Narayan Prasad Ghimire

The Rising Nepal daily came up with an important frontpage story- ‘Pandemic Threatens Reversing Development Progress’ on February 8. As per the story, the impact of Covid-19 was severe in the national economy and it was likely to reverse the positive trends as achievements in the health sector, reduction of poverty, and economic growth while reviewing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) activities. 
An excerpt from the National Planning Commission (NPC) report has stated: "The pandemic has the potential of not only delaying but effectively reversing the positive trends in most SDGs particularly ending poverty, achieving zero hunger target, healthy lives, quality education, decent work and economic growth, reducing inequalities and partnership for sustainable development." 

Unavailability Of Data
In addition to this, there is a remarkable point in the news that there was the unavailability of 44 per cent data in setting indicators on SDGs. The SDGs are the globally launched development goals that are planned to be achieved by 2030 by every state. 
Initiated after the completion of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDGs need baseline indicators, targets and strategies for achievements. It truly reflects the government’s ability to formulate plans and policies in line with targets and select proper strategies. 
It is also the commitment to development and examination of how development is taken ahead as a shared responsibility ensuring wider participation. While setting indicators and targets, adequate, reliable and quality data are required. But, why did Nepal fail to get such data? At present, does data deprivation hinder development? How can we address present data paucity? These questions warrant rigorous analyses. 

Paradigm Shift In Data Ecosystem
Data is the most basic information imperative to make assumptions, set indicators and targets (goals), and monitor and evaluate the development projects. Data is not mere statistics or numbers but a meaningful foundation for the planning and execution of a project in line with objectives. 
In the present digital time, the dynamics of data creation/collection, storage, and use have radically changed. The traditional hold of data/information by the university, academy, research institutions, government and ministries, church, survey agencies and statistics bureau has been seized by the technology companies in the present digital age. The tech companies are running their business based on the data they collect, store, use, mobilize and manipulate data. 
The data/information limited to official institutions of any country earlier is therefore spilt in the market- all because of the digital age coupled with advanced technology and programs as cloud computing/big data, algorithm, artificial intelligence, machine learning etc.
Every one of us, the digital people, are creators of data. The more we use the digital device, the more we produce data. In the recent decade, tech giants like Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple etc have emerged as the mighty storehouse of global data.
In addition to the sweeping change in human communication and information behaviour, tech companies’ presence has threatened the identity of the past institutional and official collection, storage and use of data because they have tremendously contributed to unexpected velocity, varieties and volume of data. 
Even human emotion- love, hate, liking- are getting increasingly quantified. For example, Facebook’s features as ‘Like’, and ‘Love’ buttons finely track our emotional behaviour. Similarly, our searches on Facebook, Google, Youtube are other steps that measure our behaviour. 
Many sociologists are even arguing that these tech companies are culpable behind the modification of human behaviour. How? It is all because of big data/crowd computing, algorithm, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT). Amidst this data deluge, several Apps are also collecting our data because we are connected to the internet so much that we can not imagine the world out of it now. 
In Nepal’s case, popular apps as Esewa, Khalti, Daraj, Foodmandu, MeroShare, bank-wise apps, to mention a few, are producing (collecting) voluminous data about Nepalis and conducting their business, that is to say, they’re providing our service in a fastest and accessible manner. 
As many services are going paperless and availed via a digital medium, we have no option but to internalize the change by ensuring individual privacy and strong data protection.

Data Of Development
In the wake of deprivation of data for setting development indicators, one option may be harnessing digital data for Nepal. Yes, it is easier said than done. Utmost accountability is a must to protect individual privacy with data protection while accessing digital data to fulfil the need. 
Most importantly, it needs much sensitivity, technical expertise and policy decision to collect, store, process and utilize digital data for development indicators and goals. Mere raw data is not enough. Institutional capacity building is a must for data processing. Only reliable and quality data can be used for development measurement.
I think tremendous homework, discussions and debates are needed to mull this option because drawing together technology, policy and development are not possible with one-sided efforts. Moreover, collaboration and cooperation can be sought from Nepal’s universities, research institutions, civil society organizations, independent researchers to create the necessary data-set required for the indicators on SDGs. 

Systematic Researches
Systematic and organised research and study reports conducted by these offices can be studied and used with verification to reduce the present data deprivation. Immediately after the Gorkha Earthquake of 2015, several data initiatives began in Nepal, which must have helped the government in formulating development plans and policies on the disaster. Equally significant is the need for adding new dimensions to the periodic surveys and census conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). CBS is the major government body to collect data -chiefly the demographic ones -through a decade-gap census in Nepal. 
Digital literacy can be one more category to collect data in the upcoming census. Similarly, periodic surveys are conducted so that necessary data are supplied to the National Planning Commission (NPC). Based on the data, NPC formulates periodic plans. Current SDG indicators must have been set based on the CBS data-system. 
Conclusively, whether it is an ordinary event or mega development project, data is a prerequisite. The use of reliable data produced by various institutions can be an option to meet present needs. For this to happen, wider collaboration and cooperation is imperative. 
If the data produced by those except CBS are not credible, assistance for credibility can be extended. In the present digital time, it is a shame for us to be deprived of data. Equally worrying is the fact that research seems the most neglected genre chiefly because of the dearth of a budget for it. 
Nepal needs huge investment in research to produce voluminous data required every day for planning, executing and monitoring and evaluating the development.
 
(Ghimire is a journalist with the
National News Agency, who writes on contemporary issues.)