Data for Development: Actions, Experiences, Lessons

At the G20 Leaders’ Meeting in Bali in November 2022, Prime Minister Modi observed that the ‘principle of data for development’ (D4D) would be integral to India’s G20 presidency. The Bali Leaders’ Statement echoed the Prime Minister’s remarks, with heads of state unanimously ‘reaffirm the role of data for development’ in promoting ‘economic growth and social well-being’. The importance of D4D, and more broadly the need to foster a data-driven culture, has since been repeatedly foregrounded by the India’s G20 Sherpa, the Minister of State for Electronics and IT, and Indian civil society and business leaders. The strategic use of sub-state-level data – whether related to individuals, households, villages, cities or districts – lies at the heart of bottom-up development approaches. This gives philanthropic institutions and civil society organisations (CSOs) a key role as a bridge between communities and local governance initiatives on the one hand, and the Government’s macro vision of promoting D4D on the other. Indeed, CSOs – with their on-ground presence, entrenched community-level relationships, and nuanced understanding of local contexts – are often uniquely placed to execute D4D projects in partnership with public or private entities. Recognising this, in March 2023, Reliance Foundation (RF) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) published Micro Matters, a collection of eight case studies of high-impact CSO-run D4D initiatives that are helping transform education, agriculture, health, livelihoods, disaster management, and the circular economy.

Programme Outline
3.00 – 3.30 pm	Inauguration
	●        Welcome remarks: Nilanjan Ghosh, Director, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Kolkata ●        Special address: Rowan Ainsworth, Consul-General of Australia in Kolkata ●        Anchor presentation: Vanita Sharma, Advisor, Strategic Initiatives, Reliance Foundation
3.30 – 4.50 pm	Moderated open discussion
	●        Scene-setting interventions Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director, British Council (East and Northeast India) Madhura Mitra, Director, Climate Change and Sustainability, PwC Prem Yadav, CEO, Pratham Infotech Foundation Vijaylakshmi Raghavan, Director – Solutions, Wadhwani AI Senthilkumaran Krishnan, Programme Leader, Reliance Foundation - Disaster Management and Information Services ●        Open stakeholder discussion (sharing views, cases, experiences and lessons around D4D)
4.50 – 5.00 pm	Closing Session
	●        Summing up and call to action: Anirban Sarma, Senior Fellow, ORF ●        Closing remarks and vote of thanks: Antara Sengupta, Lead Research (Education), Reliance Foundation
High Tea