Global Partnership Program and Policy Lead Karen Bett features on the NorthStar GAZE podcast to explore how citizen data and mapping help make people visible and shape fairer decisions. In a wide-ranging conversation, Karen reflects on efforts that pushed governments to publish open budgets and initiatives that helped place communities like Kibera on the map. She argues that data is not just numbers. It is a force for dignity, justice, and truth.
Why this matters
Citizen-generated insights and geospatial tools are strengthening disaster response, improving access to education and health, and helping decision makers see the people and places that are often overlooked. Karen makes the case for everyday people as co-authors of development, one map at a time.
Listen to the episode