Tribune News Network
Doha
Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and in a partnership of national, regional, and international entities, the National Planning Council (NPC) is organising the Second Doha Data Forum on October 22 and 23. The event brings together representatives from ministries, government agencies, universities, research centres, UN organisations, and Arab and Islamic organisations.
Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, secretary general of the National Planning Council, will inaugurate the Doha Data Forum which 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 organisations such as the Statistics Division, UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO, UNDP, WHO, UNFPA, UN Women, ESCWA, UK Office for National Statistics, Statistics Finland and GCC Statistical Centre.
The forum 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.
The Doha Data Forum focuses on data innovation by utilising cutting-edge technologies to develop new solutions and improve processes by fostering a culture of innovation.The Forum 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.
The forum aims to achieve several key objectives, the foremost among them is to explore the crucial role of statistics, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in addressing global sustainability challenges.
By analysing 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.
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.
It is noteworthy that the National Planning Council, as part of the Doha Data Forum, 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.
