We believe that smart demand, supply and use of data drives better results for children. When the right data are in the right hands at the right time, decisions can be better informed, more equitable and more likely to protect children’s rights.
UNICEF’s Data Team is the global go-to for data on children. It leads the collection, validation, analysis, use and communication of the most statistically sound, internationally comparable data on the situation of children and women around the world. The team upholds the quality, integrity and organization of these data and makes them accessible as a global public good on the data.unicef.org website.
The Data Team generates data-driven thought products that inform evidence-based programme strategy and advocacy and help to identify emerging areas where children are in need. In parallel, the team’s work arms governments, other UN agencies, international NGOs, think tanks and academics, media and individuals with the necessary insight to prompt action to improve the lives of women and children.
UNICEF’s Data Team strengthens countries’ capacities to make informed decisions and to lead initiatives based on the best available data. Key to this role is the work done by UNICEF’s global household survey programme, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). The team also leads global standard setting in measuring and monitoring data. In addition, they work at the country level to support the development of all aspects of national statistical systems.
The team is a leader in monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children, and plays a custodian role for 19 SDG indicators as they relate to children. In this role, the team supports countries in generating, analysing and using data for these indicators. This includes leading methodological work, developing internal standards and maintaining global databases.
The Data Team is the lynchpin of a data-driven transformation in how UNICEF works internally and together with partners that includes fostering an organization-wide culture of data, building coherence around data work and protecting children through governance.
Timely, subnational data are essential for targeting, monitoring and designing policies and programmes that reach every child, especially in humanitarian contexts. To this end, the Data Team is working with partners to generate and leverage the use of frontier data — including artificial intelligence, big data and geographical information systems — to enable data science in the service of children in a manner that is ethical, equitable and fully respective of child rights.
UNICEF is the world’s leading source of data on children used by over 3 million people globally.