Data-driven tools can support decision-making and improve implementation – especially in crises like COVID-19 Following major shocks due to conflict, natural disasters, or even pandemics such as COVID-19, this kind of data collection can be impossible or too slow to be useful. Governments and development organizations can sometimes find themselves in a catch-22, with well-designed interventions being most needed in the very places where timely data are impossible to collect.
To improve our ability to respond to these challenges, the World Bank has developed an innovative toolbox for rapid data collection and evidence-based policymaking. The first suite of tools aims to collect poverty and inequality data in a timely and cost-effective way, while the second helps managers make informed decisions related to portfolio allocation, project targeting, and project monitoring. The tools help projects to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and reach the people most in need of assista