KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has launched the ‘Data 4 Development Online Monitoring Platform,” a centralized data project on the island’s national development progress.
Programme Director, Planning Institute of Jamaica's (PIOJ) Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat, Peisha Bryan Lee, (left) and Dr Wayne Henry PIOJ Director General (right) demonstrate PIOJ's new Data 4 Development online monitoring platform to UNDP Resident Representative Denise E Antonio on her tablet. They were at the launch of the online platform. UNDP proudly supported with 13.5 million in seed funding. (PIOJ Photo).PIOJ Director General Dr. Wayne Henry said the Data 4 Development Platform is intended to serve government, private sector, civil society, academia, regional and international development partners, as well as every single Jamaican.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Denise E. Antonio said, “by offering data on demand which can be visualized in user friendly formats, the PIOJ has not only digitized Agenda 2030 monitoring and evaluation but also curated a fully accessible experience for a wide range of stakeholders”.
The data centric platform is plugged into an indicator-based data warehouse which ultimately tracks Jamaica’s progress under Vision 2030 Jamaica’s National Development Plan as well as progress under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As Vision 2030 and UN SDGs are 98 per cent aligned, the platform serves to measure both in tandem.
The initiative started in 2019 with seed funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi-Country Office in Jamaica to the tune of J$13.78 million (One Jamaican dollar=US$0.008 cents).
Since then, the PIOJ has invested a similar amount to improve the local development dashboard, data visualizer, digital library/online resource library as well as support and maintenance.
Antonio said that the platform shores up accountability and transparency around Vision 2030 Jamaica and the UN SDGs. It also provides unrestricted access for a wide range of development stakeholders, including policy makers, planners, researchers, academics, students and decision makers.
“As you focus on further building out the capabilities of the platforms, I encourage you to ensure that persons with disabilities can access the data through inclusive design and outreach to these communities,” she said, noting that globally, UNDP continues to make the case for inclusive design that can empower vulnerable populations to access digital services.
The UNDP said that platform will specifically aid the PIOJ in improving evidence-based decision making, supporting the alignment of development financing with the national development agenda, including medium-term results-based budgeting, and results-based monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning towards action.
“The Data 4 Development initiative started with an integrated “JamData” database of social, economic, and environmental development indicators and associated time series data. The Jam Data database comprises data from the Jam Stats, Child Protection and Education Statistics databases that were previously available on the ‘Jam Stats’ site.”
