Data for Better Lives: A New Social Contract

The data revolution is transforming the world; and yet much of the value of data remains untapped. This course, based on the World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives , explores the tremendous potential of the changing data landscape to improve the lives of poor people, while also acknowledging its potential to open back doors that can harm individuals, businesses, and societies.

To address this tension between the helpful and harmful potential of data, it details a new social contract that enables the use and reuse of data to create economic and social value, ensures equitable access to that value, and fosters trust that data will not be misused in harmful ways.

Based on the WDR 2021 report, the course provides an overview of the recommendations on where public and private sector investments are the most critical, defines a rich program for policy reform and technical assistance, and highlights areas where global initiatives and partnerships can help to convene and facilitate cooperation at regional, bilateral and international levels.

Therefore, it elaborates on the following:

Conceptual framework through three pathways
Potential of data from public sector, private sector and civil society organizations
Creative reuses and data synergies
Data governance in the area of infrastructure, laws and regulations, economic policies in the area of competition, trade and tax
Policy recommendations using a maturity model approach
Integrated national data system

Target Audience

The course is open to anyone who has an interest in the subject and participants will be able to choose their own learning paths.

Learning Objectives

How data can better advance development objectives
Creating economic and social value from data
Using data in the public and the private sector
Creative reuses of data for greater value
Data governance in the area of infrastructure, laws and regulations, and economic policies in the area of competition, trade and tax.
Policy recommendations using a maturity model approach
Creating an integrated national data system