARFSD report and Chair’s summary will be submitted to ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

3rd Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean
2025-04-07 - 2025-04-10 | Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Third Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean is scheduled to be held in Saint Kitts and Nevis from April 7 to 10, 2025. More details will be published soon on ECLAC’s website.

UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development 2025
2025-04-02 - 2025-04-03 | Geneva, Switzerland
This forum aims to highlight the importance of inclusive and evidence-based policy solutions while integrating regional perspectives into global processes. The focus will be on reviewing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Some of the activities include: a High-level Policy Segment centered on science- and evidence-driven policy solutions, alongside peer learning roundtables focused on the SDGs under review.

Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025
2025-04-02 - 2025-04-03 | Berlin, Germany
The third Global Disability Summit (GDS) will be co-hosted by the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Governments of Germany and Jordan. This event will build on the successes of previous summits, driving international cooperation to advance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Bringing together governments, multilateral agencies, businesses, academia, civil society organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, and foundations, the Summit aims to amplify global efforts toward disability-inclusive development. Participants are encouraged to submit actionable commitments, with standout pledges featured on stage.
In-person and virtual attendance options are available.

Webinar - Reaching the unreached: Placing key services where they're needed most
2025-04-01 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
Flowminder is hosting a seminar on how to leverage geospatial data to optimize service locations. The session will explore how data-driven insights can help prioritize areas for interventions, whether for vaccination sites, schools, or polling stations—maximizing impact with limited resources. Participants will gain an understanding of key factors affecting resource allocation and Flowminder’s approach to location optimization at national and local levels.

Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development 2025
2025-03-31 - 2025-04-04 | Santiago, Chile
The Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development serves as a regional platform to track progress, share experiences, and strengthen commitments toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. Organized by CEPAL/ECLAC, the Forum brings together governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, academia, and other stakeholders.
Discussions focus on regional challenges, opportunities, and collaborative strategies to advance sustainable development across Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly around SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 14 (life below water), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals).

UNGA Informal Interactive Dialogue 1: The Pact for the Future — Means of Implementation
2025-03-26 | New York City, NY USA
This dialogue will explore how Member States can create an enabling environment at the national and international levels to implement the commitments of the Pact for the Future. It will address implementation challenges and solutions, including through mobilizing financial resources, technology transfer, partnerships, and capacity building.

Open Data Week 2025
2025-03-22 - 2025-03-30 | New York City, NY USA
Open Data Week 2025 celebrates New York City’s open data with a series of in-person and virtual events. Organized by the NYC Open Data Team, BetaNYC, and Data Through Design, the festival kicks off with an art exhibition that creatively interprets open data. Throughout the week, participants can attend workshops, panels, and interactive sessions to explore how municipal data can be used to address urban challenges. The event wraps up with a conference at CUNY School of Law, offering in-depth discussions on how data can be leveraged to improve city life.

CSW69 - Empowering each other for gender data transformation: Advancing collaboration and civil society engagement in official data processes
2025-03-20 08:00 - 09:30 | Virtual
This is a side-event at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women. Register here.

NGO CSW Forum - From recommendations to reality: A new tool to track CEDAW’s impact
2025-03-20 02:30 - 16:00 | New York City, NY USA
This event will introduce a new tool designed to support the CEDAW Committee, civil society organizations (CSOs), and women’s health and rights researchers in advancing the implementation of women’s rights recommendations. By providing valuable data, insights, and strategic actions, the tool aims to enhance transparent government reporting and foster greater accountability in the CEDAW process. Partners in the event will explore how this tool can support effective monitoring and progress toward women’s rights globally.

NGO CSW Forum - Operationalizing Intersectionality Across the Data Value Chain
2025-03-12 12:30 - 14:00 | New York City, NY USA
Join the in-person session at the NGO CSW69 Forum, hosted by Open Data Watch, Data2X, and the Center for Global Development, to explore how intersectionality can shape policies that work for everyone. This session will focus on how understanding the overlapping dimensions of a person’s identity can help design more inclusive data systems.
The session will feature data experts and practitioners sharing case studies and strategies for applying intersectionality to data collection, publication, and uptake. Attendees will gain practical insights into how inclusive data systems can lead to more equitable policies and meaningful change.
Event Location: Salvation Army (221 E. 52nd St. – New York).
Register here.

CSW69 - From Numbers to Narratives: Unlocking the power of Gender Data through Data storytelling and Visualization
2025-03-12 10:15 - 11:15 | New York City, NY USA
This is a side-event at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). Register here.

United Nations Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) 2025
2025-03-12 - 2025-03-13 | New York City, NY USA
The Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) is a United Nations platform that brings together multiple stakeholders to evaluate trends and progress in international development cooperation. The DCF happens biannually, focusing on strengthening the strategic role of development cooperation, enhancing effectiveness through partnerships, and fostering South-South and triangular cooperation to drive global progress towards the SDGs.

NGO CSW Forum - Advancing data for synergies between gender, climate and environment
2025-03-11 08:30 - 10:00 | Virtual
This event will emphasize the need for improved data practices to address challenges in implementing the Beijing Declaration 30 years later. It will focus on a “whole-of-society” data approach, integrating contributions from diverse actors, and exploring synergies between gender, climate, and the environment. Supported by 24 NGOs, the event will highlight best practices and propose actions to bridge the data gap on the gender-environment-climate nexus.

NGO CSW Forum – The iCount Coalition: Shaping data futures that centre individuals
2025-03-11 04:30 - 18:00 | New York City, NY USA
This parallel event is part of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) NGO Forum, and it is organized by the iCount Coalition.
Participants will join experts, advocates and decision-makers to discuss how to build a more inclusive development data framework that supports and accelerates progress towards equality and the Agenda 2030.

