By Karen Chavez, Latin America & the Caribbean Program Manager
Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
National Statistical Systems have opened the door to include more organizations as official data producers beyond the National Statistical Offices (NSOs). The citizen data (CD) approach, a unique opportunity to connect NSOs with citizens, is not just about producing better data but about improving lives. It represents a chance for citizens to actively participate in these production processes, knowing that their contributions can make a real difference in the quality of life for everyone.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, DANE (the Spanish acronym for the National Statistics Institute of Colombia) has been actively engaged in global discussions on citizen data since 2020. Under its most recent National Statistical Plan, launched at the end of 2023, DANE has been tasked with establishing a national citizen data framework. In response to country demands, the Global Partnership has been supporting DANE's work over the past year, with a current focus on two main areas: developing the national CD framework and implementing it through pilot exercises.
Encouraging citizen participation in data
By adding technical expertise and a strategic perspective to the overall process of building the Colombian citizen data framework, initial efforts to engage with citizens, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in the data ecosystem have made significant progress. Two workshops with participatory approaches and open discussions have already been conducted to introduce DANE's work — one in person in Bogotá (the capital city) and one virtual, including organizations from across Colombia. These exercises have confirmed citizens' interest in participating in official statistical production processes from the early stages and have revealed the existence of diverse and isolated data collection projects that were not previously recognized as part of the official data. This momentum and enthusiasm is driving the approach forward.
Colombia's participation in the Make Inclusive Data the Norm (MIDN) initiative, funded by APC-Colombia, has provided an opportunity to enhance its work on citizen data, as MIDN allocates resources for conducting a pilot exercise. After analyzing Colombia's priorities in citizen data, it was collectively decided that the country's NSO should focus on developing an app to collect data from citizens, capturing their perceptions of discrimination and public service accessibility. This development includes a tailored design of training activities aimed at enhancing DANE's skills for app development, as well as discussions with other government institutions and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to ensure that the collected data will be relevant for public policy design and that communities will feel represented. This is done in close collaboration with the Vice Presidency, the Ministry of Equity and experts in work with Civil Society.
Guided by the inclusivity approach and the results of previous virtual exercises, MIDN proposed focusing on working with subnational data systems. In addition to the regular consultations on key variables for national public policy authorities, DANE will organize in-person events in several cities to propose collaboration mechanisms with stakeholders at subnational levels from now until the pilot of the app is conducted in 2025. In the preliminary stages of planning these discussions at subnational levels, stakeholders beyond CSOs, such as academia, have expressed their interest in participating.
Exchanging knowledge with partner countries
Furthermore, Colombia has gained and will continue to gain knowledge from its partner countries within MIDN, which have previously worked on citizen data. Kenya established a quality framework, and Ghana developed apps for collecting data. Starting with the workshop held during the project's launch event in April 2024, the South-to-South learning process will continue through virtual exchanges and the CD gathering in Colombia as a pre-event to the UN World Data Forum in November 2024.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, DANE has been at the forefront of innovations in official statistical production in recent years, and the citizen data approach is no exception. The Global Partnership has supported this innovation journey as a solution broker by delivering work plans around innovations in conceptual approaches and data collection techniques, as a learning convenor by assessing needs and planning tailored training sessions, and as a coalition builder by establishing national and global partnerships. This is a clear example of how innovations can unlock the power of data.
Now, the call to action is clear: the citizen data approach is a powerful tool, and we all could be an essential part of it. Whether you are a policymaker, data scientist, community organizer, or concerned citizen, the CD approach opens the door for you to take an active role in official data production. Your involvement is crucial in amplifying voices, co-creating solutions, and advocating for inclusive, accountable, and timely data practices that empower individuals and communities to thrive. Together, let us harness the power of citizen data to build a more equitable future for all.
