Data to Policy Navigator Recognized as Digital Public Good, Enhancing Global Policymaking

The DPGA identifies DPGs as open-source solutions that adhere to stringent privacy standards while fostering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Data to Policy Navigator, a collaborative tool developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), has been officially recognized as a digital public good (DPG) by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA). This recognition supports the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation by addressing the modern challenges faced by policymakers, such as data access, resource constraints, technical proficiency, and bureaucratic hurdles.

The DPGA identifies DPGs as open-source solutions that adhere to stringent privacy standards while fostering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a DPG, the Data to Policy Navigator will gain increased visibility among a global community of practitioners, enhancing the likelihood that governments will adopt best practices to improve the policymaking process. This recognition underscores the importance of making development knowledge openly available, promoting a culture of transparency and shared progress.

The Data to Policy Navigator is a user-centric tool designed to help policymakers craft more effective, data-informed solutions. It offers a range of resources, including a step-by-step guide for harnessing data, 21 global use cases, an open data repository, and an AI chatbot. To ensure the tool meets policymakers' needs, UNDP and GIZ collaborated with 19 policymakers and 15 data experts across various sectors. The platform has already informed data collaboration projects in Kenya, Mauritania, Moldova, Rwanda, and Türkiye, and has been incorporated into training materials for 65 policymakers in Bhutan, Colombia, and the Maldives. Globally, over 15,000 users from more than 190 countries have accessed the tool.

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, there is an urgent need to provide clear guidance that helps policymakers turn data insights into impactful decisions. "The problems are so multidimensional and way over our heads that we are not able to understand which pathway is best to reach the SDGs. We will make fewer errors when using data," said Dr. Iliya Nickelt, Chief Data Scientist at BMZ. Echoing this sentiment, UNDP's Data Collaboration Project Manager, Alena Klatte, added, "Data is power. With the Data to Policy Navigator, policymakers can harness that power. The tool enables them to use data to understand what is happening in the lives of the people they serve and the impact their policies may have on them. So, they can make better decisions that speak to the needs of the people."

By leveraging collective expertise to drive evidence-based decision-making, the Data to Policy Navigator is poised to serve an even broader community of practitioners worldwide through the Digital Public Goods Registry. This tool is expected to play a crucial role in fostering south-south cooperation and advancing global development goals.