Dubai – Mubasher: The United Nations World Data Forum 2018 commenced on Monday, 22 October in Madinat Jumeirah Convention Center in Dubai.
This is the second UN World Data Forum, following up and building upon initiatives discussed in the first edition of the UN World Data Forum that was held in Cape Town, South Africa, in January 2017.
“Implementation and financing [will] be a major focus in Dubai,” stated Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. He added that it was “essential” to have “accurate, reliable, timely and disaggregated data, tracking the unprecedented range of economic, social and environmental goals in the 2030 Agenda.”
The event, organised by the UAE’s Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), brings together data experts, from national statistical offices, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academia, and international and regional organisations to tackle data gaps and challenges, as well as launch new initiatives and identify mechanisms to bolster financing and support for more sustainable development.
“Filling data gaps on important areas of sustainable development will be addressed, including on migration, health, gender and the environment, among others,” event organisers said.
The UN World Data Forum 2018 is seen as a “crucial opportunity for major producers and users of data and statistics to find innovative solutions that deliver better data for policy makers and for all citizens in all areas of sustainable development and increase trust in data,” they added.
“At the UN World Data Forum, I expect new partnerships to be forged, commitments announced and support boosted,” Zhenmin added.
Meanwhile, FCSA director and chairman of UN World Data Forum 2018 organising committee Abdullah Nasser Lootah commented that FCSA was delighted to host this prestigious event featuring a host of leaders, decision makers and data experts from all around the globe.
“We are looking forward to making this edition a benchmark for strengthening international cooperation and to outlining a joint international framework to channel data and technology towards implementing local, regional and international development plans, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030,” Lootah added.
Around 2,000 data leaders from over 100 countries will be taking part in the three-day UN event, which runs from 22 October until 24 October.
