22 September 2014
Data Expert Group Seeking Civil Society, Academic Participants for First Meeting
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The UN Secretary-General's Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development (IEAG) announced outreach arrangements for its first meeting, taking place on 25-26 September 2014, in New York, US.

UN logo19 September 2014: The UN Secretary-General’s Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development (IEAG) announced outreach arrangements for its first meeting, which is scheduled to take place on 25-26 September 2014, in New York, US.

According to the IEAG Secretariat, the second day will be devoted to interactions with civil society and academia, including a “town hall” session where participants can raise issues of interest or concern, and three themed sections to solicit input on: Open data, accountability and data literacy; Monitoring the SDGs; and Challenges and opportunities in using big data and new technologies.

Participants will be selected by the IEAG Secretariat, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, and UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS), who seek civil society members with expertise and experience in the designated themes. The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) is helping to provide balanced representation from academia, according to the announcement.

In addition, on 26 September, the IEAG will launch a website providing ongoing discussion forums and web chats with the Co-Chairs and Lead Author during the writing of the report. These will allow the IEAG to “test out views and solicit feedback.”

Following the first meeting, the Secretariat will work on drafting the report over the subsequent two weeks, and expects to submit recommendations by the beginning of November 2014.

However, it notes, “the important work of establishing the monitoring and data collection systems for new goals will of course continue during the whole of 2015.”

The IEAG’s establishment and membership was announced in August 2014. [IEAG Announcement via UN-NGLS] [IISD RS Story on IEAG Establishment] [NGOs Beyond 2014 Press Release]


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