Welcoming Meriem Ait Ouyahia
by the Open Data Watch Team
22 January 2025
Open Data Watch (ODW) is thrilled to welcome Meriem Ait Ouyahia as the Gender Data Network Coordinator.
The Gender Data Network (GDN) is a joint initiative between Data2X, Open Data Watch, PARIS21, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (ESCAP). Previously hosted at PARIS21, Open Data Watch currently serves as the secretariat of the GDN and is made possible with the financial support of Data2X. The GDN brings together national statistical offices and development partners to strengthen the production, accessibility, and use of gender data for evidence-based policymaking.
Open Data Watch looks forward to Meriem’s continued leadership in advancing the GDN’s mission while also supporting our expanding efforts to build more inclusive and responsive data systems worldwide.
Meet Meriem
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I have worked in statistical development for many years, first with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and more recently with PARIS21. My experience also includes several years working with the Government of Canada in the area of sustainable development. Working on development issues has always been close to my heart.
What aspects of the Gender Data Network’s mission and upcoming initiatives are you most excited to lead and expand this year?
The GDN started with a few African countries, and we have now expanded to over 50 countries in Africa and Asia Pacific. I am keen to strengthen the community aspect of the network by facilitating peer-to-peer exchanges between the two continents with regular online meetings. I am also looking forward to expanding into Latin America and the Caribbean.
What impact do you hope the Gender Data Network will have on gender data and data use?
The GDN is made up of government statisticians from national statistical offices. The role of our members is to communicate the importance of gender data within their organisation and in their country. Many have gained the confidence to push for gender statistics within their hierarchy, others have solved gender issues by using ideas or tools from their peers. The network also tries to introduce our members to the importance of data use, which has not been a focus of NSOs whose main role is more on data production. Together these will have a positive impact on both gender data production and use.
Outside of the Gender Data Network and the importance of fostering peer-exchanges, what is another gender data project or initiative you are eager to work on at ODW?
I am really interested in ODW’s current research and work on intersectional data, which goes hand in hand with gender data, to get a better understanding of the multiple forms of discrimination and how they affect an individual. The Gender Data Compass is another ODW project that I would like to contribute to.
What is your favorite SDG indicator and why?
I particularly like Goal 17 because I am a team player, and I believe in the added value of working together and building synergies. So, if I had to choose one indicator, it would be 17.9.1, which focuses on capacity building in countries, because this is another point that is close to my heart.
If you had 500,000 USD to spend at the country-level to improve gender data systems, what would you invest in and why?
It would depend on the capacity of the country, so I would probably start with a gender statistics assessment, working closely with the national statistical office and the ministry of gender to better understand what the most pressing needs and gaps are, and this would include consultation with stakeholders in the gender data ecosystem. It is always good to make sure that the basics are in place: laws are in place, there is a costed NSDS, core surveys are conducted on a regular basis. Once that first layer is in place, we can build capacity around gender statistics: understanding the need for it, how to use and communicate existing data. But it is always important that the country leads the process to ensure ownership.
With only five years left until 2030, what is most needed to strengthen national and international gender data systems?
Data, and gender data in particular, continues to face challenges in getting the resources needed to make progress. So, more funding for gender data projects would definitely be helpful. We also need to make sure that we make the best use of what is already available in terms of data, which is where looking at data dissemination and use becomes important.
Learn more about the Gender Data Network here.