These articles focus on the development of digital data infrastructure: how to maximize the social and economic value of data by encouraging investment in data infrastructure and services, strengthening data governance, and development of integrated data management infrastructure, platforms, and analytical capabilities.
Leveraging Data to Foster Development: Where Does the MENA Region Stand?
Greater data flows facilitated by the proliferation of broadband connectivity can serve as a driver for economic recovery and long-term growth of the private sector, modernization of public service delivery, and enhanced transparency. With a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, this article applies findings from the World Development Report (WDR) 2021 on how countries can benefit from a data-driven transformation through a new social contract around data underpinned by three pillars: value, trust, and equity. This article first explores ways in which MENA countries can maximize the social and economic value of data by enabling the collection and sharing of data for creative re-use. It then presents a review of legal and institutional safeguards across countries to identify gaps in the MENA region. Finally, the article explores infrastructure policies and economic policies that can enable the benefits of data to be shared equitably in MENA countries. For each of these three pillars, the article provides a review of where countries stand, and identifies opportunities that, if seized, could help ensure that all in MENA — individuals and businesses alike — can thrive in the region’s growing digital economy.
Aligning Data Governance with the Social Contract for Data to Promote Value, Trust, and Equity
In a world where data are becoming an integral part of our lives, data governance has become essential to support the production, use and reuse of data in a safe, ethical, and secure manner. In effect, data governance enforces the social contract around data, by applying the principles of trust, value, and equity. This primer provides an overview of the different elements of a data governance framework as discussed in the World Development Report 2021, Data for Better Lives. The implementation of the different elements of the framework will be specific to a country context, informed by local norms, laws, and culture. Using this framework, a series of briefs accompanying this primer, will explore and review the data governance landscape in different regions with a view to facilitating the region’s pathway to a green, resilient, and inclusive recovery.
Minimum Data Consumption: How Much Is Needed to Support Online Activities, and Is it Affordable?
Lacking access to information and services is considered a welfare depravation. Years ago, access was defined as having a radio or television, but today it has been updated to include an internet connection. For individuals, access to online multimedia educational, health and livelihood content has potential positive impacts on improving welfare. This begs the question: how much data is needed to support online activities? Similar to determining daily calorie requirements for food, or identifying a minimum threshold for household electric energy, the aim of this note is to present an estimate of minimum data consumption level and examine whether it is affordable for low income groups in a diverse selection of developing countries.
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Development in the Post-COVID-19 Era
Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly emerged as an important topic for the global development agenda, and the COVID-19 pandemic is also yielding new and innovative AI applications and solutions. However, the development of AI technologies remains heavily concentrated in a small number of advanced economies which have access to a strong local talent pool, a robust research and development base and access to capital to fuel growth through investment. Many countries that have seen broad development and adoption also have a national strategic direction for AI defined by their governments. This working paper explores some of these approaches to AI across 11 countries at different stages of digital maturity and economic development, mapping initiatives to different policy domain areas and identifying the tools and instruments that have been proposed to implement AI strategies.