Data investments are costly and investment decisions need to be guided by a clear understanding of which data solutions best fits the need. However, too often the need is not clear.
For example, when we ask policy makers about their food and nutrition data needs, a common response is “we need a dashboard!” In our first project cycle, DataDENT developed resources to support the design of effective dashboards and scorecards. A key principle from that work is that a dashboard or scorecard is only as effective as the data that populates it. These tools can make data more accessible to data users, but they will not generate data to fill gaps. It’s important to clarify whether the need is for new data collection and/or a dashboard.
Icon. Question check list & data visualization.
Learning from Ethiopia and Nigeria
Through our work with food and nutrition stakeholders in Ethiopia and Nigeria, DataDENT has identified common gaps across the data value chain and explored feasible solutions. Two lessons from these engagements include:
- Always start with a clear data use case. Countries are best served by data value chain investments when they clearly define how data will be used in practice – whether for policy design, budget planning, program implementation, or accountability – and prioritize investments that directly support those use cases. Just because an indicator can be collected in a survey or administrative data system does not mean it should be. There needs to be a clear connection for that data collection to a priority use case.
- Sustainable solutions need to be aligned with existing data infrastructure, coordination mechanisms, and resources. Food and nutrition data solutions – such as adding indicators to administrative information systems, launching new surveys, or building dashboards – require significant investments of time, money, and human capacity. The solutions should be “right sized” available resources. For example, instead of collecting more data, implement solutions that will improve the quality and accessibility of existing data.
Introducing Guiding Questions for Country Decision-Makers
To help country actors navigate these choices, DataDENT has developed a set of questions and accompanying case studies that guide users through key considerations along the food and nutrition data value chain. Rather than prescribing a single “best” solution, the brief helps to identify the most feasible and strategic choices for the context. Examples of solutions reflected in the brief include:
- Adding food and nutrition indicators to an upcoming DHS or MICS survey or to a sector’s administrative data system (e.g., HMIS, AgMIS)
- Building a new multisectoral food and nutrition administrative data system
- Deploying more targeted data collection through focal points for time-sensitive decision needs
- Establishing an integrated multisectoral food and nutrition data dashboard
- Sharing key data for a one-time decision through a more focused report
Supporting better, more sustainable data decisions
Multisectoral food and nutrition data ecosystems are complex. This brief helps country actors make more deliberate choices about whether and how to invest in them. Ultimately, the tool aims to support decision makers in determining strategic, right-sized solutions to improve data use.
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