The document discusses barriers to open gender data and the role of open data in promoting gender equality. It notes that most countries lack open data policies and initiatives at the national level. Additionally, there is insufficient research on open data for inclusiveness due to lack of funding and collaboration between women's groups, digital rights groups, and gender experts. Cultural and social barriers also prevent women from engaging with data and the technology sector. The document advocates for quantifying unpaid labor, the gender pay gap, and other metrics to make the case for prioritizing gender data. It provides recommendations for advocating for gender data, such as starting simply, building capacity on using gender data, and engaging stakeholders on both the supply and demand sides.

1. DATA OPENNESS FOR
GENDER EQUALITY
MAHADIA TUNGA
CO FOUNDER & DIRECTOR DATA SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

2. Open Data and Inclusion
Open data is data that is made available for anyone to access, use
and share.
With more access to open data, people can help shape a more
sustainable future with evidence-based solutions.
Thus, develop gender sensitive approaches.

3. Barriers to Open Gender Data
● Most countries lack an open culture and have legislation and processes that
are not gender-responsive.
○ Few countries have open data policies and initiatives at the national level.
● Research on Open Data for inclusiveness is insufficient.
○ There is lack of funding for research
○ Lack of collaboration: Women’s groups, digital rights groups and gender
experts rarely collaborate on open data and gender issues.
Web Foundation, 2018

4. Barriers to Open Gender Data
● Cultural and social realities create additional challenges for women to engage
with data and participate in the technology sector.
○ One gigabyte of mobile data in Africa costs, on average, 10% of average
monthly income. This high cost keeps women, who generally earn less
than men, offline.
○ Over 90% of datasets in sub-Saharan Africa are closed
○ Sex-disaggregated data, when available online, is often not published as
open data.
Web Foundation, 2018

5. • Quantify
• unpaid labour
• gender pay gap
• gender digital divide
• women time poverty
• literacy gap
• etc..!
The Role of Open Data in the Gender Equality
@bpushe
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6. The situation
Web Foundation, 2018

7. What should advocate for gender data?

8. How to
advocate for
Gender Data
❑Top Leadership / Championship is key
❑Start simple, build incremental
❑Quality improves when data is opened
❑Build capacity on using gender data
❑Make data easy to understand
❑Engage the demand side

9. KEY TAKEAWAY
Open data has the potential to change politics,
economies and societies for the better. To
realise the full potential of open data, data must
be accessible to and used by all.

10. Q&A
MAHADIA TUNGA
CO FOUNDER & DIRECTOR DATA SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT
email: mahadiatunga@gmail.com