Inclusive Data Compass

Assessing how well countries produce, share, and use data to support more inclusive policies and development.

Tourists and vendors navigate the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Thailand in wooden boats, surrounded by colorful umbrellas and waterside market stalls.

About the Program

Inclusive development requires inclusive data. Yet, evidence gaps make it harder to design effective policies, target resources, and track progress. Open Data Watch’s (ODW) Inclusive Data Compass (“the Compass”) will assess these gaps across six communities: women and girls, older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons, and LGBTQ+ people. It will help governments and partners prioritize investments in data that support more responsive policies, public services, and resource allocation.

The Compass draws on the diagnostic approaches of the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) and the Gender Data Compass, which assessed gender data availability, openness, institutional foundations, capacity, and financing across 185 countries and 53 gender-relevant indicators. The Inclusive Data Compass organizes its assessment around six points: Data Availability and Data Openness assess whether inclusive data are published and easy to use. Rights & Safeguards examine the laws and protections that support safe data collection and use. Planning & Data Use looks at how inclusive data are reflected in national plans and policies. Capacity examines the systems that support inclusive data production, while Financing looks at whether these efforts have dedicated resources.

ODW held two rounds of expert consultations in 2026 to refine the framework and indicators. Experts from international organizations, research institutions, and civil society provided feedback.

For a landing page, I don’t think we need to publish such specifics. Also, release 1 was originally in February, so not sure why this said January? I also thought with the GDPI being released later now we’d move to March 8 instead? I suggest we just say results from the compass will come out in phases in starting in March 2027 and leave it at that.

What We Do

Data Assessment

The Compass will provide country-level findings and cross-country comparisons of data availability, openness, and enabling conditions for six population groups. These assessments will help identify where gaps are largest and where progress is being made.

Diagnostics & Guidance

The Compass will help national statistical offices, policymakers, donors, and civil society prioritize investments in inclusive data. Drawing on the Gender Data Compass’s diagnostic approach, it will connect identified gaps with actionable recommendations.

Advocacy & Accountability

ODW will use the findings to make the case for inclusive data as a foundation for inclusive development. Measurable indicators will support advocacy, help track progress, and strengthen accountability for addressing data gaps.