DevInfo
Encyclopedia
DevInfo is a database system developed under the auspices of the United Nations
and endorsed by the United Nations Development Group for monitoring human development with the specific purpose of monitoring the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), which is a set of Human Development Indicators. DevInfo is a tool for organizing, storing and presenting data in a uniform way to facilitate data sharing at the country level across government departments, UN agencies and development partners. It is distributed royalty-free to all UN member states. It is a further development of the earlier UNICEF database system ChildInfo.
The Global DevInfo Initiative, led by UNICEF on behalf of the UN system, is dedicated to furthering human development
by offering information technology
-based solutions aimed at addressing development-related challenges. This is achieved by integrating management information systems, geographic information systems, software training, technical support services, data dissemination solutions and technical publications. The DevInfo Initiative takes a strategic approach towards strengthening the monitoring and evaluation capacity of governments and agencies by developing innovative technological solutions to better track human development progress.
DevInfo strives to add value to national statistics
systems by complementing existing databases and bridging data dissemination gaps, with the objective of more fully engaging both government and civil society in policy choices for human development that yield measurable results.
DevInfo implementation is supported by trained experts at the country, regional, and global levels, and through support services provided by the DevInfo Support Group consisting of international staff located around the world.
that can be downloaded from the DevInfo website. The software is easily customizable, allowing DevInfo to have been adapted to over 370 customized adaptations so far.
By the end of March 2011, 137 countries had developed national statistical data systems based on DevInfo. They include:
By the end of 2010, training had been provided to at least 213 countries in the use of DevInfo.
In addition to the adaptations made using the DevInfo platform are some customized data visualization applications developed by the DevInfo initiative such as:
ChildInfo - UNICEF developed a database to monitor the World Summit for Children
goals and offered the technology to the UN system to monitor human development. ChildInfo is a database management system launched in 1995 by UNICEF to monitor the worldwide situation of children and women. ChildInfo was the system which preceded DevInfo. It provides powerful features to organize data on social indicators and query data by indicator, time period and area. Correct interpretation of the data generated by ChildInfo helps governments protect the rights, improve health, and nurture development of children and women.
(2004–2005)
DevInfo 4.0 - ChildInfo was upgraded and launched as DevInfo 4.0 with UN Development Group endorsement in April 2004. The system provides access to indicators organized by sectors, goals, themes and other data management schemes. DevInfo 4.0 is a user-friendly software application for easy presentation of data in tables, graphs and maps, which can be included in MDG reports, presentations and advocacy materials. DevInfo 4.0 contributed to setting universal standards for data storage, access and dissemination of human development indicators, specifically the MDGs.
(2006–2008)
DevInfo 5.0 - This updated version featuring state-of-the-art database technology was launched in May 2006 with royalty-free distribution as a desktop application and on the web. DevInfo 5.0 offers an intuitive user interface providing easy navigations to search for data and produce customizable tables, graphs and maps. Compliant with emerging international standards for metadata (SDMX
), the system contains a powerful data exchange module enabling users to easily share data across a variety of formats.
(2009)
DevInfo 6.0 - A powerful new version of DevInfo database technology, DevInfo 6.0 delivers significant enhancements for easy access to information on human development. Building on the technology of DevInfo 5.0, DevInfo 6.0 contains significant advancements in usability with a reduced learning curve for first-time users. The database system boasts greatly improved performance for large data sets and includes new animated data presentation objects. Two toolbars contain buttons which help users easily navigate through the system to search for data, analyze the results, and create presentation objects.
networking such as Facebook
and Twitter
, as well as its own online forum, diForum to allow users to connect with each other and share experiences and difficulties in human development.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and endorsed by the United Nations Development Group for monitoring human development with the specific purpose of monitoring the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
(MDGs), which is a set of Human Development Indicators. DevInfo is a tool for organizing, storing and presenting data in a uniform way to facilitate data sharing at the country level across government departments, UN agencies and development partners. It is distributed royalty-free to all UN member states. It is a further development of the earlier UNICEF database system ChildInfo.
The Global DevInfo Initiative, led by UNICEF on behalf of the UN system, is dedicated to furthering human development
Human development (humanity)
Human development in the scope of humanity, specifically international development, is an international and economic development paradigm that is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. People are the real wealth of nations...
by offering information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
-based solutions aimed at addressing development-related challenges. This is achieved by integrating management information systems, geographic information systems, software training, technical support services, data dissemination solutions and technical publications. The DevInfo Initiative takes a strategic approach towards strengthening the monitoring and evaluation capacity of governments and agencies by developing innovative technological solutions to better track human development progress.
