Harnessing Citizen Science at the National-Level
Harnessing Citizen Science at the National-Level

While it may serve as a surprise to some, citizen science has been around for thousands of years. With the influx of new technologies in recent years, such as mobile applications and remote sensing, citizen science has grown in popularity as researchers, governments, and citizens are now able to more seamlessly collaborate. In particular, citizen science has become a critical tool for helping to measure progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as fill data gaps. TReNDS’ expert members’ research, work at the country-level, as well as recent discussions on citizen science have helped to highlight the use of citizen science to fill important data gaps, the value of multistakeholder partnerships to mobilize citizen science initiatives at the local level, as well as the importance of garnering national buy-in.

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Insights, OpinionSDSN StaffCitizen Science, citizen-generated data, SDGs
2022 Predictions For The Evolution of Data Use
2022 Predictions For The Evolution of Data Use

At this time of the year, there is no shortage of predictions of what lies ahead. Typing “year ahead 2022” into your web browser alone yields 885 million results - more than one for every ten people on the planet. And for big data enthusiasts, limiting the search terms to “year ahead,” “big data,” and “2022” returns 300,000+ articles covering data trends, top tech predictions, and what we can expect from big data analytics. The results are spottier, however, when we search for what’s in store for national data ecosystems and the implications for sustainable development. Yet, efficient national data ecosystems and better use of data are critical to helping organizations from the public sector, private sector, and civil society achieve better outcomes, particularly in sustainable development. TReNDS’ Director, Grant Cameron, reflects on how these types of organizations will evolve in their use of data in the year ahead, what it means for the national and global data ecosystems, and how these changes will contribute to sustainable development.

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Insights, OpinionSDSN Staffdata use, Citizen Science, evidence-based policymaking, data financing, data privacy, COVID-19
Fostering a New Era of North-South Exchange and South-South Collaboration
Fostering a New Era of North-South Exchange and South-South Collaboration

While the global landscape has rapidly shifted over the past several years, it’s no secret that countries from the Global South continue to be under-represented in research, often marginalized, and in some cases, even exploited. Fortunately, the power dynamics are beginning to change. In recent years, South-South collaboration has been particularly active in the data space, with more open source tools and new data sources, including citizen science, being generated at the local-level to inform decision-making. To help bolster this shift, TReNDS’ sub-group on North-South Exchange is working to crowd in more voices from the Global South as well as encouraging more documentation, discussion, and diffusion of lessons learned to catalyze South-South and triangular data collaborations. Recent conversations and members’ research have underscored the significance of involving local stakeholders in projects from the onset, customizing needs based on the local context, and developing local communities of practice to ensure long-term sustainability.

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Insights, OpinionAlyson Markslocalization, data colonialism, local data, evidence-based policymaking
Cities Are Paving the Path for Government Data-Driven Innovation and Stewardship
Cities Are Paving the Path for Government Data-Driven Innovation and Stewardship

In many places, local governments have been at the forefront of innovation around data for sustainable development. For years, cities have been combining traditional and novel data sources to measure performance and benchmark against other cities, to create dashboards to inform citizens, and to advance local policymaking. TReNDS’ research on data governance and stewardship at the municipal and local levels illustrates how national governments and international organizations can benefit from the lessons learned around cities’ approach to data stewardship.

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Insights, OpinionHayden Dahmmcities, data stewardship, data governance, chief data officers, localization
The Quest for Fit-for-Purpose Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Data
The Quest for Fit-for-Purpose Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Data

New data sources and innovative approaches using big data techniques, spatial analysis, predictive modeling, and other technologies are creating a range of new datasets that can help measure and monitor SDG-related targets and indicators. And while data availability is vital to tackling any global agenda, more data does not always guarantee good decision-making. To take meaningful action--whether it be a global crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, or the recent earthquake in Haiti--policymakers and other SDG stakeholders must understand what data are fit-for-purpose. Earth observation (EO) and remote sensing products have emerged as an important source of data that present an opportunity to monitor environmental, agricultural, and other SDG-related indicators in fine temporal and spatial resolutions. With the increase of near real-time information, how do users identify the best-suited data source for their application of interest?

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Insights, OpinionMaryam RabieeEarth observation, remote sensing, fit-for-purpose data, gridded population data, POPGRID, population monitoring
Mobilizing “Smart City” Growth for a Resilient Future
Mobilizing “Smart City” Growth for a Resilient Future

Many cities are leading the path to ‘build back better,’ particularly “smart cities,” which use data and information technology to connect and integrate urban systems and services to enhance the efficiency of resource utilization, optimize urban management, and improve the quality of life for citizens. These data-driven cities responded better in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to smart infrastructure and data analysis. Fortunately, COVID-19 has accelerated the trend towards “smart cities,” and with the upcoming Urban 20 Mayors Summit, the G20, the wider international community should focus on allocating the necessary resources to increase smart city development globally to help ensure that cities are more resilient against future pandemics and crises.

