Dear reader, Data is becoming ever more important - not just in increasing resource efficiency in production processes and in improving evidence-based decision making but also in attaining the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This fact is reflected in the pillar “Data for Development” of BMZ´s digital strategy as well as the World Development Report (WDR) 2021. In the report titled “Data for better lives”, the World Bank calls for a new social contract around data. However, to put it to use for the wellbeing of all, data needs to be shared and made available. One of its unique selling points is that data can be reused and repurposed over and over while producing additional economic and social value. At BMZ, we recognize the potential of data. For that reason, BMZ hosted a high-level discussion on the insights of the WDR and established a community of practice “Data for Development” which recently finalized an impulse paper on the topic. BMZ's FAIR Forward project moreover supports the collection of open voice data to train locally adapted Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions in Africa. This newsletter will outline a few of BMZ's ongoing activities in the field. With this said, I wish you an interesting read. Dr. Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk Director Private Sector, Trade, Employment and Digital Technologies, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |