To shape effective policies and drive change in the remaining years of the 2030 Agenda, we must harness the potential of intersectionality in the production and use of development data.
Intersectionality is a framework that recognizes how the combination of a person’s sex, age, ethnicity, and other social identities interact to create unique experiences of advantage and disadvantage. Integrating an intersectional lens across the data value chain—from data collection and publication to uptake and use— goes beyond technical improvements. It aims to shift power dynamics in data governance for more equitable outcomes and better data.
This brief provides a practical guide for planning to build better data systems by integrating intersectionality at each stage of the data value chain, improving the quality and value of data, and creating meaningful impact. This involves a spectrum of practical considerations to realize the full value of data investments. How do marginalized groups participate in data collection? How are the data made available? Who conducts the data analysis and acts on the results? And how will the data ultimately benefit the community?