Data isn't just for measuring development, it's a foundation for progress.
Seems obvious, right? But it hasn't always been this way.
Reflecting on the achievements of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) a few weeks ago in Sevilla, I'm reminded of FfD3 in Addis Ababa a decade ago, when the data revolution started to pick up steam. For the first time at a major international conference, data wasn't just a line item in technical plans—it was emerging as a shared political priority. That shift is what launched the Global Partnership, and it shaped our mission: to embed data at the heart of global development, for better decisions and better lives.
Since then, we've convened a network of trailblazing partners across governments, civil society, the private sector, and multilateral institutions. Together, we've taken forward the data agenda, advocating and enabling efforts to harness the power of data. We have demonstrated that it's not just a mechanism for tracking development, but a tool to shape it, working tirelessly to keep data high on political agendas.
Now, as governments and organizations rush to capitalize on the promise of AI and emerging technologies, it has never been more crucial to invest in the data foundations that these technologies depend on to make sure they lead to outcomes we can trust.
Making data a political priority
The growing political consensus on data lies in its potential to speak to shared priorities. It cuts across sectors, provides evidence, and supports more transparent decision-making. But even where the arguments are understood, many leaders lack the evidence or technical grounding to advocate for data and beat out the competition for what is always a small set of political priorities.
That's where we step in. Drawing on insights, technical know-how, and grounded in evidence from across our network, we're able to help partners articulate the value of data as a force multiplier for development efforts. As a connector, facilitator, and catalyst, we bring decision-makers to the table, helping them see the value of investing in data and creating platforms for them to make commitments. Our unique position, outside formal donor systems and multilateral institutions, yet connected to them, and deeply embedded in the global data community, gives us room to broker the coalitions that can build and sustain political will and turn it into action.
The prominence of data in the FfD4 outcome document, which was adopted by world leaders, is a good example of this collective approach. In the year leading up to the conference, we collaborated with partners and allies to build consensus among UN member states on the importance of data as a driver of development worthy of sustained domestic and international investment. This recognition is a significant achievement, but words on a page are only the first step.
Future-proofing progress: Sevilla and beyond
The inclusion of data in the outcome document reflects how far the global community has come in normalizing data as an essential public good. But the shift that's needed as we go into the next decade is in countries. National governments are starting to step up, not just by endorsing global principles but by investing in their own data systems and people.
The only way to make significant progress with scarce resources is by working together to maximize our impact. Initiatives like the Sevilla Platform for Action on data—led by Colombia, Norway, and the United Kingdom, endorsed by the Global Partnership and many others—are showing how national leadership, supported by international collaboration, can future-proof progress. After decades of unsustainable and fragmented support, we need much more collaboration and alignment among donors, international organizations, and data initiatives.
Shaping the next data decade
Ten years after Addis, data has become central to how we tackle the most pressing development issues the world faces. If the last decade was about getting data on the agenda, the next decade is about ensuring it delivers for everyone.
As technology evolves, the role of data in development must too. Data isn't just a tool for development now, but a tool for making sure AI serves people and planet in the future. Smart investments in national data systems will build AI systems that are more responsible, relevant, and representative. Done well, it will unlock the benefits and opportunities of AI and help expand access, improve targeting, and amplify the impact of national development efforts.
This means keeping the pressure on to mobilize domestic and international investment, and even more importantly, increasing international collaboration and alignment so that governments aren't left chasing fragmented support and disconnected initiatives.
From political will to real-world impact
What we do next will determine whether data and technology widen divides—or help close them. The stakes are high, but we know what works. Keeping data at the center of development will take ongoing advocacy, investment, and partnership. We already have the mechanisms for this—and they're ready to scale—like the Power of Data Initiative, which puts national leadership at the center and harnesses the convening power of the UN and the financial muscle of the World Bank to mobilize significant resources for system-wide change.
By working together to deliver the evidence, coalitions, and roadmaps that can turn political will into action, we can shape the future of data together. Whether you're a government official, civil society, or non-governmental organization, or funder, there's a role for you to play in making sure data delivers. Get in touch to find out more.
