World Development Information Day

Side Event at the High-Level Political Forum 2026 organized by the Permanent Missions of Singapore, Rwanda, and Jamaica to the United Nations, in partnership with the DESA's United Nations Statistics Division under the Data for Now initiative. This high-level side event will bring together ministers, Permanent Representatives, countries presenting their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and key partners to explore how stronger data ecosystems can enable better decisions and accelerate SDG delivery. The discussion will focus on:How robust data ecosystems support effective policymaking, institutional trust, and integrated SDG delivery. The importance of adopting a multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral, and inclusive approach to address national development needs. Lessons and challenges in digitizing large and diverse data sources, transforming them into official statistics, and building capacity for responsible use of AI to inform policymaking. Priority investments in infrastructure, s...

   Partnerships For the Goals Partnerships for Human-Centric Inclusive Digital Transformation. Despite the growing role of digital technologies in advancing sustainable development, the digital divide remains a major challenge. Around 2.2 billion people remain offline globally, and even more lack meaningful access to connectivity, digital skills and digital public services, with persistent gaps across regions, income levels, gender and rural-urban divides. Without stronger cooperation and coordinated action, digitalization risks reinforcing existing gaps rather than helping to close them. This session will bring together governments, UN agencies, the private sector, youth, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss how partnerships can accelerate digital transformation and support progress towards the 2030 Agenda. The round table will explore how digital and AI-enabled solutions can support SDG implementation across various areas such as health, agriculture, education, em...