One positive outcome derived from the formulation process of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a global consensus for better data in different spheres of life and society. From policymakers to implementing bodies, all have agreed that updated and authentic data are crucial for development planning. That's why, when the leaders of 195 member countries of the United Nations (UN) will formally adopt the SDGs at the end of this month, they will put strong emphasis on quality data. It is also critical to track the progress of the much hyped SDGs in the next 15 years. In fact, the 70th UN General Assembly meeting, to be held on September 25-27 this year, is going to be memorable for the adoption of the SDGs.
DATA DISSEMINATION: Data commonly perceived by most government as 'sacrosanct' are not easily available. The general perception is that easy access to data is not always beneficial to the ruling regimes. The situation, however, is changing, and although the rigidity on data dissemination is being eased over the years, major challenge lies on real-time dissemination. A big portion of released data related with development process is often time-barred. This is due to lesser priority on data collection, construction and compilation. And such policy of lesser priority also impeds improving data collection method with the help of modern technology. Â
There are also some risk factors including misinterpretation of data, as claimed by the public sector, on large-scale data dissemination. Though it is true to some extent, openness in data can not be confined on the plea of misinterpretation, it is the responsibility of the concerned agencies to give explanation or clarification of data for appropriate understanding and interpretation.
GLOBAL MOVE: Several international organisations like Open Data Institute have been working to set up a global rule for opening data. Movements like 'Open by Default' have been pursuing for global collaboration to get wider access to various data. Following the movements and persuasions, in 2013 the G-8 leaders signed an 'open data charter' by committing to make public sector data openly available, without charge and in re-useable formats. This decision is considered a great leap forward to easily accessing data. Later in 2014, the G-20 alliance of largest industrial economies, pledged to advance open data as an instrument to fight against corruption.
Finally in April this year, Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN), the World Bank and UN Foundation organised a side event during the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Spring Meetings in New York. Titled 'The Data Revaluation for Sustainable Development', the event stressed upon qualitative data to facilitate the process of sustainable development. Â
To support the initiative, a research report titled 'The data revolution: Finding the missing millions' was published by London-based Overseas Development Institute in May this year. The report defined data revolution as 'an explosion in the volume of data, the speed with which data are produced, the number of producers of data, the dissemination of data and the range of things on which there are data, coming from new technologies such as mobile phones, internet and from other sources.'
No doubt, 'data revolution' is as ambitious as SDGs and is critically needed in this time. The data revolution process will make people more aware and informed about different socio-economic indicators and geo-political advancements. This will bring transparency in the government policies and functions and widen accountability.
LINKING the SDGs: Experience of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the predecessor of the SDGs, makes it clear that tracking the progress in concrete terms is a difficult task. Lack of appropriate data, delay in data updating and dependency on older and proxy data turn the picture of real achievement hazy. Moreover, policymakers and bureaucrats some time manipulate data to show success of the governments. That's why visible reality doesn't tally with revealed data in many cases of many countries.
Thus, experts and development activists seriously raise the issue of data for better outcome of the SDGs. They also argue that financing plan for the 17 goals divided in 169 targets having 304 indicators of the SDGs must accommodate improvement of data. Responding to the demand, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, adopted in July this year, emphasised upon the data issue as of significant importance.
The third section of the text of the Addis declaration titled 'Data, monitoring and follow-up' draws an outline for the countries to follow. It says: "We call on relevant institutions to strengthen and standardise data on domestic and international resource mobilisation and spending, as well as data on other means of implementation. In this regard, we will welcome proposals on improved statistical indicators for all means of implementation."
BANGLADESH CONTEXT: It is interesting to note that Bangladesh has already entered into the data revolution process thanks to the government's 'Digital Bangladesh' movement. Digitisation of different important activities like online registration of birth, electronic fund transfer across the country, online submission of various forms are few examples. The rapid expansion of mobile phone based activities along with internet already makes the path of data revolution process easier. People are gradually becoming familiar with modern information technology.
A good quantity of statistics and updated information on macroeconomic situation, trading patterns and trends, inflation, agricultural output, food situation, manufacturing output, primary and higher education, nutrition, child mortality and some other social indicators are available online. Effort is underway to strengthen the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BSS). The central bank of the country has developed an open data initiative. Access to Information (a2i) programme under the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has been working to 'provide support in building a digital nation through delivering services at the citizen's doorsteps. The programme aims to 'improve quality, widen access, and decentralise delivery of public services to ensure responsiveness and transparency.' Under the a2i programme, Bangladesh introduced 'e-Purjee' in 2011 which is a SMS-based purchase order that sugar mills all over the country send to sugarcane growers during crushing season. In fact, a2i programme was launched six years back in 2009 when the idea of 'data revolution linkage with development process' was not spread across the world. Digital post or e-post is another important initiative. Bangladesh post office is the pioneer in launching electronic money transfer (EMT) service across the country.
While a series of digital-based services have been introduced, traditional mindset and practices appear as the biggest obstacle to advance data revolution in near future. Besides, due to less priority on improving all kinds of statistics for long, collecting data and preparing diversified statistics with quick update is still not up to the mark. For example, there is no updated statistics on the employment situation in Bangladesh. The latest available Labour Force Survey is for 2010. Although another survey was conducted in 2013, the government yet to release it officially. This kind of backlog and backdated data is seriously hindering development planning.
As Bangladesh is also going to endorse the SDGs, commitment to furnish updated data without any prejudice will be there. Unlike many developing countries, the country has already developed supportive infrastructure. Thus, it is time to remove all the barriers to data revolution. Without this, the journey in next 15 years will not be as fruitful as it should be.
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Data revolution, SDGs and Bangladesh
Asjadul Kibria | Published: September 19, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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