It’s been a while since “other data” usage to inform the population, or to show that decisions that are made are the correct ones has been on the rise. Many of these “other data” are not verifiable nor does documentation exist that backs them up. Frequently that data has been contradicted by official information or from information outside the government. 

To maximize the effectiveness of public policy we need reliable and timely information to evaluate processes, monitor performance and measure results. Therefore in Mexico, we have built institutions and instruments to evaluate public policy to improve their design and impact. A condition to assure the credibility of these institutions has been to isolate them from the powers of the state and to establish them as autonomous constitutional organs. 

There have been spending reductions and there are budgeting threats to several of these institutions as INEGI – data producers- (National Institute of Statistics and Geography, from the Spanish acronym INEGI); The National Human Rights Commission -Data on rights violations- (from the Spanish acronym CNDH), or the National Institute of Public Information Access and Protection of Personal Information -the guarantor of the access to public information- (from the Spanish acronym INAI) and the INE (National Electoral Institute, from the Spanish acronym). The production of information from state ministries and other public entities has also stopped, even if law mandates it. 

A cloud that darkens the knowledge of our reality and the effectiveness of the public policy is prowling us.

We are a civil society body, nonpartisan, nonprofit, ruled by a council formed by high profile people, recognized in Mexico and abroad, with a firm commitment for the democratic and freedom principles that give birth to the organization, which projects are coordinated by an executive director. The council counts with an Executive Committee, with a Specialist Assessment Committee and a Communications Assessment Committee.

The Executive committee is in charge of establishing its policies, supervising the activities for Signos Vitales, promotion and broadcast, gather funds for the operation, and monitor compliance with the current regulations.

High profile people with recognition and trajectory form the Specialist Assessment Committee. Their tasks consist of counsel on the pertinence of Signos Vitales, the way they should be measured, the data sources and the information processing methodology presented, as well as voice their opinion pertaining the content of the reports and contribute to its broadcast and incidence at a national and international level.

Experts respected in the field of communications form the Communication Assessment Committee. Their tasks are to counsel on the mechanisms to manage an effective communication of the products from Signos Vitales to different audiences, as well as to contribute to their broadcast and incidence at a national and international level.