In 2017, a study on the relationship between data and society development highlighted that data is the key to tracking meaningful progress in societies (Source: OECD, Data For Development). For this, data has to be conveniently available, accessible, safely stored, usable, refined, and relevant. Key specifics of data scarcity in many developing countries include the following:

 

1. Lack of relevant data surrounding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 

2. Lack of disaggregated data (even when data is available), 

3. Lack of adequate funding for efficient data collection, 

4. Lack of national statistical legislation particularly in developing countries (Source: OECD, Data For Development).

 

While facing these challenges in 2021, MEI had to adjust its usual strategies and rely on digital tools. In this article, we are happy to share these strategies.  

 

Online Interviews: The use of online tools to communicate with identified key stakeholders is not a new exercise but has become more common. MEI has been able to save required traveling time and costs with online conference tools (Webex, Zoom, or Google Meeting). The interview can be recorded for optimal preparation of the minutes once the stakeholders give consent.
 

In the meetings, questions derived from missing information or context about the subject in context are the primary focus of the interview and the information received is processed into minutes and contextualized into the reporting framework.