Elena Proden (PhD) is a Senior Specialist and Team Leader, Strategic Implementation of the 2030 Agenda Unit, UNITAR. Trained as a development economist, Elena has been leading a UNITAR team working on strategic planning, data and monitoring in support of SDGs. The focus of support to NSOs is on strengthening their capacities as well as those of other stakeholders to unlock the full value of data for sustainable development in close link with immediate and future national and local-level policy-making needs. Elena has been working on capacity development on data partnerships, governance and planning, data analysis, using econometric and machine learning techniques, statistical literacy of data users and contributors. She has also been working on experimental statistics and applied research and developing policy recommendations on leveraging new data sources, including citizen and earth observation data. She is also current Chair of the Global Network of Institutions for Statistical Training.