Timely Data Project

Timely Data on Sustainable Development Measures

Introduction

To understand and effectively track progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need reliable, quality, and timely data. Yet, with less than 10 years left to achieve them, too much of the data is still out-of-date or unavailable, and too many people are being left uncounted. Non-traditional data sources are needed to complement traditional data sources to fill gaps. In parallel to the Data For Now project, TReNDS works with the UN, academic, and industry leaders to curate, review, analyze, and support the development of new and innovative methodologies for the production of timely data and to develop strategies to make measures more accessible. Under this workstream, TReNDS’ also researches advancements in SDG data production and availability, as well as examines the processes needed to foster successful big data partnerships.

About the Projects

Supporting Partnerships for Innovative SDG Monitoring Methods

With support from Partners for Review (P4R), TReNDS undertook a systematic review of the recent scientific literature on innovative data collection methods and the use of big data to enhance national monitoring of the SDGs. Published in Sustainability Science in early 2021, the review uncovered 583 articles, of which 100 promising studies were examined in further detail. Along with other findings, the results showed monitoring for SDG 3 (Ending Hunger) benefits greatly from big data, while SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) has not been a focus of big data research. To foster the study’s operational impact, TReNDS is working with various government and multi-lateral entities to use our findings to prioritize and target their future country engagements. Additionally, relevant timely datasets identified through the review are also being considered for inclusion in the SDGs Today portal.

The systematic review also helped to guide our recent report, Big Data and the Sustainable Development Goals: Innovations and Partnerships to Support National Monitoring, on how national governments can work with external big data partners to improve their SDG monitoring. A critical feature of this report was the development of a maturity model to ensure the type of external partnership that had the most benefit was tailored to country “maturity state” in regards to successfully working with big data. TReNDS is in discussions with various entities to see how these findings can be further disseminated and applied across countries.

2. Researching SDG Data Gaps

TReNDS has undertaken research on recent improvements in SDG data production and availability. We found that coverage of SDG data points has increased from 45% to 63% between 2019 and 2021, an encouraging measure of the data community’s recent efforts. Insights were presented in SDSN’s flagship Sustainable Development Report in June 2021.

3. CURATing DATASETS FOR SDGs Today

SDSN, in partnership with Esri and the National Geographic Society, launched “SDGs Today: The Global Hub for Real-Time SDG Data” in July 2020. SDGs Today aims to advance the production and use of real-time and geo-referenced data for the SDGs with a one-of-a-kind data platform, and education and training resources. The initiative encourages countries, institutions, and civil society members to produce, share, and engage with the data to help ensure that we meet the Global Goals by 2030.

Three of the datasets featured on SDGs Today were curated and/or produced by TReNDS, including:

A dataset on access to health services for women of child bearing age in Sub-Saharan Africa, in partnership with WorldPop
A global air pollution dataset, in partnership with IQAIR and the UN Environment Programme
A new measure of water stress and anomalies, in partnership with Isciences