2k experts from 100 nations to take part in UN Data Forum in Dubai today

Dubai - The event will see the participation of data experts from national statistical offices, private sector, NGOs, academia and international and regional organisations.

Bringing together nearly 2,000 data leaders from over 100 countries, the second edition of the United Nations World Data Forum 2018 will begin in Dubai today.
The event will see the participation of data experts from national statistical offices, private sector, NGOs, academia and international and regional organisations.
Abdullah Nasser Lootah, director-general of the UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and chairman of the organising committee of UN World Data Forum 2018, announced that the event is taking place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who is expected to attend the first day of the forum.
Lootah and Stefan Schweinfest, director, UN Statistics Division, announced details of the upcoming forum at a Press conference on Sunday. Filling data gaps on important areas of sustainable development will be addressed, including on migration, health, gender and the environment, among others.
High-level speakers opening the forum include UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J Mohammed; Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence.
Schweinfest added that the primary purpose of the event is to create and share a numerical framework that can measure how countries across the globe are progressing in a bid to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"Unlike other UN decision-making events, the primary goal of the forum is to have a dialogue, collaborate and tackle data gaps and challenges.
The forum will also launch new initiatives, and identify mechanisms to increase financing and support for better data for sustainable development," said Schweinfest.
In a separate press note, Liu Zhenmin, UN under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs, who is expected to speak at the forum said: "We need implementation and financing, which will be a major focus in Dubai. It is essential to have accurate, reliable, timely and disaggregated data, tracking the unprecedented range of economic, social and environmental goals in the 2030 Agenda. At the UN World Data Forum, I expect new partnerships to be forged, commitments announced and support boosted."
The forum is an 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, added Lootah.
The UAE statistics head also said the event has the potential to become the next Davos or the UN General Assembly, as data is key in finding sustainable and innovative solutions to global issues.
"As the forum grows, it would need involvement from world leaders. With this event, 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 and regional and international development plans, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030," added Lootah.
Migration data to be key subject of discussion
This year's forum will feature a high-level session on improving migration data, to help set new strategies for how to better track the over 258 million migrants around the world, including through real-time data sources such as call records.
Furthermore, the officials also revealed that a high-level session on financing for data and statistics will focus on identifying mechanisms to fill the funding gap and improve the delivery of funds both domestically and internationally.
"The sessions will provide the much-needed resources to national statistical systems. Developing countries, alone, face a deficit of $200 million per year to close the funding gap. 
"Despite big strides in data collection, large data gaps remain - over 100 countries still lack comprehensive birth and death registration data. A lack of funding and capacity are serious constraints for many countries," added Schweinfest.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai