Training
Data is one of the key resources in development cooperation. Analysis, planning, monitoring and evaluation all depend on data. However, to find data and to be able to use it appropriately is not always easy. In the context of the Open Aid Data Conference we are therefore organising a data training on the 28th of September for staff members of non-governmental organisations and other interested participants of the conference.
Aidinfo is one programme of the British NGO Development Initiatives (DI). DI has eighteen years experience of analysing aid policy and statistics, working with a wide range of stakeholders to help them use this data in their own work. This has given us detailed knowledge of how the existing data can be used, and of the gaps and limitations which obstruct monitoring, accountability, effective planning and ownership.
Development Initiatives has a good knowledge of the constraints that face both users and providers of aid information.Through its workshops, DI aims to help participants understand what information is available, how to access this information and the limitations of the information. The training will contain the following elements:
- A discussion of why participants want access to information on aid flows, the information that they currently use and the information they would like to be able to access and use
- An overview of the producers of information on aid flows and the different systems for collecting and storing information
- A detailed look at the OECD DAC statistics systems, including:
- Use of the web-based interfaces to access and manipulate data
- Definitions of key terms and how they are represented in the data (e.g. bilateral vs multilateral, commitment vs disbursement)
- Strengths and weaknesses of the data
- Live demonstration / interactive session – a chance to work through specific questions from the group
- Use of data for policy and advocacy purposes e.g. sectoral data, humanitarian data
- An overview and discussion of the changing aid information landscape – IATI, linking to information on other resources.
If you are interested in participating in this training, please use the registration form of the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation.