LSE: Public lectures and events Data for development
Jun 17, 2025
Claire Melamed, a leader at the Global Partnership on Data for Sustainable Development, and Mulele Maketo Mulele, Zambia's Permanent Secretary of Finance, explore the crucial role of data in governance. They discuss the challenges faced in low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the need for greater data access and utilization. The conversation includes the ethical implications of AI in public sectors and the necessity for data visualization to enhance decision-making. Both guests stress collaborative approaches to overcoming institutional barriers in data use for effective policy-making.
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Episode notes
Data Needs in Fiscal Policy
- Governments need diverse and timely data to design and implement effective fiscal policies and development plans.
- Administrative data like utility consumption can enhance tax compliance and employment measurement beyond surveys.
Data in Macroeconomic Reforms
- Data plays a crucial role in managing macroeconomic reforms like debt restructuring and stabilizing the economy.
- Accurate data supports social policies and responses to crises such as drought and electricity shortages.
Breaking Data Silos
- Break data silos by enhancing capacity for data analysis across government sectors.
- Share and publish administrative data widely to enable cross-sector insights and evidence-based policymaking.