CSG Patricia Scotland lauds Caribbean & Commonwealth for data driven approaches to sustainable development

Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, lauded Caribbean and Commonwealth countries for their "strong support".

Wednesday, 1st June 2022

CSG Patricia Scotland lauds Caribbean & Commonwealth for data driven approaches to sustainable development

Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, lauded Caribbean and Commonwealth countries for their "strong support" in advancing data-driven approaches to sustainable development. Scotland made these remarks during a workshop on data-driven innovation earlier this week in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. She also stated that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali is only a few weeks away. "We approach this critical Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting with the knowledge that Commonwealth leaders recognise the critical role of ICT, Science, and Innovation in ensuring good governance, promoting inclusion, and building sustainable development," she said at a workshop on data-driven innovation. "We are optimistic that the Commonwealth Innovation Ecosystem Program will receive the support it requires to build up," she added. The Commonwealth Secretariat in London and Antigua and Barbuda's National Statistics Office are co-organizing the workshop, which will conclude on Wednesday. While addressing the significant data gaps that Caribbean countries face, it has brought together government officials, politicians, and industry professionals in the field of data science. Lennox Weston, Minister of Works and Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Governance, stated the Caribbean region needed to "weaponize data to eliminate inequality gaps and achieve our development goals together." "I implore attendees to make the most of these three days by learning the strategies for producing the correct kind of data, in the required format, that will provide policymakers with the information they need to make good decisions," she stated. Dr Samira Asma, Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics, and Delivery at the World Health Organization, said that in order to get back on track and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "We need better data and use it to drive impact, through enhanced access and governance." "Without teamwork and collaboration, harnessing the creative technology at our disposal, and making data widely available while safeguarding people's privacy, we will not be able to make progress," she further added. However, the organisers realise that the ability to acquire excellent data, undertake analysis, and translate those insights into policies and legislation to assist communities is unevenly distributed throughout Commonwealth regions and countries. They point out that many Caribbean Tiny Island Developing States confront unique hurdles due to their small size and lack of infrastructure, but they're also looking into a variety of ways to boost their capacity to become "innovation nations." "As a result, the workshop will cover topics such as developing a digital and data ecosystem for Small Island Developing States, leveraging opportunities for machine learning and GIS tools, analysing data gaps in tracking progress toward the SDGs in the Caribbean, strengthening open data ecosystems, and enhancing the role of national statistics offices in the region," according to the workshop's website. The Commonwealth Secretariat will also help member states in the region manage their agriculture and fisheries data infrastructure as part of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda. "Data is the key to achieving long-term progress." Adopting a "whole-of-government" approach to data science is crucial for Commonwealth countries, a strategic shift in mindset and work styles that the Commonwealth Secretariat is dedicated to supporting. Abhik Sen, the Commonwealth Secretariat's head of Innovation and Partnerships, said, "I look forward to hearing the ideas and solutions that participants will produce at this workshop." The World Health Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Population Fund will all make presentations throughout the three-day event.