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Insights, OpinionSDSN Staffnew technologies, smart city
Major Environmental Data Gaps Remain, But Progress is on the Horizon
Major Environmental Data Gaps Remain, But Progress is on the Horizon

Reading the news, it is easy to be overwhelmed with dire environmental statistics and data. Yet these numbers can disguise the serious gaps that remain in our understanding of the environment and the impact humanity is having on the natural world. Although in some respects, more data are being produced now about the environment than ever before, there is a clear need to leverage existing data to produce meaningful statistics, and a greater focus should be placed on expanding our environmental data collection and production efforts using new methods and data sources. Fortunately, some noteworthy advances have been made recently, and today, on the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, we should commit to continuing this progress.

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Insights, OpinionHayden DahmmEarth Day, UNEnvironment, environmental data, SDGs, new technologies
TReNDS' Hayden Dahmm Featured on International Science Council & Nature Podcast
TReNDS' Hayden Dahmm Featured on International Science Council & Nature Podcast

TReNDS' Manager, Hayden Dahmm, was recently featured on "Working Scientist," a podcast series co-hosted by Nature and the International Science Council on the topic of diversity in science. In the episode, Hayden discusses the importance of gridded population data, having accurate and timely data on persons with disabilities, and shares his perspective on how to make sustainable development practices more inclusive.

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NewsGuest ContributorSDGs, gridded population data, inclusivity, population monitoring
Avoiding the Data Colonialism Trap
Avoiding the Data Colonialism Trap

Even while the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of data and statistics, it has highlighted the global divide in statistical capacity, and in many cases, exacerbated it. Across Africa, for example, incomplete death registration systems have hampered efforts to track the virus. And according to recent surveys of national statistical offices (NSOs), nine out of ten NSOs in low and lower-middle-income countries may not fully be able to meet their international reporting requirements. To address these issues, countries are now being presented with an array of private sector data solutions and other non-traditional sources of information to fill these data gaps. Yet as global institutions seek to empower with data, we must be wary of “data colonialism” -- the potential for the powerful, data-rich countries and corporations in the Global North to undercut capacity development in the Global South by failing to recognize the local contexts.

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Insights, OpinionTom MoultrieCOVID-19, data colonialism, data financing, UN Statistical Commission, digital divide, data protection
How Disaggregated Data Can Pave the Way for a More Equitable Recovery
How Disaggregated Data Can Pave the Way for a More Equitable Recovery

Around the world, racial and ethnic disparities are rampant across all sectors of society; from inequities in healthcare, education, and employment to housing, wealth, and criminal justice. Indigenous peoples and racial minorities are also systematically undercounted in censuses. COVID-19 has exacerbated these issues, as people of color, especially Black people, have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, both in terms of cases and deaths. Yet much of the COVID-19 data, including on vaccinations, is still not being disaggregated by race or ethnicity, further hampering governments’ ability to formulate effective policies to respond to the pandemic. With over a year since the first COVID-19 case and the rise of new variants and a resurgence in cases globally, countries must do better to disaggregate their data by race and ethnicity.

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Insights, OpinionAlyson Markscensus, indigenous peoples, population monitoring, racial data, disaggregated data, COVID-19
Making Everyone Count: An Examination of the Global Census Undercount Issues of Indigenous Populations
Making Everyone Count: An Examination of the Global Census Undercount Issues of Indigenous Populations

2020 was supposed to be a critical year for census enumeration in many countries around the world. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in disruptions to censuses in more than 60 countries worldwide and prompted many nations, including Brazil, Ecuador, and the Seychelles to postpone their census to 2021. However, in 2021, conducting a safe and accurate census is likely to still pose a significant challenge for many countries. This issue is particularly concerning for marginalized groups, including indigenous populations, who are already systemically undercounted.

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InsightsTReNDS Staffcensus, indigenous peoples, population monitoring
New ODIN Results Highlight the State of Open Data in 187 Countries Worldwide
New ODIN Results Highlight the State of Open Data in 187 Countries Worldwide

Open data has not only played a key role in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be crucial for the dissemination and uptake of the new vaccines, but it’s also been a core component of the data revolution since its inception. But just how many countries around the world are actively making their data open? Last week, we received a snapshot of countries’ progress with the release of the fifth edition of Open Data Watch’s 2020/21 Open Data Inventory (ODIN 2020/21).

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InsightsAlyson MarksODIN, COVID-19, open data, Open Data Watch, gender
Disaster Risk Reduction & Open Data Newsletter December 2020
Disaster Risk Reduction & Open Data Newsletter December 2020

The Disaster Risk Reduction & Open Data Newsletter provides the latest developments, research, and information on events about data in support of the Sendai Framework. The December 2020 edition features TReNDS' new brief on COVID-19 data and sunset clauses, along with news on the UN Habitat's World Cities Report, WHO Technical Guidance Notes on the Sendai Framework, and more.

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NewsTReNDS Staffdisaster risk reduction, news, suns
New Research from Australia Finds that the SDGs are Vital for COVID-19 Recovery Strategies
New Research from Australia Finds that the SDGs are Vital for COVID-19 Recovery Strategies

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a set of targets that can serve as a blueprint to ‘build back better’ after the pandemic. However, despite only 10 years remaining until the 2030 deadline, many countries still lack national targets and a clear understanding of their progress. This piece highlights new research that provides a data-driven assessment of the nexus between COVID-19 and the SDGs in Australia and explores how the SDGs can be used to guide Australia’s post-COVID-19 recovery.

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InsightsTReNDS StaffCOVID-19, Australia, SDGs