Program Area

Colombia, Ghana, and Kenya are leaders in data innovation. MIDN enables the countries to leverage their unique strengths, share their insights, and work together to enhance their own inclusive data practices and build the evidence base for what works on creating inclusive data systems. 

Between April 2024 and August 2025, each country hosted a learning exchange workshop at key stages in the initiative, where representatives gathered to set out the structure for how they would work together, review progress, and pool their knowledge, expertise, and resources.

The MIDN experience shows that South-South collaboration leads to new ideas and is especially helpful for countries that are dealing with similar challenges with inclusive data use and application. Each country’s innovation in specific areas offers practical examples for the other countries to learn from and apply to their own contexts.

Colombia is focusing on strengthening the use of data collected by citizens to get a clearer picture of people’s lives, particularly underrepresented communities, and inform better policy and practice. This includes the development of a new Citizen Data Framework, and co-creating innovative digital tools for collecting citizen data with communities.

Ghana is focusing on building more timely and inclusive data on female genital mutilation (FGM) in three remote regions of the country, to inform better policies and interventions. This includes the development of a new mobile app for recording data from citizens on FGM safely and securely.

Kenya is focusing on institutionalizing inclusive data within government and civil society organizations (CSOs), so that it is embedded within data strategy and processes, rather than being an afterthought, including developing a new framework for ensuring citizen data quality and beginning plans to establish a new gender statistics unit in the Ministry of Gender. 

Read the biog by Karen Bett on five big lessons from Colombia, Ghana, and Kenya on establishing inclusive data practices through the Make Inclusive Data the Norm initiative.

The Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data sets out principles and practical guidance to help countries and organizations use citizen data more effectively. Find out how each country has applied the framework in practice through MIDN. 

Building strong relationships with communities takes time and care, particularly when people will be asked to share sensitive information. Embodying the true principles of co-creation is key, helping create a sense of shared ownership and responsibility while ensuring citizen data quality.

From building political will to continuous capacity development, four cross-country insights have emerged as foundational elements of making inclusive data the norm, outlining how other countries can replicate these achievements.

Colombia, Ghana, and Kenya have made clear commitments to continue their pioneering work in building inclusive data systems, including refining, developing, and scaling the innovative new tools and approaches developed through MIDN. 

Making inclusive data the norm isn't about perfecting separate areas, but developing “reinforcing systems" where each dimension strengthens the others. This creates an inclusive data ecosystem.

DANE is partnering with civil society, academia, and groups like GPSDD to build a more inclusive statistical system through the Make Inclusive Data the Norm initiative.

App Diversa and Partera Vital show how working with communities surfaces data that official statistics miss.

DANE built its framework by learning from communities in places like Tumaco and Chocó, then changing its own protocols to reflect what it learned.

Colombia is anchoring citizen data in law through Law 2335 of 2023 and the National Statistical Plan's Goal 35, while planning community-led workshops and an advanced course.