17 April 2015: The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has released a publication on capacity building for data collection and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ‘Data for Development: A Needs Assessment for SDG Monitoring and Statistical Capacity Development’ measures how much countries will have to invest to support data collection efforts to monitor progress on the post-2015 development agenda, and to implement the data revolution.

The report finds that US$1 billion per year will need to be invested in 77 of the world’s lowest-income developing countries for upgrades of statistical systems and data collection. This is additional to current donor support of US$300 million a year, says the publication, calling for up to US$200 million more in official development assistance (ODA) to be mobilized internationally. In-country domestic resource mobilization in support of national strategies for the development of statistics (NSDSs) are also recommended.

Calling the adoption of the SDGs a “strategic moment,” the report calls on the world to build on the momentum of the data revolution to advance domestic statistical capacities. It also recommends that the theme of data for development be central in discussions on the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3), taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July 2015.

Speaking at the launch of the report at an event with the World Bank and the UN Foundation in Washington DC, US, UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa underscored the importance of data for post-2015. “Data is an important tool for planning, monitoring, and accountability, particularly with regard to implementation at national, regional and international levels,” he said, stressing the ability of policy-makers to use data to assess the impact of resources.

Kutesa welcomed the SDSN report and the contributions of data experts, saying, “The changing data and technology landscape means that we need to draw on the assets of all actors including governments, the UN system, international financial institutions, civil society, business, academia and others.” [Publication: Data for Development: A Needs Assessment for SDG Monitoring and Statistical Capacity Development] [SDSN Press Release] [UN Press Release] [UNGA President Remarks]