Capacity Building for Data-Driven Governance
Data-driven governance requires more than investment in digital systems – it requires the human and institutional capacity to generate, manage, and use data effectively. DPIC’s capacity building program works directly with line departments of the Government of Odisha to develop precisely these capabilities: building data inventories, creating metadata catalogues, improving data management practices, and building a foundation for data use in governance.
This work strengthens data governance across departments, improving how data is documented, managed, and shared, and laying the foundation for responsible use of data science and AI tools in governance.
Transforming Data and Using Data for Transformation.
— Anu Garg, Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha
Data Capabilities Assessment
DPIC conducted a comprehensive Data Capabilities Assessment across line departments of the Government of Odisha, using structured interviews with officials ranging from Additional Secretary to Section Officer level. The assessment mapped existing data systems, identified gaps in documentation and data quality, and established a baseline for structured capacity building.
Findings were presented at a high-level meeting chaired by the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary in April 2025. Key decisions included:
Appointment of a dedicated Data Officer in each
department
Preparation of departmental data inventories and metadata catalogues
Conduct of structured self-assessments on data capabilities
The appointment of Data Officers created a statewide network of officials with explicit responsibility for strengthening data systems and serving as institutional counterparts to DPIC within their departments.
Capacity Building Workshops
DPIC has conducted three workshops with Data Officers to date, designed as a progressive series, each building on the last and moving from conceptual foundations toward practical implementation.
May 2025
Kick-Off Workshop — Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
A two-day residential program organised in collaboration with the Centre for Data for Public Good (CDPG) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), bringing together 20 Data Officers from multiple departments. Sessions introduced frameworks for data quality, metadata documentation, statistical standards, and responsible data, sharing positioning data as a governance tool rather than a compliance obligation.
January 2026
Virtual Workshop on Data Catalogues and Metadata
Focused on clarifying data formats and metadata standards, addressing technical queries, and supporting departments as they initiated documentation and inventory preparation.
February 2026
Hands-On Workshop — OCAC Training Centre, Bhubaneswar
A two-day practical workshop bringing together 40 Data Officers including officers from the Department of Economics and Statistics. Participants received hands-on training in preparing structured data inventories, developing metadata catalogues and data dictionaries, and assessing dataset quality across core dimensions. Organised in collaboration with OCAC, the workshop marked a shift from awareness to implementation.
Media Coverage
Odisha Post featured the workshop and its focus on strengthening data governance across departments.
The Road Ahead
Building a data culture within government requires institutional anchors, practical tools, and consistent engagement. Through structured assessment, the Data Officer network, and progressive training, DPIC is supporting the Government of Odisha in establishing the foundations for long-term, data-driven governance. As departments develop structured inventories and standardised metadata, the state strengthens its ability to integrate datasets across sectors and improve data visibility and usability across government.