"The multitude of crises that confront us must be a wake-up call for immediate and concerted global action. In responding to it, leveraging data to its full potential is indispensable in learning from our mistakes of the past, and chart a new, more sustainable course forward.” - Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China, and the head of UNDP’s delegation 

Collection

Data should be collected from a variety of sources to ensure that decisions are based on the best data available to inform decision-making. In complex contexts such as Syria, data collection is a crucial tool for understanding and addressing the challenges faced by affected communities. One of the main ways it is being collected is from citizen-generated data through social media, where people use these platforms to document their experience, challenges, and needs. Satellite imagery is also used to assess damage to infrastructure and migration movements, while official reports can be used to extract valuable insight for interventions on the ground. 

Although technology can help drive the collection of development data from a variety of sources, it’s also important to take stock of the opportunities and risks of using public and private sources, the methodology behind data collection, as well as the impacts on privacy. It’s equally important to have the people who understand how to analyze and extract valuable insight to help drive change. 

“It was interesting to hear about the use of citizen's generated data and how countries like Ghana and Kenya are already operationalizing its use in filling existing data gaps in monitoring and reporting SDG indicators, as well as providing granular data for planning development initiatives.” – Anita Eyewane, UNDP Nigeria