Unlocking the Potential of Data for Decision Making in International Development

Abstract

Crucial to the effective implementation of science, technology, and innovation (STI) strategies to achieve progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals is the need for data on research to facilitate enhanced coordination on the part of research funders to identify gaps, areas for collaboration, and avoid duplication. STI has a limitless potential to transform lives – particularly in the face of the grand challenges (such as those relating to global health, climate change, and food security) that disproportionately impact the lives of those in low- and middle-income countries. Against the backdrop of increasing budgetary constraints, the role of reliable data in effective decision making and allocation of finite resources to fund STI activities cannot be understated.

The UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) is an example of such an organisation working in direct response to this call by amplifying the value and impact of international development research by promoting coherence, collaboration, and joint action among UK research funders. This is done by through convening for collaboration and joint action; sharing information, learning, and best practice; being a collective voice to shape policy; and, crucially to the theme of the Science Summit at UNGA79, data mapping, analysis, and foresight. From this data work, it is clear that challenges continue to persist – both within the UK and internationally, that inhibit the true potential of data mapping and analysis activities to identify trends and guide funding on research designed to address global challenges and progress the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These include the lack of regularly updated statistics, incomplete data on funding flows, and barriers to accessing/sharing data.

For this session, UKCDR is proposing to underline the importance of data, what can be done to support evidence-informed decision making, and how support can be broadened out to the wider ecosystem. As part of this, a diverse panel comprising of members from both high-income and low- and middle-income countries would be convened to showcase how research funders have successfully used data products to influence funding decisions to address global challenges, how the landscape of and interactions with this type of grants data has evolved over time, the challenges faced by organisations in the provision of data for decision making, and opportunities in the face of technological advancements to support progress towards the SDGs.

Speakers

Naser Faruqui (panel moderator), Director, Education and Science at International Development Centre, Canada

Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health and Social Care, United Kingdom

Nokuthula Mchunu, Deputy Director, African Open Science Platform, National Research Foundation,South Africa

Ida Mc Donnell, Head of Development Co-operation research unit, OECD

Johann Mouton, Director of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Scientometrics and STI Policy; Professor, Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University

Agenda

[TBC]