UNIDO Industrial Analytics Platform
UNIDO
(
United Nations / Multilateral body
)
#SDGAction33570
Description
The UNIDO Industrial Analytics Platform (IAP) is an innovative data-based tool providing internationally-comparable information and in-depth analytical insights on the different dimensions of inclusive and sustainable industrial development. Among its features, the platform includes the SDG-9 Industry Tracker, which helps monitoring countries’ performance and progress towards SDG 9 industry-related targets through accessible and engaging data visualizations and dashboards. In addition to facilitating analysis and research on industrial development, this tool provides essential evidence for monitoring progress and guiding industrial policy.
The IAP project was conceived as an innovative online knowledge hub that promoted the use of data for policymaking and for driving the discourse on inclusive and sustainable industrialization. The first phase of the project saw the creation of the platform, as well as its different sections: data explorer, country profiles and articles. To further align the IAP’s scope towards the 2030 Agenda, the SDG-9 Industry Tracker was added to the data tools during the project’s phase II. The SDG-9 Industry Tracker is based on UNIDO’s own methodology and data, and its implementation was possible with the support of an IT provider who contributed with the design and development of the final product. The monitoring of the IAP is based on the platform’s performance as evaluated in Google Analytics, with automatic monthly reporting of its users and page views. The project is fully funded through contributions from the government of Germany. In addition to this financial support, the IAP and its features became possible by the coordinated efforts of UNIDO in-house human resources, including experts on industrial policy, statistics and communications.
The IAP and its different features quickly became one of the most consulted outputs of UNIDO, with large number of users from different communities, including policymakers, researchers and other practitioners. Moreover, the analytical insights and op-eds featured in the IAP, largely based on data of the platform itself, feature among UNIDO’s most successful media stories based on the number of readers. The platform has contributed to the dissemination official SDG statistics that can be used to define baselines, analyse trends and monitor progress towards the targets. SDG 9 is considered one of the most underfunded and understudied areas of the 2030 Agenda. The IAP contributes to bridge this gap by providing a relevant and comprehensive set of metrics on inclusive and sustainable industrial development and its essential role in achieving the 2030 Agenda.
The IAP tool is enabled by UNIDO’s long-standing engagement in industrial statistics, including its custodianship of six SDG-9 indicators. The platform became possible by generous support from the government of Germany, as well as data sharing agreements with multiple partners, including UN organisations and private institutes. The project was implemented by a team of officers combining a range of skills, including experts on industrial policy, statistics and communication. The online platform, made available free of access to users, represents a successful practice for the dissemination of SDG-9 related evidence in a cost-effective manner.
The IAP and its different features required a relatively large investment, in terms of time, financial and human resources, during its initial phase, which included the design and implementation of the platform. However, regular updates and analytical pieces can subsequently be realised under more limited resources, since they are based on established data flows within UNIDO and its network of partners. The platform is well integrated with UNIDO IT infrastructure, which also provides efficiency in its regular maintenance. However, constant revisions and updates are still required, particularly when adding new data sources and indicators in the future. The IAP is a global data-based tool that can continue evolving to capture industrial development in greater detail. The IAP could be used as a blueprint for other tools to monitor specific areas of sustainable development.
- UNIDO’s Industrial Analytics Platform, where the SDG-9 Industry Tracker is hosted: https://iap.unido.org - UNIDO’s Industrial Analytics Platform on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/unido-iap - Video of the SDG-9 Industry Tracker: https://youtu.be/lEDJEoFNRpY - Video of the SDG-9 Industry Tracker launch event: https://youtu.be/xyjeBnZD01Y - Playlist of UNIDO’s Industrial Analytics Platform workshops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvaam1VlJTw&list=PLu54zbUJCBPnG8Ro4NwTs0iebCYrN8DpT - Press release: https://www.unido.org/news/global-collaboration-key-recovery-and-achieving-sdgs
The IAP, as an online platform, has not been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. However, future reporting of industrial statistics may be affected in cases where 2020 and 2021 data collection was disrupted at the country level. UNIDO is working closely with its member States to support capacities in producing industrial statistics and exploring ways to reduce data gaps. Early evidence show that manufacturing played a key role in those economies that recovered rapidly from the crisis. The IAP can contribute in the recovery efforts by providing a complete set of evidence on the situation before the crisis and the impacts that the pandemic-related confinement measures had on different industrial sectors, and guide policymakers in implementing programmes to support the recovery.
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Other beneficiaries
The main beneficiaries of this practice are policymakers, researchers, members of academia and users from the private sector. Beyond practitioners working on industrial development, there are numerous users from other areas: environment, agricultural development, trade, gender, etc. IAP became possible through a large network of partners providing data, including national statistical offices, organisations of the UN system and private institutes.
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Contact Information
Fernando, Chief Statistician