Following the Global Data Festival and Kenya Space Expo & Conference in Nairobi, we invited attendees to share feedback, and everyone who did was entered into a draw to win a trip to the UN World Data Forum in November.
We're pleased to announce the winner: Anne Chemngorem, Mentorship Program Coordinator at Women in Space Kenya. Anne said she enjoyed the Festival & Expo and left inspired to do more: "Data is more available than ever but I can deliver meaning through it and create impact", she commented. During the event, Anne said made useful connections and met mentors that will help her do exactly that.
As she prepares for the World Data Forum, Anne says she's looking forward to connect with others working at the intersection of space technology and development, and to discussing how geospatial and Earth observation data can drive more inclusive, climate-resilient decision-making, particularly for agriculture and urban planning in the Global South.
The bigger picture
Anne was one of more than 230 people who completed the survey. Collectively, their responses tell a compelling story of impact and possibilities.
Networking and learning
Two-thirds of respondents made or committed to new partnerships with concrete next steps. Around 70% gained insights from other countries that they now plan to adapt, pilot, or advocate for at home. Meanwhile, 60% plan to advance research, evidence generation, and capacity building on the back of what they learned. As one attendee put it: "Meeting face-to-face has strengthened our relationships, and I strongly believe it will help us work more effectively together."
The Festival & Expo brought people together and helped spark connections — but the potential of those sparks is only just beginning to ignite. Attendees described leaving with practical capabilities in data governance, AI, emerging tech, and storytelling with data: the kind of knowledge transfer that will long outlast the event itself.
Inclusion and accessibility
The event's focus on inclusion, not just as a topic, but in practice, through representation, participation, and accessibility, was appreciated by attendees. "The strong representation of youth and the diversity of countries represented enriched the conversations and perspectives shared", shared one attendee, while another commended the "strong focus on inclusivity and global participation, allowing participants from different regions and sectors to contribute diverse perspectives."
Better together
Bringing together two events also sparked unique interactions and learning at the intersection of geospatial technology and development challenges. As one delegate noted, "the exceptional cross-sectoral framing, particularly bridging the gap between high-level data policy, space data, and local development needs, created highly rich networking and collaborative spaces."
"The cross-sector mix of participants created genuinely useful conversations, and the joint platform with the Kenya Space Expo added a dimension that felt relevant rather than forced," noted another.
Explore more of the festival experience here
