Benefits of Harnessing the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development

In today's global community, it is essential that development organizations use the data they have to drive decision-making, promote mutual accountability and transparency, and ensure that their efforts have a clear and deliberate impact on sustainable development. The Data Collaboratives for Local Impact (DCLI) program was established in 2015 by the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to achieve this goal.

The DCLI program is designed to maximize the effectiveness of foreign assistance and promote data collaboration to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It does this by enhancing policies and programs, driving innovation, optimizing the use of US tax payers' funds and countries' own resources, and increasing transparency, accountability, and results. The program also supports PEPFAR programming, including priorities that result from PEPFAR Sustainability Index Dashboards (SID) and Country Operational Plans (COPs).

As a result, DCLI seeks to improve the capacity of individuals, communities, and organizations to use data to solve problems relating to HIV/AIDS, global health, gender equality, and economic growth. This is achieved by providing training and resources to government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), program implementation partners, and civil society in MCC and PEPFAR partner countries.

The data revolution is creating an abundance of multi-sector, real-time, citizen-generated, georeferenced, and big data. However, it is essential that this data be used effectively to inform policy-making, decisions, and actions. The DCLI program aims to help organizations leverage this new and increasingly complex resource to drive their own goals and priorities for achieving sustainable development.

In conclusion, harnessing the data revolution is crucial for sustainable development. The DCLI program is an excellent example of how data can be used to drive decision-making, promote accountability and transparency, and ensure that efforts have a clear and deliberate impact on sustainable development. By improving the capacity of individuals, communities, and organizations to use data, we can work towards achieving the SDGs and promoting sustainable development worldwide.

Data incubator challenge 2017