Description and history
The DevInfo Initiative supports a vision of a day when national and local governments use internationally-accepted common database standards for tracking human development indicators, containing high-quality data with adequate coverage and depth to sustain good governance around the agenda of achieving development goals.DevInfo strives to add value to national statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
systems by complementing existing databases and bridging data dissemination gaps, with the objective of more fully engaging both government and civil society in policy choices for human development that yield measurable results.
DevInfo implementation is supported by trained experts at the country, regional, and global levels, and through support services provided by the DevInfo Support Group consisting of international staff located around the world.
Ownership
The UN System maintains proprietary ownership of the DevInfo software, which is managed on behalf its behalf by UNICEF, with the support of the UNDG.Application and use
The DevInfo software is free softwareFree software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
that can be downloaded from the DevInfo website. The software is easily customizable, allowing DevInfo to have been adapted to over 370 customized adaptations so far.
By the end of March 2011, 137 countries had developed national statistical data systems based on DevInfo. They include:
- BeninBeninBenin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
(BenInfo, 2008) - BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(ODMInfo, 2010) - CambodiaCambodiaCambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
(CamInfo, 2010) - Russian Federation (MCInfo, 2009)
- Pacific IslandsPacific IslandsThe Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
(PacificInfo, 2010)
By the end of 2010, training had been provided to at least 213 countries in the use of DevInfo.
In addition to the adaptations made using the DevInfo platform are some customized data visualization applications developed by the DevInfo initiative such as:
- CME Info which allows users to generate estimate graphs on child mortalityChild mortalityChild mortality, also known as under-5 mortality, refers to the death of infants and children under the age of five. In 2010, 7.6 million children under five died , down from 8.1 million in 2009, 8.8 million in 2008, and 12.4 million in 1990. About half of child deaths occur in Africa....
indicators. - MICS Compiler provides easy access to viewing data on key indicators collected through UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.
- di Visualizer which allows users to view and present data in animated scatter plots, to explore trends over time.
- CensusInfo - is an innovative and flexible database technology for the dissemination of population and housing census results.
- EmergencyInfo is a powerful decision support system, based on DevInfo database technology that helps people to respond better in emergency situations.
- Polio Communication Info is a DevInfo 6.0 adaptation launched jointly by the Government of India and UNICEF intended to monitor and track polio eradication programmes in Northern India.
Release history and future releases
(1995–2003)ChildInfo - UNICEF developed a database to monitor the World Summit for Children
World Summit for Children
The United Nations World Summit for Children was held in New York on 29-30 September 1990, bringing together the then-largest-ever gathering of heads of state and government to commit to a set of goals to improve the well-being of children worldwide by the year 2000. The summit was the brain-child...
goals and offered the technology to the UN system to monitor human development. ChildInfo is a database management system launched in 1995 by UNICEF to monitor the worldwide situation of children and women. ChildInfo was the system which preceded DevInfo. It provides powerful features to organize data on social indicators and query data by indicator, time period and area. Correct interpretation of the data generated by ChildInfo helps governments protect the rights, improve health, and nurture development of children and women.
(2004–2005)
DevInfo 4.0 - ChildInfo was upgraded and launched as DevInfo 4.0 with UN Development Group endorsement in April 2004. The system provides access to indicators organized by sectors, goals, themes and other data management schemes. DevInfo 4.0 is a user-friendly software application for easy presentation of data in tables, graphs and maps, which can be included in MDG reports, presentations and advocacy materials. DevInfo 4.0 contributed to setting universal standards for data storage, access and dissemination of human development indicators, specifically the MDGs.
(2006–2008)
DevInfo 5.0 - This updated version featuring state-of-the-art database technology was launched in May 2006 with royalty-free distribution as a desktop application and on the web. DevInfo 5.0 offers an intuitive user interface providing easy navigations to search for data and produce customizable tables, graphs and maps. Compliant with emerging international standards for metadata (SDMX
SDMX
SDMX is an initiative to foster standards for the exchange of statistical information. It started in 2001 and aims at fostering standards for Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange...
), the system contains a powerful data exchange module enabling users to easily share data across a variety of formats.
(2009)
DevInfo 6.0 - A powerful new version of DevInfo database technology, DevInfo 6.0 delivers significant enhancements for easy access to information on human development. Building on the technology of DevInfo 5.0, DevInfo 6.0 contains significant advancements in usability with a reduced learning curve for first-time users. The database system boasts greatly improved performance for large data sets and includes new animated data presentation objects. Two toolbars contain buttons which help users easily navigate through the system to search for data, analyze the results, and create presentation objects.
Social Media
DevInfo uses social mediaSocial media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
networking such as Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, as well as its own online forum, diForum to allow users to connect with each other and share experiences and difficulties in human development.
External links
- ChildInfo: What is DevInfo
- Nicolas Pron: Introduction to DevInfo
- OECD: Data and Metadata Standards for Monitoring Human Development Indicators
- UNDG: What is DevInfo
- CME Info: Introductory video