Concept

The Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative follows the Road to Bern, an initiative of the Swiss Confederation that aimed to prepare discussions before the 3rd UN World Data Forum 2021 in Bern and to engage the public in the 2030 Agenda (more information here). Over one and a half years, conferences, debates and activities with the general public created a momentum within the data and statistical community that the Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative will seek to maintain and expand. As such, it has two aims:

1. Expand the data and statistics dialogue

Partnerships are necessary to build more robust data ecosystems that provide support for evidence-based decision-making and make it possible to respond adequately to crises. The integration of the private sector, policy makers, academia and civil society in the data dialogue is key to broadening data literacy and a fact-based worldview.

2. Deepen knowledge

Bringing together people from various fields will allow the provision of new inputs and ideas into the discussions and achieve fast progress in data and statistical fields. Synergies, innovative practices, alternative methods and data sources will be explored to strengthen the data ecosystem and provide new information for the 2030 Agenda.

How?

The Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative consists of various thematic workstreams that can evolve across time, bringing stakeholders together to make progress on a specific topic at the occasion of events and conferences. The UN World Data Forums, providing a platform to bridge the gap between data users and data producers, will be milestones where results will be presented. Other conferences such as the World Statistics Congress, side-events at the UN Statistical Commission, the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development or the World Health Assembly will provide additional platforms for dialogue and bring political players and civil society to the table.

Finally, the Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative also aims to create communication materials, such as videos or publications, in order to present its work to a larger audience.

Key messages

Through its activities, the Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative wishes to put the spotlight on data and statistics by passing on the following messages:

1. Data and statistics provide a reliable, independent, coherent and transparent basis for sound political decision-making and support the democratic debate.

Data and statistics are used to assess a situation and the policies implemented to achieve the goals. They provide information that can be compared and help to identify the most effective policies and support opinion formation and decision-making. They increase accountability and support democratic debate.

The Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative workstreams are driven by this message and aim to strengthen data and statistical systems to fortify the information base for decision-making.

2. Data and statistics simplify the communication of complex issues and facilitate understanding.

Data storytelling explains complex phenomena and topics in a compelling manner. Data and statistics provide concrete examples to illustrate, for instance the issues surrounding the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Data Literacy workstream is the cornerstone of this message.

3. Partnerships beyond the data and statistical communities are essential for robust data and statistical systems that support development processes and decision-making.

In order to take advantage of existing data, including new sources, partnerships with the private sector, academia, civil society and all other data producers and users should be strengthened. Close cooperation will strengthen the global data and statistics ecosystem, facilitating decision-making.

This message ties in with the first goal of the Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative, which is expanded on in each of the workstreams.

4. Statistical and administrative data sources are complemented by other data sources, which can address existing challenges and help seize new opportunities.

With the development of new technologies, new data sources have become available. These can be used to fill data gaps, develop new models and explore new methods.

The Data Science workstream focuses in particular on the exploration of these new data. However, more traditional areas are also looking for new data sources, such as health data which is completed by geospatial data to improve the provision of services.

5. Switzerland is committed to sharing its expertise and know-how in data and official statistics and to actively participating in the development of these areas.

As a continuation of the Road to Bern project, the Swiss Confederation has launched the Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative and is committed to sharing its experience in the field of data and statistics, underlining its dedication to strengthening the global data system.

Switzerland will contribute to each of the workstreams set up by the Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative.