IATI unites global leaders in Bogota

IATI held its annual Members’ Assembly and Community Exchange in Bogotá, Colombia (23 - 25 April), a four-day event bringing together global leaders to chart the future of transparency and accountability of aid and humanitarian resources.

Hosted by Colombia’s Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC) and the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), it marks IATI’s first annual meeting in the Latin American region.

It brings together a diverse group of donors, civil society and private sector organisations to co-create innovative solutions and share best practices for transparency in the development and humanitarian aid sector.

“Colombia’s commitment to transparency and open data makes Bogotá an ideal backdrop for our Community Exchange” said Thea Schepers, newly-elected Chair of the IATI Governing Board. “By hosting this event, APC and DANE are building on Colombia’s leadership and innovation in South-South cooperation to drive development transparency throughout the region.”

Eleonora Betancur González, Director at APC Colombia highlighted the importance of fostering collaboration around data infrastructure. “On our recent tour of Africa, Colombia was highlighted as a leader in strengthening the national statistical systems of Ghana and Kenya. This demonstrates the great work we are doing in our country in terms of data and the potential of South-South Cooperation for the exchange of capabilities.”

Andrea Ramírez Pisco, Deputy Director of DANE, said “the Colombian government has prioritised strengthening the transparency and availability of data about development cooperation, recognizing that it is an element essential to optimise the impact of our resources towards compliance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

She also highlighted the importance of the Community Exchange where he mentioned the importance of the sessions and the role they will have in the fifth edition of the United Nations World Data Forum, which will be held in November in Medellín, Colombia.

Providing opening remarks on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the IATI Community Exchange, Alejandro Pacheco, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Colombia said: “In a world where mis-and false information are spreading faster than the truth, reliable data and resulting fact-based reporting on current situations are more important than ever. It is incumbent on each one of us, partner country governments, donors and civil society organisations, and aid and development organisations to support IATI and the free access to high quality data.”

For more information about the IATI Members’ Assembly and the Community Exchange, including session recordings and presentations see IATI Connect. For any questions about the event email [email protected].