NGO CSW Forum - Empowering Voices: Leveraging Citizen Data for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
2025-03-10 18:30 - 20:00 | New York City, NY USA
This event explores the transformative power of citizen data in advancing gender equality and social inclusion, aligning with the goals of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). By engaging communities to contribute data on issues such as women’s rights, LGBTQI experiences, and climate impacts, we can illuminate unique, often underrepresented perspectives. Through panel discussions and case studies, the event will showcase how citizen data empowers communities, fosters gender equality, and strengthens accountability for sustainable development.

69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
2025-03-10 - 2025-03-21 | New York City, NY USA
From March 10 to 21, 2025, the UN Commission on the Status of Women will convene its 69th session, focusing on the priority theme of reviewing and assessing the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, along with the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly.

UNSC Side Event – Connecting the world of statistics and public finance for better financing for development
2025-03-05 13:15 - 14:30 | New York City, NY USA
This side event at the United Nations Statistics Commission brings together heads of national statistical offices (NSOs) and delegates to the Financing for Development (FfD) process to explore the critical role of robust official statistics in shaping effective financing strategies for sustainable development.
Participants will explore success stories and innovations demonstrating how collaboration between NSOs and government ministries has strengthened advocacy for data and statistics at both national and international levels. The discussion will also highlight how investments in data systems have created new opportunities for achieving development goals.
Panelists:

Miosotis Rivas Peña (Dominican Republic)

Piedad Urdinola (Colombia)

Aishath Shahuda (Maldives)

Toril Iren-Pedersen (Norad)

Vibeke Nielsen (UNSD)

Francesca Perucci (ODW)

Southern perspectives: measuring data for the public good
2025-03-05 09:30 - 10:30 | Virtual
The D4D Network is hosting a webinar to discuss the application of global and regional measurement tools that assess the use and impact of data for good. This webinar aims to provide insights on improving progress assessment in using data for good by fostering collaboration among tool producers and optimizing measurement initiatives.

UNSC Side Event – Lessons learnt after 5 UNWDF for charting the journey from Medellin 2024 to Riyadh 2026
2025-03-05 01:30 - 14:30 | New York City, NY USA
This is a side event at the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC 56) organized by DANE and UNSD. The panel will explore key lessons from five UN World Data Forums, assess which priorities should be sustained or newly adopted, and discuss strategies for expanding outreach to ensure full community representation and engagement.

World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025
2025-03-05 - 2025-03-07 | New Delhi, India
Organized annually by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the WSDS is a leading global event dedicated to advancing sustainable development and climate solutions. Since 2001, the Summit has united thought leaders, policymakers, youth, businesses, and civil society to drive innovation and collaboration on critical environmental challenges. WSDS 2025, themed “Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions,” will address the urgent need for collective action, with the world falling behind on key sustainable development goals.

UNSC Side Event – Equity in Focus: Advancing the Leave No One Behind Commitment in SDG Reporting
2025-03-04 13:15 - 14:30 | New York City, NY USA
This is a side event at the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC 56) organized by UNICEF.

UNSC Side Event – The role of the NSO in combatting Misinformation/Disinformation
2025-03-04 08:30 - 10:00 | New York City, NY USA
This is a side-event at the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC 56) organized by Statistics Canada.

AI in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges, Strategies, and Governance for Regional Development
2025-03-04 - 2025-03-05 | Santiago, Chile
This event will examine the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in addressing development challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean. Bringing together experts, policymakers, and private sector leaders, it will explore strategies for responsible AI governance, effective regulation, and applications in critical areas like education, health, transparency, and sustainable development.
The event will be in Spanish.

UNSC Side Event – Partnership for Impact: NSOs and the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data
2025-03-03 18:15 - 20:00 | New York City, NY USA
This UN Statistical Commission side event hosted by the Collaborative on Citizen Data will discuss the evolving role of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) in integrating citizen data into national data ecosystems. The newly revised Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data will be introduced, providing guidelines on how to create and use citizen data in a sustainable way. Discussions will focus on how NSOs can use citizen data to create greater inclusivity, transparency, and impact while navigating challenges in governance and stewardship.

UNSC Side Event – Time Use for Gender Equality
2025-03-03 13:15 - 14:30 | New York City, NY USA
This hybrid side event at the United Nations Statistical Commission, co-hosted by Data2X, Open Data Watch, UN Statistics Division, and UN Women, will bring together experts and stakeholders working across different aspects of time-use data to explore how these efforts align along the data value chain. The session moderated by Shaida Badiee and Krista Baptista will highlight new research, methodologies, and policy applications, fostering dialogue on how NSOs and other stakeholders can strengthen the collection, analysis, and use of time-use data for better decision-making.
Panelists:
▪️Iliana Vaca-Trigo, United Nations Statistics Division
▪️Mayra Buvinic,Data2X, United Nations Foundation
▪️Dr. Obudho Macdonald, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
▪️Rafael Diez de Medina, Department of Statistics at the International Labour Organization
▪️Papa Seck, UN Women

UNSC Side Event – AI & data quality – a critical intersection for official statistics
2025-03-03 08:30 - 09:30 | Hybrid
This side event organized by PARIS21, OECD, and UNICEF will highlight the critical role of official statistics in maintaining data quality for effective policymaking and sustainable development. This session will explore the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into statistical workflows while identifying best practices and actionable steps for building a robust data ecosystem.
Hybrid event. Register here.
