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Harare, Zimbabwe – 9 July 2025 – Zimbabwe marked a major milestone in its development journey on Wednesday with the official launch of the OpenSDG Data Portal at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC). The new platform is set to revolutionise the way the country collects, shares, and uses data to advance its national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speaking at the event, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Zimbabwe, His Excellency Edward Kallon, hailed the launch as more than a technical achievement, describing it as “a strategic milestone signalling Zimbabwe’s deep commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to an evidence-based development path that is inclusive and transparent.”
Mr. Kallon delivered warm salutations to senior officials in attendance, including Dr. Martin Rushwaya, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet; Mr. Chiringa, Provincial Affairs and Devolution (Harare Metropolitan); Mr. S. Masanga, Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Ms. T. Bandama, Director General of ZIMSTAT; senior government officials, UN colleagues, and all participants.
“Data at the Heart of Development”
In his remarks, Mr. Kallon emphasised that credible, disaggregated, timely, and accessible data lies at the heart of sustainable development. He commended the Government of Zimbabwe for its bold, visionary step in launching the portal, noting that it demonstrates a national resolve to ground development in evidence and measurable outcomes.
He extended particular appreciation to:
– The Office of the President and Cabinet for its strong and consistent leadership,
– The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for coordinating this complex, multi-sectoral effort,
– ZIMSTAT for its technical rigor, ensuring data credibility and alignment with global SDG indicators,
And all line ministries and departments for their tireless work compiling, validating, and sharing critical sectoral data.
Urgent Need for Action
Mr. Kallon’s remarks highlighted the global context that makes Zimbabwe’s OpenSDG Data Portal both timely and essential. Referring to the 2024 SDG Progress Report, he reminded the audience that only 17% of assessed SDG targets are on track globally, while 48% are moderately or severely off-course and 17% have actually regressed.
“This reality signals an urgent call to action,” he said. “It is through platforms like this that we can identify where we are succeeding, where we are falling short, and most importantly, how we can respond with speed and precision to accelerate progress.”
Alignment with Global Commitments
Mr. Kallon also connected Zimbabwe’s initiative to broader international efforts. He noted that the launch comes as the global community adopts a new Pact for the Future, which renews multilateralism and commits to accelerating the 2030 Agenda with a special emphasis on science, technology, data, and innovation.
“Zimbabwe’s OpenSDG Data Portal is a concrete expression of this spirit,” he said. “It leverages data to drive development, fosters transparency, and empowers institutions and citizens alike.”
The OpenSDG Data Portal is expected to serve multiple critical functions:
– Supporting evaluation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) by providing robust evidence on what has worked and where adjustments are needed.
– Informing the design and implementation of NDS2, ensuring an even more results-oriented and inclusive approach.
– Tracking progress toward Vision 2030, Zimbabwe’s goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy that leaves no one behind.
Equally important, Mr. Kallon underscored, is the portal’s role in supporting Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). By offering disaggregated, sub-national data, the platform will enable communities, local authorities, and provinces to monitor their own contributions to national goals.
“Ultimately, disaggregated, local-level data empowers decision-makers to be more responsive and enables citizens to participate more meaningfully in shaping development outcomes in their communities,” he explained.
Sustaining the Vision
Mr. Kallon urged the Government of Zimbabwe to continue investing in national data systems, ensuring they remain timely, high-quality, and disaggregated—especially at sub-national levels. He also called for institutionalising the use of the portal across government, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
“Data is no longer a luxury. It is a strategic asset,” he said. “When disaggregated by sex, age, geography, income level, disability status, and other dimensions, data becomes a powerful tool to uncover inequalities, inform inclusive policies, and target resources where they are needed most.”
The UN’s Commitment
Concluding his address, Mr. Kallon reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s data revolution through capacity development, technical assistance, and inclusive data governance.
Quoting UN Secretary-General António Guterres, he reminded the audience: “Accurate data is the lifeblood of good policy and decision-making.”
“Without high-quality, timely, disaggregated, and accessible data, it will be impossible to deliver the accelerated action required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Vision 2030, and our national development priorities,” Mr. Kallon said.
“Today, Zimbabwe takes a bold and commendable step in that direction with the launch of the OpenSDG Data Portal. As the United Nations family, we are proud to stand with you on this journey.”
“Let us now move forward together to turn data into action, and action into impact.”
