Strengthening Gender Data in Africa:
Reflections from the 7th AGSF
by
Meriem Ait Ouyahia
23 July 2025
Each year, I look forward to the Africa Gender Statistics Forum (AGSF)—and this year’s gathering in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, did not disappoint. As the Coordinator of the Gender Data Network, AGSF is more than just a meeting—it’s a space to reconnect with GDN members, strengthen relationships, build new ones, and drive our shared mission forward.
The AGSF is a unique annual event, jointly organized by leading pan-African institutions such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the African Union Commission (AUC). Over the years, it has grown through robust financial and technical support from a diverse set of partners at national, regional, and international levels. This includes National Statistical Offices (with this year’s host being Côte d’Ivoire), UN Women, Open Data Watch, Data2X, PARIS21, and UNICEF. Notably, this year’s event was further enriched by the generous support of the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation and the East African Community, underscoring a shared commitment to collaboration and progress.
Gender Data Network Coordinator, Meriem Ait Ouyahia, stands with partners from Ghana, PARIS21, and Data2X.
Held from 30 June to 4 July 2025, the 7th AGSF brought together 348 participants—101 in person and 247 online—from 45 African countries. Attendees included representatives from National Statistical Offices, Ministries of Gender, CSOs, NGOs, development agencies, and training institutions. Having participated in every AGSF since 2019, I’ve witnessed the forum’s transformation—from the early days of launching the Gender Data Network in 15 African countries to today’s continent-wide platform for dialogue, innovation, and impact.
This year, I had the privilege of presenting on behalf of Open Data Watch (ODW) and Data2X to share our recent work on intersectionality and gender data use—a critical step toward making gender data more inclusive, meaningful, and actionable. What stood out during the session was how deeply engaged participants were in conversations about how to apply intersectionality in practice. The energy in the room—and online—was palpable. We collectively explored what’s needed to move from theory to action:
- Develop standards of practice for integrating intersectionality into official statistics.
- Leverage alternative data sources, including citizen-generated and qualitative data.
- Strengthen data producer–data user connections to better capture intersectional vulnerabilities.
- Build technical capacity within NSOs to improve data use.
- Create an advocacy toolkit to help NSOs promote the value of gender data.
- Mobilize sustainable funding not only for data production, but also for communication, methodology, and use.
Explore the presentation here.
As the Gender Data Network Coordinator, one of the most exciting outcomes of this year’s AGSF for me, was the opportunity to welcome five new countries into the Gender Data Network:
- Central African Republic
- Namibia
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Seychelles
Panelists and attendees gather at the 7th African Gender Statistics Forum.
The AGSF continues to be a cornerstone for building a stronger, more inclusive gender data ecosystem across Africa. As we move forward, our collective challenge is clear: to ensure that data systems don’t just collect information—but actively reflect the diverse realities of African women and marginalised group in all their complexity.
I left Abidjan inspired, hopeful, and energized for the work ahead.
Want to learn more about the Gender Data Network or get involved?
Reach out—we’re always looking for new partners in this critical work.
