DOHA: Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the National Planning Council (NPC) will organise the Second Doha Data Forum for Innovation in Sustainable Development on Tuesday.
The event that runs through Wednesday is being held in partnership with national, regional, and international entities and brings together representatives from ministries, government agencies, universities, research centers, UN organizations, and Arab and Islamic organizations.
Secretary General of the NPC, Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, will inaugurate the event that aims to achieve several key objectives, primarily to explore the crucial role of statistics, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in addressing global sustainability challenges.
By analyzing historical trends, data-driven approaches can now predict future scenarios, pinpoint risks, and craft targeted interventions. Moreover, machine learning has made it possible to detect patterns in large datasets, while artificial intelligence enhances the ability to track and monitor environmental and social programs. Collectively, these technologies have revolutionized sustainable development through accurate forecasting, optimal resource allocation, and real-time decision-making.
The forum will be attended by a group of experts in official statistics, data and environment science, and geographic information technology from the State of Qatar, and from specialized UN organizations such as the Statistics Division, UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO, UNDP, WHO, UNFPA, UN Women, ESCWA, UK Office for National Statistics, Statistics Finland and GCC Statistical Center.
It will also feature a host of academics from Qatar University, Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Northwestern University in Qatar, and Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, as well as experts from Microsoft, Gartner, PWC, and others.
With a focus on data innovation by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to develop new solutions and improve processes by fostering a culture of innovation, the event seeks to expedite progress towards achieving SDGs 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030.
It also stresses that harnessing data, artificial intelligence and machine learning for sustainable development requires concerted efforts across various sectors and disciplines. At this prestigious event, experts from diverse fields, such as data science, economics, environmental studies, public policy and social sciences, will convene to exchange expertise, experiences and best practices.
Moreover, policymakers will gain valuable insights on evidence-based decision-making, while practitioners will share innovative methodologies and tools for data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Besides, the forum spotlights the Doha Declaration that will be adopted by the participants, reflecting future aspirations aligned with the "Charter of the Future" issued by the Summit for the Future held in New York in September this year.
Thus, the Doha Data Forum serves as a platform for dialogue, interaction and knowledge exchange among stakeholders in data systems, statistics and technology.
Part of the Doha Data Forum, the NPC has organized four remote workshops covering a variety of topics, such as gender statistics, data visualization, methods for building an environmental sustainability data strategy, and measuring progress towards achieving SDGs for Children.The forum's proceedings will be streamed live on YouTube and participants can register remotely via the forum's page on the National Planning Council website. At the end, attendees will adopt the Doha Declaration on Statistics and Data for Innovation in Sustainable Development.
