The large-scale digitalization of various aspects of the social, economic and individual behaviors within and across countries resulted in a radical change in the nature and volumes of data on socio-economic developments. Its application is changing, with demand going beyond the traditional scope. Data is generated essentially everywhere: by use of mobile devices, GPS and other sensors, household appliances, spacecraft, and social networks. Its composition is becoming more varied and it is constantly updated. These data sources can be very useful for policy purposes of developing the 3rd Qatar National Development Strategy and mainstreaming the SDGs.
The range of data sources is also expanding, along with the generated data types including common quantitative and qualitative characteristics of various objects, processes, or phenomena, and textual, audio-visual, and other “technological” formats. New data can supplement or refine the results of previous observations, or even radically change them.
Due to the growth rate and increasing complexity of global processes, the role of official statistics has profoundly changed. The report of the fifty-third session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, Welcomed the report of the Working Group on Data Stewardship, appreciated the work accomplished. The report “recommended the development of a framework outlining the definition and application of the data stewardship concept, the advantages of assigning the role of data steward to the national statistical office."