What would make you trust a government or organization with your data? That’s one of the prompts on our Data Values playing cards. Since we launched the Data Values project in 2022, people around the world have used the cards, including government teams in Colombia, youth groups in Estonia, New York, and Costa Rica, and civil society partners in Kenya and Ghana.
These prompts started conversations about where data shows up in their daily life and work, who is included or left out, and topics like power, consent, and community representation.. The cards did what they were supposed to, sparking conversation and debate. But they also revealed something more: that when people have simple, well-designed tools, they do more than listen and reflect—they take action.
From a card game to a curriculum
In 2024, Dan Ferris, Associate Professor of Practice at Washington University’s Brown School and Co-Director of Policy Education and Practice at the University’s Center for Social Development, attended an event hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, where we were using the Data Values cards to engage the data and social impact professionals. With Dan, as with other event attendees, the cards worked as intended: encouraging reflection on data equity and catalyzing conversations and collaboration.
With Dan, the card game inspired a discussion on how the Global Partnership and Washington University in St Louis could work together to build on the idea of the playing cards and develop something that encouraged the same engagement but was easier to access, more structured for learning, and longer-lasting for people who care about data values.
A year on, we’re excited to launch the Data Values e-learning course together with the Data for Social Impact initiative at Washington University in St. Louis’s Center for Social Development.
Learning that supports action
In recent years, the e-learning space has blossomed, providing many new learning options for data professionals.
So, why add another one? In 2024, we studied our learning audience and talked with our partners to find out what people needed. Partners who use the Data Values Manifesto were keen for insights on how to embed data values in their programs, train their teams, and talk about shifting power in data systems with stakeholders. While lots of resources exist, what they were missing was a practical guide to turn support for Data Values into action.
Join the movement
Data Values – Building a Fair Data Future is designed to help people not only understand the Data Values Manifesto but also put it into practice. Built on the manifesto, the course:
- Explains why data values matter
- Breaks down what an equitable, people-centered approach to data looks like
- Offers concrete, actionable steps organizations can take to implement this agenda in their context.
The course is built around the five calls to action in the Data Values Manifesto. Each module explores one of these principles and shows what it looks like in practice, such as challenging power dynamics within data systems, investing in public participation, improving data representation, or making transparency and accountability real.
Throughout the course, you’ll find real-world examples and practical reflection. Whether you work in a national statistics office, a civil society group collecting community data, or a multilateral organization supporting country partners, you’ll find content that relates to your work.
- If your organization has supported the Data Values Manifesto and you've been wondering 'what's next?', this is for you.
- If you work with communities and want your data practices to be more participatory and accountable, this course is for you.
- If you teach, train, or support others on data issues, you can use this resource in your own learning programs.
For anyone passionate about a fairer data future, this course is for you. Sign up today and start learning.
If you have any questions, feedback, or want to know more, get in touch with Fatuma Faarah at [email protected].
Register for the course and start your learning journey for more fair data processes.
About the course creators
Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
The mission of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data is to help the world use better data for better decisions and better lives. Their work targets the barriers to leveraging data for sustainable development, something that can only be achieved by working collaboratively across sectors and geographies. Their network of more than 700 partners are united by a shared vision of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Data Values Project, an initiative of the Global Partnership, is a global movement to challenge power structures in data to ensure that we all share in the benefits from its collection and use. Learn More.
Data for Social Impact, an initiative of the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis, builds data capacity and collaboration among social sector organizations working to increase impact for and with the communities they serve. By being more strategic in how they engage with data, organizations have an opportunity to advance their missions, increase impact and promote equitable outcomes. The Center for Social Development offers free programming opportunities for social sector organizations seeking to build capacity in these areas in the St. Louis region and beyond. Data for Social Impact is supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and built in collaboration with an advisory committee, the Community Innovation and Action Center at the University of Missouri–St.Louis, and data.org. Learn more.
