Private Sector Data Builds More Peaceful and Inclusive Societies

The Role of the Private Sector in Support of Reporting Under SDG 16 explores how businesses can contribute the much-needed data required to promote more peaceful and inclusive societies. The report was a collaboration of OEF Research, a program of One Earth Future, and the Global Alliance for Reporting Progress on Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.  

The study gives several examples of how businesses have supported the collection and release of data relating to peace and good governance. These include:

• Microsoft’s partnership with the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights to track, analyze, and report human rights violations
• Facebook’s partnership with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank to identify and survey small business owners globally on the role of gender in entrepreneurship
• Kenyan telecom Safaricom’s tracking and blocking of violence-promoting messages
• Crowd-sourced mapping platform Ushahidi’s needs assessment of communities affected by conflict, violence, and natural disasters

Based on a survey of members of the private sector, the report finds that 86 percent of respondents associated with transnational companies felt that their company had information related to SDG 16, including corruption, public services, and representativeness of government in countries where they operated.

A smaller proportion felt that their company had information about issues relating to rates of violent death and political violence.

Respondents felt that companies would be more likely to report these data if there was an intermediary third-party who collected and released the anonymous data; if there were legal protections in place allowing the release; and if there were business incentives for working with the government.

“Collecting data is difficult, time-consuming and expensive,” said lead author and director of OEF Research, Dr. Conor Seyle. “Private-public partnerships are effective at extending state resources to collect and release data under SDG 16.”

“We know that private sector engagement is essential to achieving the SDGs,” said Global Alliance coordinator, Lucy Turner. “Yet government, business, and civil society often lack concrete opportunities to connect. We should engage business as a true partner in the development process."

As United Nations member states and world leaders work toward the achievement of the SDGs, reliable statistics are more important than ever. Contributions from the private sector can end poverty, protect, the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

For more information please contact Jean-Pierre Larroque of One Earth Future at [email protected]

About the Global Alliance for Reporting Progress on Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies:

The Global Alliance is a coordinating platform for UN Member States, private sector, civil society, and international entities to work together to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. The Global Alliance leverages reporting processes to enable diverse actors to define shared goals, and innovative, evidence-based action to achieve them. It is led by a Steering Committee including Cabo Verde, Mexico, Norway, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Tunisia and United Kingdom; civil society organisations the New York University Centre on International Cooperation (NYU CIC), Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA); and private sector companies Deloitte Ltd, LexisNexis, and White & Case LLP. Co- facilitators include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

About OEF Research, a program of One Earth Future:

One Earth Future is a self-funded, private operating foundation seeking to create a more peaceful world through collaborative, data-driven initiatives. We focus on enhancing maritime cooperation, creating sustainable jobs in fragile economies and our research actively contributes to thought leadership on global issues.

As One Earth Future’s think tank program focused on global peace and security, OEF Research conducts empirical research on the predictors of peace and on the role of good governance in building and sustaining peace. They share that research with scholars, policy makers and all interested in a more peaceful world through their published reports, discussion papers and educational forums.