Ministerial fireside chat 5: Investing in data to accelerate development

Investment in data pays off, with an estimated average return of $32 for every $1 invested in strengthening data systems in developing countries. Countries have made significant strides in improving their national statistical systems and political momentum is growing for measuring and monitoring progress in sustainable development using metrics that go beyond GDP. However, investment remains insufficient, resulting in gaps in the availability and use of high quality and disaggregated data and statistics. Major gaps and a lack of progress are notable in key priority areas such as gender, climate change and governance.

This session will explore what is needed to enhance disaggregated data, accessibility and innovative data sources to inform evidence-based decision making for sustainable development.

Framing questions:

• What approaches can accelerate progress in priority areas where sustainable development data gaps remain significant, such as gender, climate change, and governance?
• What are the most effective strategies for integrating non-traditional data sources, citizen-generated data and remote sensing, into national statistical systems?
• What governance frameworks are needed to ensure data quality, transparency, and ethical use?

Chair: ECOSOC President/Vice-President

Moderator: Ms. Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London

• H.E. Mr. Seedy Kaita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Gambia
• H.E. Ms. María Luisa Ramírez Coronado, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guatemala
• H.E. Mr. Dehpue Yenpea Zuo, Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Ministry of Finance, Liberia

Discussant: H.E. Ms. Dana Emad Hamza, Assistant Undersecretary for Sustainable Development,  Ministry of Sustainable Development, Bahrain

Civil society response from the floor (2 minutes)

Ministerial interactive discussion