Efficient monitoring, analysis and use of data crucial for effective good governance processes say participants at OSCE event

The potential of data, its effective monitoring and use in creating a culture of evidence-based decision-making centred on needs of citizens and the community was the focus of a virtual seminar organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) on 10 November 2020.

More than 40 representatives from national authorities, civil society organizations, businesses, chambers of commerce and business associations from the OSCE region discussed best practices in monitoring, analysis and use of data for more effective, transparent and accountable decision-making processes.

Speakers from Austria, Ukraine, the Netherlands, France and Colombia took part in the discussion. Many emphasized that to maintain high availability of data and to ensure transparency of public processes, all components in data processing and analysis have to be considered and a proper methodology for the use of the available information must be in place.

Participants agreed that efficient data monitoring and analysis is vital in the ecosystem of good governance processes. Systematically evaluated effects of past and proposed public policies and resource management should be used to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of those programmes for a more accountable decision-making process. This process needs to be based on a multi-stakeholder approach, including the participation of civil society and the private sector, it was concluded.

The sessions provided an overview of the benefits of open data for good governance and the different approaches in data-driven policy-shaping and decision-making for more transparent and accountable public processes. Participants looked into different models and lessons learned around data monitoring, analysis, use and re-use from and beyond the OSCE region.

One of the panellists covered practices on the use of open data in government decision-making processes in Colombia ranked among the top three countries in progress towards a digital government, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2019 Digital Government Index.

Iris Pilika, OSCE Economic Co-operation and Governance Programme Officer and project manager said: ”Experiences and best practices shared during the webinar will help beneficiaries from OSCE participating States improve the transparency and efficiency of public administrations and help economic growth in their respective countries through more effective use of open data.”

The second in a series of capacity-building seminars on good governance and open data, the event was organized within the framework of the extra-budgetary project “Promoting Good Governance and Enhancing Anti-Corruption Efforts in the OSCE Area through the Use of Open Data and New Digital Technologies.”  Germany and the U. S. Department of State fund the project.