DataFeed

Technical Assistance to UNDP Togo’s Open and Big Data Activities and Plans

Data-Pop Alliance (DPA) offered to provide technical assistance to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Togo Country Office (CO) to support its efforts to leverage open and Big Data for the country’s development, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) monitoring and promotion. The consultancy aimed at contributing to advancing the state of knowledge, know-how, awareness and capacities to harness the potential of Open Data and Big Data in Togo. In particular, UNDP CO’s ability to contribute to the recognition that data ought to matter; that the access and analysis of personal data must not be done at the expense of people’s privacy, safety and agency; that without a significant upgrade in local awareness and capacities, the “Data Revolution” may fail or simply reinforce existing power dynamics and inequities; that algorithms determining or informing an increasing number of public decisions must be open, fair, transparent; that the most impactful and lasting way to bring about change is to build capacities and connections locally, through pilot projects, experimentations, dialogues, capacity building and awareness raising etc., and according to strategies informed by a sound understanding of the local context. 

Rapid Assessment of COVID-19 Impacts During the Pandemic in Togo [Analyse synthétique des effets principaux de la COVID au Togo]

In order to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Togo, in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ADE, Data-Pop Alliance offered a synthetic analysis of the main impacts of the crisis in the country with a focus on the sector’s development priorities before the pandemic, using the most recent analyzes, studies and more recent data. The aim of this analysis was to examine both quantitative and qualitative data available from the country; focusing on economy (SMEs and informal sector), social protection, basic services, food security; all with a transversal gender perspective. Particularly, the project’s report examined the situation before COVID-19 and identified its main effects and impacts; examined the content and conclusions of studies carried out on the impact of COVID-19, and raised the limits and / or potential deviations; analyzed how the limits in classical data can be complemented by data from alternative sources.

To read the report, click the button below (Available in French)

The second part of this project focused specifically on conducting a mobility analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Togo. During this crisis, the Togolese government decided to introduce mobility restriction measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The resulting analysis used innovative data sources to characterize the changes in mobility patterns that followed the introduction of these measures. In this case, mobility data from Google and Facebook was used to measure changes during and after the implementation of mobility restrictions; between February 15 and August 9, 2020 in each of the regions in Togo. In general, this study aimed to (i) characterize the changes in mobility over time by type of mobility, in particular in residential areas and towards workplaces, (ii) present the changes in mobility that have products after curfew relief and lifting, and (iii) understand mobility interconnections between regions. Limitations, assumptions and recommendations are formulated based on the observations.

To read the report, click the button below (Available in French)