Independent Expert Group on a data revolution for sustainable development – kick-off meeting during General Assembly Week

Independent Expert Advisory Group Inaugural MeetingThe first meeting of the Independent Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) on a data revolution for sustainable development was held in New York 25 - 26 September, during the General Assembly.

The group reviewed their mandate and agreed that it included:

• defining what a data revolution for development means


• suggesting measures to close data gaps


• seeking opportunities for new innovations and data sources while strengthening accountability at all levels.

It discussed the substance and timing of the report to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, due in early November.

Among the issues highlighted were:

• what the group means by the data revolution for development. Many members of the group view this concept as more of an evolution or accelerated data evolution, rather than a completely new paradigm, while others focused on the possibilities associated with big data and privately produced information.


• that it is imperative to ensure that the data is of sufficient quality


• that because the mandate is for a data revolution for development, the goal of the data revolution should be to provide a framework for and investment in data that helps in achieving the SDGs and in monitoring and accountability.


• the idea that the information demand for the SDGs will exceed the capability of data collection efforts was underscored. Even developed countries would need help in improving their efforts.


• that there are two things that are distinct: technological progress (which is inevitable) and what this progress means for official statistics.


• the role of National Statistical Systems in this new world could be an important point of discussion regarding the data revolution.


• the increase in the generation of data in the private sector and the implications of that for questions of the regulation and management of information


• a continual focus on the purpose of data for decision making, for accountability and for tracking progress.


• the need to align the frequency and format of data collection to decision making cycles in the public sector and elsewhere.

Meeting with Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary General

Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General, presented his idea to the Group as to what the data revolution should be and the need for measures to close data gaps and to strengthen national statistical capacity to respond to the demands of a complex development agenda. He also referred to the need to leverage new, non-traditional data like big data and that a data revolution of about far more than data and statistics, but also about how they are used. See Deputy Secretary-General’s full remarks