Imagine a world where every decision made by policymakers is informed by accurate, comprehensive data that truly represents the experiences and needs of all citizens. This vision is at the heart of the Women in the Data Summit 2024, set to take place in the beautiful town of Naivasha on September 4th and 5th. Organized by the Office of the Women’s Rights Advisor in the Executive Office of the President, this summit aims to transform how Kenya collects, analyzes, and utilizes data about women, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.
A New Dawn in Governance
Kenya has come a long way since the adoption of its 2010 Constitution, which ushered in a new era of decentralized governance. By empowering 47 County governments, Kenya aimed to bring decision-making closer to its citizens, allowing local communities to set their own priorities and allocate resources. However, this shift also exposed a significant challenge: the lack of comprehensive gender data to inform policies that truly address the needs of women and girls.
For too long, the absence of detailed gender data has left women’s experiences underrepresented, making it difficult to design policies that cater to their unique needs. From healthcare access to education and economic opportunities, women’s challenges have often been generalized or overlooked. This has allowed gender inequalities to persist quietly, yet powerfully, across every level of society.
Recognizing the urgency of addressing this gap, the Kenyan government has made gender data a priority in its 5th National Action Plan (2024-2027) under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative. With Kenya serving as a co-chair of the OGP’s global Steering Committee and hosting the OGP Africa Regional meeting this September, the Women in Data Summit couldn’t come at a more opportune time. This event will be a key platform to drive initiatives like the County Statistics Act, which aims to improve data collection and availability at the county level, ensuring that every woman’s story is counted and valued.
The Importance of Women in the Data
Why focus specifically on women in the data? The answer lies in the power of representation and targeted interventions. Women make up half of the population, yet their experiences and needs are often underrepresented in data. Ensuring women are visible in decision-making data helps create policies that address their specific needs.
Accurate and comprehensive gender data allows policymakers to design targeted interventions that can significantly improve the lives of women and girls. It highlights disparities between men and women, making it possible to address inequalities such as wage gaps and employment barriers. Data-driven decisions ensure resources are allocated where they are most needed, leading to more effective support for programs aimed at improving women’s lives.
Gender data is also essential for monitoring the progress of initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality. It provides benchmarks for measuring improvements and ensures accountability. Moreover, access to gender data empowers women and girls by highlighting their contributions and challenges, inspiring advocacy and action, and giving them a stronger voice in their communities and policy discussions.
One key initiative that underscores the need for gender-specific data is the Kenya Time Use Survey. This survey collects data on how individuals spend their time, providing insights into unpaid care work, leisure activities, and other daily tasks. Such data is crucial for understanding the full scope of women’s contributions to the economy and society, often unrecognized in traditional economic measures. The Kenya Time Use Survey highlights the significant amount of unpaid labor performed by women, emphasizing the need for policies that support work-life balance and gender equality in both paid and unpaid work.
Join the Movement
The Women in Data Summit 2024 isn’t just an event—it’s the beginning of a movement. Over two days, participants will delve into the current state of gender data in Kenya, explore innovative solutions, and forge partnerships that will drive gender data initiatives forward.
As we approach the summit, the momentum is building, and the conversations sparked here will resonate far beyond Naivasha. This is more than a conference; it’s a critical moment in Kenya’s journey towards gender equality. By improving how we collect and use gender data, we can create a future where every woman and girl in Kenya has the opportunity to thrive.
We invite you to be part of this transformative event. Join us in Naivasha this September and help us shape a more inclusive future for all. Together, we can make sure that women’s stories are not just heard but truly understood and acted upon.
Author: Mercy Mwende
