"Big Data for Climate Change Resilience"

Population 2021
(Millions)

HDI Score
2019 (Max. 1)

SDG Score
2020-2021
(Max. 100)

Gender Inequality
Index Score
(Max. 1)

Internet Inclusivity
Index 2022
(100 countries)

Sources: 1. World Bank (2021), 2. UNDP (2019), 3. Sustainable Development Report (2021), 4. UNDP (2019), 5. Economist Impact (2022).

Overview

This Empirical Paper was written by Emmanuel Letouzé (co-lead and corresponding author), Patrick Vinck (co-lead author), Bessie Schwarz, Simone Sala, David Sangokoya (co-lead author), and Elizabeth Tellman. It benefited from advice from Marc Levy as well as inputs and editing support from Lauren Barrett, Carson Martinez, and Natalie Shoup.

Funding for this paper was provided by the World Bank Group whose support is gratefully acknowledged, as well as the Rockefeller Foundation as part of their core support to Data-Pop Alliance’s activities. Data-Pop Alliance developed this paper as one of three inputs for the World Bank’s 2016 World Development Report: “Digital Dividends”.

Data-Pop Alliance has been conducting ongoing research on Big Data, climate change and environmental resilience. Our co-Director Patrick Vinck serves as lead author with contributions from several members of CIESIN, as well as our Research Affiliates Simone Sala, Bessie Schwarz and Beth Tellman. The paper outlines the Data–Pop Alliance’s ongoing research on Big Data, climate change, and environmental resilience. Authors dive deeply into the conceptualization of climate change resilience, both specific and general; addresses Big Data contributions to understanding the components of climate risk; and identifies gaps and challenges to Big Data applications to climate resilience decision-making. Finally, suggestions are made for individual and community engagement in building resilience.

Projects

Strengthening of Technical Capacities in Big Data for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)

This project developed with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), strengthened the technical capacities of government officials in Latin America and the Caribbean to take advantage of Big Data for sustainable development and official statistics. During the first phase of the project, through an exploratory study (see Publication below), we analyzed the current state of the infrastructure, institutional framework, regulatory framework, capacities and use cases of Big Data for the generation of public policies in 5 LAC countries: Bolivia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru.

The second phase focused on developing four capacity building workshops between June 2022 and March 2023.

Introduction to Big Data for Sustainable Development
Big Data and Poverty Analysis for Sustainable Development
Big Data and Health Analysis for Sustainable Development
Big Data, Security and Violence for Sustainable Development

This training itinerary provided participants with a comprehensive knowledge of the key concepts, the necessary tools and the main challenges of Big Data for sustainable development, with a special emphasis on the applicability of these data sources for statistical purposes.

Support to the Inter-American Development Bank in the Identification of Technological and Big Data Tools for Current, Ongoing, and New IDB Projects

This project aimed to support the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in preparing for the IDB Andean Summit event held on November 29, 2018, in Quito, Ecuador. A study was generated that identified new Big Data tools being developed and/or used by academic institutions, international organizations, and the public or private sector that would concretely benefit current and future IDB projects. Based on DPA’s experience, the consultancy’s goal was to contribute to the IDB’s knowledge, identification, and capabilities regarding available technological tools that provided observable material improvements at different stages of current or future projects. The study focused on IDB projects in five countries in the region: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.