2020 United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF) Summary

By Brady Press and Ben Kickert

The UN World Data Forum (UNWDF) is the most significant data-focused global development event. Every year our team looks forward to following the conversation. Like many events in 2020, this year’s UNWDF was held virtually, and much of the content was centered on COVID-19. The Forum, which took place from October 19–21st, convened over 5,000 data experts from 100 countries, across various sectors, to explore innovative solutions for better data and to strengthen cooperation on data for sustainable development.

If you attended the event, revisit the event platform for full access to event recordings and information. For a quicker recap, read on for our key themes and links to summary notes for select events covered by SDG Counting.

Major Themes

Unlike other SDG-centric events our team covers, the UNWDF sessions universally discussed current data approaches, challenges, needs and opportunities for advancement. Among the variety of sessions covered, some themes rose to the top as most significant:

• The need for disaggregated data, especially for women, youth and vulnerable populations. Despite improvements in recent years, many indicators and data sources still lack the granularity required to assess and direct development.
• The impact of COVID-19 on data collection protocols. Globally, 9 out of 10 middle/low income countries lack the resources to complete their mandates — a situation complicated by the pandemic. Many methods of data collection, such as household in-person surveys are no longer possible.
• A focus on modeling over counting. The challenges around traditional counting methods have led to an increased reliance on AI and modeling techniques for tracking impact and progress. This has led to new developments/approaches while also surfacing new issues to be addressed. This includes using geospatial data in new ways.
• The role of the private sector in development data. The COVID-19 pandemic forced governments to find and utilize new data sources that could provide timely insights into the response. Corporations in the telecommunication, tech and finance industries have responded through novel partnerships.

In the weeks since the UNWDF concluded, our team has published over 20 session summaries highlighting key takeaways and linking to the original presentation. We have categorized them by topic (some fit multiple thematic areas) and include those links below. For a quick overview of the most important discussions, we recommend watching the opening session.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Safe and Trustworthy AI-Based Data Algorithms — Emerging Best Practices in the Global South and the Global North
• Leveraging Data and AI to Achieve the SDGs: Using Mobile Phone Data to Combat Noncommunicable Diseases While Moving Toward a Global Data Access Framework

Data Privacy

• Balancing Data Use and Data Protection: Learning from African Experiences
• Safe and Trustworthy AI-Based Data Algorithms — Emerging Best Practices in the Global South and the Global North
• Trust, Privacy and Governance During Pandemics and Disasters

Communicating Data

• Data Gems for the Public: Innovative Ways and Best Practices to Communicate Official Statistics
• Telling Stories Using Planetary and Sustainable Development Data: A Workshop for Data Creators and Journalists to Streamline the Pipeline from Data Production to Public Awareness

Data and the SDGs

• Cross Sectoral Digital Cooperation: How the International Geneva Ecosystem Can Bring its Contribution Toward Enhanced Data Integration to Better Achieve the SDGs
• Increasing Open Data Literacy in the Time of Covid-19: An Online Approach to Engaging Students in Corporate Sustainability Research

Geospatial Data

• Use of Geospatial Data to Support COVID-19 Response
• The Impact of Data and its Ability to Affect Change
• Isn’t the World Already Mapped? Mapping 1 Billion People in the World’s Unmapped Places through Machine Learning and Citizen Generated Data

The Private Sector

• Private Sector Innovation for the SDGs: Integrating Non-Commercial Data Resources to Support Pandemic Response and Sustainable Development
• Data for Good: Toward a Sustainable Ecosystem, Beyond Philanthropy
• Increasing Open Data Literacy in the Time of Covid-19: An Online Approach to Engaging Students in Corporate Sustainability Research

Vulnerable Groups

• Leaving No One Behind in Data for COVID-19 and the 2030 Agenda
• Data to Leave No One Behind in the Context of COVID-19: Practical Steps from Benin and Beyond
• Data for a Changing World: Data Use under Covid-19

The Impact of COVID-19 on Data

• Increasing Open Data Literacy in the Time of Covid-19: An Online Approach to Engaging Students in Corporate Sustainability Research
• Leveraging Data Insights for Health Financing Delivery in Low and Middle Income Countries
• Data to Leave No One Behind in the Context of COVID-19: Practical Steps from Benin and Beyond

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