From 27–29 May 2025, Kenyan data leaders, advocates, and practitioners came together at the Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi for an inclusive data workshop, a key milestone in the country’s journey under the Make Inclusive Data the Norm (MIDN) initiative. Co-hosted by the Global Partnership and the Open Institute, the workshop strengthened national capacity to create data systems that reflect the lived experiences of everyone, especially marginalized groups.
The three-day workshop brought together government agencies, civil society, and technical experts to explore inclusive data concepts, frameworks, and practices. Sessions covered data quality, ethical governance, visualization, and policy advocacy. The group also validated findings from a recent national needs assessment, which outlined Kenya’s priorities for institutional reform, including improving the availability of gender and disability data and enhancing stakeholder collaboration.
Click here to learn more about Kenya’s progress in making inclusive data the standard through the Make Inclusive Data the Norm initiative.
On the final day, participants participated in a practical field exercise to explore how community-generated data can fill gaps in official data systems, particularly for persons with disabilities. The fieldwork was conducted in partnership with disability rights organizations, including Black Albinism, the Kenya Association of the Intellectually Handicapped, the Differently Talented Society of Kenya, and the United Disabled Persons of Kenya. Together, they demonstrated how local expertise, accessibility audits, and grassroots data practices can help make data systems more inclusive and community-owned.
This national convening builds on a year of progress and learning in Kenya. It is part of a multi-country effort to embed inclusive data practices in national planning and governance.
Read more about the workshop and outcomes in the co-host’s reflection.
