DIGITAL GOVERNANCE

UNICEF Data for Children Data Landscaping

Supporting the smart demand, supply and use of data.

Why Effective Data Use Matters for Outcomes for Children

Within the Agenda 2030, the United Nations’ action plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, the emphasis on “leave no one behind” provides an opportunity – and a pressing obligation – to support better outcomes for children. The smart demand, supply, and use of data drives better results for children. When the right data are in the right hands at the right time, decisions can be more informed, more equitable, and more likely to protect children’s rights.

Effective use of data can help monitor results for children and shape interventions aimed at improving those results. Data can provide better insight about what works, and what does not; which children are thriving, and which are being left behind.

about unicef data for children

Starting in 2018, DG supported the roll-out of UNICEF’s Data for Children Strategic Framework across eleven countries. DG developed individual data landscape reports along with strategic action plans that include actionable cost breakdowns for UNICEF Country Offices in Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea; for the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, West and Central Africa Regional Office, and Headquarters. DG also supported rapid (re)prioritization of data for children assessments and action plans for COVID-19 response, supporting Country Offices in Jamaica and Botswana; and developed a Data for Action ‘Do-It-Yourself’ toolkit for global use.
Understanding the Data Ecosystem

Through the UNICEF Data for Children landscaping work, DG spoke with nearly 350 stakeholders to better understand the national data ecosystem, its actors, drivers, what creates bottlenecks, and what improves decisions and outcomes. Through a combination of desk research and key informant interviews, this work seeks to understand and address challenges and opportunities within national data and statistical systems, to support the “smart” demand, supply, and use of data and achieve better results for children.

Across contexts, we found common unmet needs related to (i) production of and access to suitable data; (ii) misaligned incentives and reporting structures; and (iii) missing links that connect data generation to effective communication of evidence.

Development Gateway then worked with partners to build country and regional data action plans. These plans identified where UNICEF is best-placed to support data for country priorities. Specifically, the landscape analyses showed how UNICEF could best engage with the broader community to avoid perpetuating systemic flaws, such as duplicated agency efforts; unique data collection efforts that circumvent and undermine government systems and capacity; and indicator collection demands that distract from frontline service delivery.

The analysis also indicated where investment in data could have the greatest impact for children – and where existing work may be phased out or transitioned to those with greater comparative advantage.

Across multiple countries and regions, our findings pointed to several overarching recommendations:

  • Recognize that by its nature data is political as is data investment.
  • Strengthening government M&E systems can increase demand for, and make the case for funding the supply of, better data.
  • Improving how we communicate why data use matters is key to making the case for additional investment.