Data for a Better Future: UN World Data Forum 2024 to Launch Renewed Global Action Plan in Medellín

-

Tomorrow, the bustling city of Medellín, Colombia, will welcome over 3,000 of the world’s leading data experts, visionaries, and stakeholders to the UN World Data Forum 2024. In a landmark event for Latin America, this year’s forum aims to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a renewed Global Action Plan for sustainable development data.


What to Expect at the Forum


The event, supported by Colombia’s Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE), the Medellín city government, and the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), will span four days from November 12 to November 15. Attendees can look forward to over 100 events, including high-level plenaries, panel discussions, short-talk sessions, learning labs, and exhibit spaces. The forum’s agenda is ambitious, with organizers planning 50 panels, 11 short talks, 12 learning labs, and 5 demo sessions across the forum’s various stages.


Key Highlights of the Opening Day


The opening press briefing will take place on Tuesday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m. local time. Esteemed speakers will include Mr. Federico Gutiérrez, Mayor of Medellín; Mr. Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the UN DESA Statistics Division; Ms. Mireia Villar, Resident Coordinator for UN Colombia; and Ms. Piedad Urdinola, Director of Colombia’s National Bureau of Statistics. Their insights will set the stage for the forum’s primary objectives: to reimagine the future of sustainable development data and present a bold new framework to address the world’s most urgent data needs.


Why This Forum Matters


The fifth UN World Data Forum arrives at a critical juncture as countries and organizations worldwide intensify their efforts to meet the SDGs. Reflecting the recent calls for action from the UN Summit of the Future, the forum’s centerpiece will be the launch of a second-generation Global Action Plan. Building on the foundational Cape Town Global Action Plan introduced in 2017, this renewed blueprint will outline twelve new priorities designed to promote timely, open, and high-quality data, empowering governments and organizations to confront global challenges more effectively.


The UN World Data Forum 2024 represents a significant moment for global development, showcasing a commitment to data innovation, trust-building, and collaborative partnerships. In Medellín, the heart of Colombia’s “City of Eternal Spring,” data leaders from around the world will unite to strengthen our collective capacity for progress on the SDGs.


For more information, members of the media are encouraged to contact the event representatives:

• UN World Data Forum Secretariat

• Ian Rutherford: Rutherford@un.org

• Linda Hooper: Hooper@un.org

• Andrés Jiménez: Anjimenez@unfpa.org

• National Bureau of Statistics of Colombia (DANE)

• Camilo Méndez: camendezc@dane.gov.co

Stay tuned as we cover this transformative forum and its critical role in advancing global development through the power of data.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Côte d’Ivoire’s Groundbreaking Debt Swap Fuels Education Transformation

-
Image
  Côte d’Ivoire Pioneers Debt-for-Development Swap to Transform Education Côte d’Ivoire is making headlines with a groundbreaking financial transaction that promises to transform its education sector while addressing debt sustainability. The country is completing the first-ever debt-for-development swap operation supported by the World Bank Group, replacing expensive commercial debt with cheaper, more sustainable financing. This innovative approach improves Côte d’Ivoire’s debt profile, generates significant fiscal savings, and reallocates resources toward critical education investments. A Smart Approach to Debt Management The debt swap targets nearly €400 million of Côte d’Ivoire’s most expensive commercial debt, which is set to mature in the next five years. With partial credit enhancement from the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, Côte d’Ivoire will buy back this high-interest debt portfolio using a new commercial loan that offers a lower interest rate, a longer maturity, and...
Read more

Extreme Poverty Surges in Conflict-Affected Economies, World Bank Warns

-
Image
Global Development Goals at Risk as Conflict and Instability Deepen Across 39 Economies A new World Bank report released today paints a sobering picture: extreme poverty is rising fastest in the very places least equipped to fight it—countries crippled by conflict and instability. With development setbacks piling up and violence reaching its highest levels in 25 years, these fragile economies now account for the majority of the world’s extreme poor. The report, the Bank’s first comprehensive post-COVID-19 assessment of conflict-affected and unstable economies, finds that these 39 countries are rapidly diverging from global development trends. Per capita GDP is shrinking, employment remains stagnant, food insecurity is worsening, and education outcomes are collapsing. “More than 70% of those suffering from conflict and instability are Africans. Untreated, these conditions become chronic,” said Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. “Half of the countries facing conflict...
Read more

Africa’s Youth: From a Burden to a Powerhouse

-
Image
  The 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C. provided a defining moment for Africa’s development narrative. At the centre of this year’s dialogue was Dr Sidi Ould Tah , President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), who led the Bank’s delegation with a clear message: “ Africa’s youth are not a burden to manage; they are the engine of our continent’s future .” His remarks captured growing momentum behind the idea that Africa’s greatest resource is its people . With the continent’s population projected to double by 2050 , and over 60 percent under the age of 25 , the stakes are high. The AfDB president called on global leaders to rethink traditional aid and investment models that treat youth unemployment as a crisis rather than an opportunity. At the Washington meetings, Dr Ould Tah joined the World Bank’s High-Level Advisory Council on Jobs to discuss how development finance can better support job creation and e...
Read more