A guide for effective data sharing in the development sector

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data has recently published a ‘cookbook’ describing the key ingredients for effective multiparty data sharing in the development sector. Multiparty data sharing involves two or more organisations that collaborate to collect, share, and/or analyse data to address societal challenges. Despite the initiatives to better leverage data sharing, only a few spaces provide knowledge and common insight on how to effectively share data. The cookbook attempts to address this gap.

The cookbook is based on insights from the analysis of data sharing initiatives such as working groups and feedback from more than 20 data sharing experts. Eventually, five groups of key ingredients were identified:

1. Mechanisms for building and sustaining trust: the foundation of trust among data sharing partners, data users, and other stakeholders.
2. Shared value and benefits: all stakeholders agree on a shared value and benefits.
3. Dependable data and infrastructure: the right data infrastructure in compliance with the shared value and benefits.
4. Mechanisms for supporting knowledge and strengthening skills: getting the right knowledge and skills.
5. Flexibility and adaptability: being able to handle issues by storing energy for when it is most needed.

These ingredients offer suggestions for a multiparty data sharing approach. The importance of the ingredients depends on the characteristics, such as stakeholders involved and the type of data, and context, such as the policy landscape or other stakeholders within a particular ecosystem of a data sharing initiative.

To conclude, data sharing initiatives can be of great benefit to societal challenges if the platforms are effectively designed. Therefore, it is important to share knowledge on best practices and learn from others.

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