IGF 2020 WS #247 ICTs, SDGs, and Existing Data Gaps for Measuring Progress

Information

Session

Thematic Track:

Topic(s):

Organizer 1: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Speaker 1: Lorrayne Porciuncula, Intergovernmental Organization, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2: Antonio Garcia Zabellos, Intergovernmental Organization, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Christopher Yoo, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Format:

Round Table - U-shape - 90 Min

Description:

Description: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are targets for global development set to be achieved by 2030. However, these SDGs appear to be heading for a similar fate as the Millennial Development Goals. Thus, with only 10 years left to achieve these goals, it appears that most countries are not on track to achieve the targets. Parallel to this, developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) suggest opportunities to accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs. Over the past several years we have seen a surge in initiatives and organizations dedicated to advancing ICT-based services for sectors like education, healthcare, financial services, and agriculture. However, the successful integration of ICTs to enable sustainable development requires a deep understanding of their impact. Furthermore, interventions, including ICT-based services, need to be evidence-driven. Without timely, relevant, and disaggregated data, policymakers and practitioners will be less capable of developing informed interventions. However, data gathering mechanisms have been poor at local and governance levels resulting in significant data gaps. Therefore, with limited time left to meet the SDGs, it is imperative that we focus on building robust, inclusive, and relevant local and national data systems to support the curation and promotion of data for sustainable development. This panel will serve as an opportunity to discuss a roadmap for a broad set of actors to address data gaps for sustainable development in consideration of institutional arrangements, roles and responsibilities, and incentives. The panelists, drawn from different stakeholder groups, including academics, statisticians, policy makers, mobile network operators, and the private sector, will share current practices, reflecting upon the past couple years of progress and setbacks, and develop tentative recommendations on future best practices. The panelists will provide practical strategies to overcome the existing setbacks and highlight successful country and local-level practices. This panel underscores the need for better information to assess progress, make real-time course corrections, and aims to lay out an action plan for multiple stakeholders to kick-start the kind of systemic change that we need. Outline: The moderator will open the session by welcoming the participants, introducing the topic and the speakers. Then he will present the findings on data gaps based on the analysis of 120 case studies of ICT-based connectivity initiatives in various areas including digital skills, women empowerment, health, and economic growth, raising questions and issues for discussion (15 minutes) Then each of the four speaker will share their views on the topic, reflecting on existing trends, data gaps, and action steps. The moderator will keep an eye to the audience for comments and questions for the speakers at any point. (40 minutes) Right after the discussion with panelists, the moderator will engage the audience to get their questions and comments on the discussion (15 minutes) The moderator will then identify the overarching themes from the discussion with panelists and audience and ask the panelists about their take-aways and roadmap to address these issues. (10 minutes） Finally, the moderator will wrap up the discussion by summarizing the key points, policy and institutional guidelines on data governance, and best practices (10 minutes)

Issues:

Challenges: Lack of impact indicators of ICT-based interventions in achieving SDGs Data gaps Data quality Data timeliness Measuring the progress towards SDGs Opportunities: Innovative institutional arrangements Roles and responsibilities Incentives Policy

Policy Question(s):

● What are the main challenges in the production of quality, timely data, and an effective and inclusive national data system? ● How should collaboration among a broad set of actors occur across all stages of the data process? ● What work needs to be done to fully implement and monitor the SDGs? ● What is the role of incentives in data governance at the local and national levels? ● What should be the roles and responsibilities for individuals in producing quality and timely data?

Expected Outcomes:

There are three main expected outcomes of this session. First, to present key issues on the role of ICTs in facilitating SDGs and existing data gaps for measuring progress. Second, to explore the role of institutional arrangements, roles and responsibilities, and incentives at the local, national, and international levels. Third, to develop an action plan on data governance principles and guidelines and policy suggestions.

Relevance to Internet Governance: Sustainable development is the main focus of internet governance, and there are data gaps and lack of adequate coordination in the course of data production to ensure sustainable development. Lack of timely, quality data is still a great challenge. The data challenge includes data quality, timeliness, data sharing and those issues are not only at the local scale, but also at the regional and global scales; and this requires coordination collaboration of multiple-stakeholders. All these issues require deep understanding and discussion in the context of internet governance. In order to recognize data challenges to ensure sustainable development, address the issues more efficiently, and find out effective solutions, a common understanding of data governance should take place now.

Relevance to Theme: Data access, quality, interoperability, competition & innovation In 2015, countries agreed on adoption of a new sustainable development agenda to achieve by 2030. ICTs can play an important role to promote economic growth and the well-being of the citizens, and thereby achieving SDGs. We need better data governance systems to track the role of ICTs and to develop the knowledge for responding effectively to the risks and opportunities of society and economy development. The best practices on production of timely and quality data and the coordinated actions between communities, countries, and international governance platforms will play important roles in enhancing joint efforts and achieving SDGs.

Discussion Facilitation:

The discussion will be facilitated by the Onsite Moderator who will guide the panel in each of the proposed interventions for the workshop as well as during the Q&A and comments session. All experts and audience will make comments and raise questions in regards to the speeches presented, guided by the moderator.

Online Participation:

Usage of IGF Official Tool.

SDGs:

GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-Being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 5: Gender Equality
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals