UN Data Forum: Global Community Advances Data’s Role in Sustainable Development

The fifth United Nations (UN) World Data Forum opened yesterday in Medellín, Colombia, bringing together over 3,000 data experts, leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives from more than 120 countries.

The event, which runs from 12 to 15 November, seeks to leverage the transformative power of data to drive progress toward sustainable development. Key topics covered include youth, gender, climate and the environment, digitalisation, data literacy, and artificial intelligence (AI).

This year, the Forum focuses on four thematic areas:

• Innovation for better and more inclusive data
• Maximising the use and value of data for improved decision-making
• Building trust, protection, and ethics in data
• Fostering effective partnerships for a more equitable data ecosystem

In her opening address, Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, highlighted the increasing importance of data in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“This year’s Forum reflects the growing community of practice on data innovation, governance, partnership, and capacity development needed to make the 2030 Agenda a reality,” she said.

“The United Nations system looks forward to working with you to bring more support to countries and social groups, including those in fragile contexts, to strengthen statistical and geospatial data systems, improve data quality and analysis, and expand data coverage and access, ensuring no one is left behind.”

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The Forum, which is the first to be held in Latin America, serves as a unique platform for exchanging ideas, addressing challenges, and sharing best practices among data practitioners. Discussions at the event are expected to reinforce National Statistical Systems and promote a deeper understanding of data ecosystems.

During the closing on 15 November, the renewal of the Cape Town Global Action Plan will be launched, aiming to improve access to and use of better data for better lives.

While some progress has been made, data experts stress that only 17% of SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030.

To address this shortfall, experts are calling for increased efforts to utilise data more effectively in decision-making and resource allocation.

“Data can empower governments, the private sector, media, non-profits, academia, and civil society to enhance their decision-making processes and build more sustainable and equitable societies,” stated Piedad Urdinola, Director of Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics.

 “This must be grounded in the trust and ethics that should guide the use of data.”

The Forum offers participants the opportunity to attend more than 100 concurrent sessions featuring data experts from around the world. It also provides a chance to expand professional networks within the global data and statistics community.

The 2024 UN World Data Forum is hosted by the Government of Colombia, represented by the Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE-Colombia), and organised with support from the UNWDF Programme Committee. It operates under the guidance of the High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination, and Capacity-Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (HLG-PCCB) and the United Nations Statistical Commission, with Secretariat support from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).