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    A bumpy road: Using data to inform policymaking

    Using data to inform policymaking in developing countries may sound like a no-brainer, but it's easier said than done. South Korea, South Africa and Indonesia have learned that the road to making it happen can certainly be full of uncertainty and hide unexpected surprises.

    By Jenny Lei Ravelo // 02 December 2014

    Using data to inform policy decisions in developing countries may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s easier said than done, and the experience of some nations shows that the road to making it happen can certainly be a bumpy one, full of uncertainty and surprises.

    Take the case of South Korea, considered a roaring success story in global development after turning from aid recipient to emerging donor in just a few decades.

    A year ago, the mayor of Seoul, the country’s capital, was mulling over how to respond to citizen demands to set up a late-night bus service to fill the public transportation gap when the subway was closed between midnight and 5 a.m. Since drivers had to be paid double their daytime salary, the city only had budget to cover nine routes.

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    About the author

    • Jenny Lei Ravelo

      Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo

      Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.

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