DANE, Colombia's national statistics office, is rethinking who counts as a data producer, partnering with groups like Colombia Diversa, ILEX Acción Jurídica, and traditional midwives in Chocó to capture realities that standard surveys miss. The result is a citizen data framework, built under the Make Inclusive Data the Norm initiative with Ghana and Kenya, that treats community knowledge as a legitimate source of public data.
This framework emphasizes that public-interest information is generated not only by governments but also by communities and organizations that understand their unique data needs. In Colombia, this approach is exemplified by initiatives such as App Diversa, a co-created application with citizens, the Wayuu Multidimensional Registry, and the Partera Vital initiative.
Moreover, various civil society organizations generate data on critical topics such as environmental issues, citizen participation, and human rights, producing evidence that enhances official data sources and deepens the analysis of inequality.
What citizen data means in practice
Building on the Copenhagen Framework, citizen data involves participatory initiatives that engage individuals across the data value chain, anchored in principles of inclusion, responsibility, professionalism, and ethics. Colombia’s Citizen Data Framework, influenced by both the Copenhagen Framework and Colombia's legal standards concerning transparency, access to information, and personal data protection, integrates ethical principles, quality attributes, and intersectionality.
