Be Data Driven
No amount of data will lead to accelerated impact if it is not used to inform decision making. When an initiative is data driven, quality information is available to the right people when they need it, and they are using those data to take action. The data produced by a digital initiative should be used for more than just outputs, such as published work or donor reporting. Examples of the types of data that can be collected to inform decision making include surveillance, research, operations, project management and data from secondary sources collected outside of the program.
Core Tenets
- Design programs so that impact can be measured continuously and incrementally, focusing on outcomes, not just outputs.
- Make use of existing data, including open data sets and data from interoperable systems.
- Use rigorous data collection methods. Consider and address potential biases and gaps in the data collected, perform data quality checks, and maintain strong documentation behind collected data.
- Close knowledge gaps by contributing data to the development community and using data and interoperability standards.
- Use quality real-time or timely data to support rapid decision making, improve programming for users and inform strategy.
- Present data in formats that are easy to interpret and act on, such as data visualizations.
- Create a data use culture by prioritizing capacity building and data use efforts across all stakeholder groups, including the groups whose data are being collected.
- Be holistic about data collection and analysis. Collect data from multiple sources, and use a mix of data collection and analysis methods. Analyze your data collaboratively with stakeholders.
- Identify and use open data and interoperability standards.
- Collect and use data responsibly according to international norms and standards.
Featured Resources
Check out more examples on how to be data driven or download our full guidance
Guide
Principle 5: Be Data Driven
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Guide
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