Pacific statistics and data professionals led panel discussions on data modernisation and a climate-change case study last week, sharing insights and innovations from their region at the United Nations’ World Data Forum in Colombia.
More than 3,000 data leaders from governments, the private sector, national statistics offices, geospatial communities, academic institutions, civil society and other organisations gathered at the United Nations’ World Data Forum in Medellín, Colombia last week, where Pacific representation in two events was led by the Pacific Community (SPC).
A panel discussion on Data Modernisation in Small Island Developing States: Insights and Innovations from the Pacific saw representatives from French Polynesia, Guam, Samoa and Australia discuss their data modernisation journey and the impact of data modernisation initiatives in the Pacific.
Supported by SPC, the panel featured Mr Laurent Pellet (Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française), Mr Leota Aliielua Salani (Samoa Bureau of Statistics), Mr Matthew Santo (Guam’s Bureau of Statistics and Plans), Ms Gemma Van Halderen (Australia’s Department of Social Services) and Mr Peter Ellis, Director of SPC’s Statistics for Development Division.
With common challenges of size, resources and vulnerability to climate change, the panel spoke to the unique issues and solutions adopted by Pacific small island developing states in their data modernisation programmes—covering funding, technology and personnel—as well as the impact of data modernisation on the efficiency and accuracy of their statistical operations.
The panel discussion was part of a programme featuring more than 100 events, including four high-level plenaries as well as three exhibition spaces. Across the event—in Latin America for the first time—speakers shared case studies of innovative practice that had proven effective given their development context.
Another panel where Pacific work was presented, ‘From Traditional Surveys to Emerging Technologies: Their Role in Evidence-Based Environmental Policy Making’, profiled the design process for a natural hazards and climate change survey—highlighting how SPC has supported Pacific countries and territories to fill data gaps using survey-based data collected at the household level. This aims to quantify the impacts of natural hazards and climate change, and measure trends towards adaptive and resilient practices.
“We’re really happy to be supporting Pacific participation and profile at this year’s UN World Data Forum in Colombia,” commented Mr Peter Ellis, Director of Statistics for Development.
“Supporting evidence-based decision-making through better data is core to our work. Through our panel discussions, we sought to share knowledge and help problem-solve data challenges among small island developing states, ultimately contributing to our collective goal of maximising the use and value of data for better policy and decisions.”
Contact: Ben Campion, Communications Adviser, Statistics for Development, Pacific Community (SPC) | [email protected]
