A Guide to Data Innovation for Development: From Idea to Proof-of-Concept

This resource from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Global Pulse provides step-by-step guidance for development practitioners to leverage new sources of data. "Data innovation" is described here as the use of new or non-traditional data sources - e.g., digital data derived from social media, web content, transaction data, global positioning system (GPS) devices - and methods to gain a more nuanced understanding of development challenges. In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for instance, effective data collection, analysis, and monitoring can help policymakers to course-correct programmes and policies more quickly and cost efficiently.

The guide is a result of a collaboration of UNDP and UN Global Pulse with support from UN Volunteers. The UNDP innovation teams at the Regional Centre for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (ECIS) and the Regional Hub for Arab States embarked on a "big data for development exploration journey", seeking to harness new sources of data to improve services or programme implementation on topics including disaster risk management, improved welfare, migration, and poverty reduction. As part of this exercise, 6 UNDP Offices from the 2 regions developed data innovation proof-of-concept projects with governmental and civil society partners. The guide builds on these case trials and provides practical guidance for jump-starting a data innovation project, from the design phase through the creation of a proof-of-concept.

The guide is structured into 3 sections: (I) Explore the Problem & System, (II) Assemble the Team and (III) Create the Workplan. Each of the sections comprises of a series of tools for completing the steps needed to initiate and design a data innovation project, to engage the right partners, and to make sure that adequate privacy and protection mechanisms are applied.