Just Digital Transformation

Just Digital Transformation

Strategic Evaluations and Policies for Digital Maturity

About

The Just Digital Transformations (JDT) Program at Data-Pop Alliance (DPA) focuses on democratizing access to digital technologies and advancing digital maturity for organizations and communities, particularly in the Global South. We work with civil society, public, and private institutions to reduce barriers to digital adoption, assess enabling conditions for equitable digital transformations, and support organizations in leveraging technologies to optimize resource use, minimize waste, and achieve sustainable, inclusive development. Through strategic evaluations, digital maturity assessments, and tailored recommendations, we guide stakeholders in navigating the complexities of digital ecosystems, ultimately fostering positive, inclusive, and impactful transformations.

Through rigorous research, capacity-building, and advanced data science techniques, the Data Feminism Program is transforming how gender data is produced, interpreted, and used to drive policy change and advocacy efforts.

Funders & Partners

Themes

1

Gender-Based Violence
(GBV) and Technology-
Facilitated GBV

2

Harmful Practices – Child Marriage and Female
Genital Mutilation (FGM)

3

Sexual and
Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)

4

Care Economy (for
Children, Women, PwD, Older People)

5

Feminist Urbanism
and Mobility

6

Feminist AI and
Data Governance

Products

Data Strategies and Action Plans

___

Customized recommendations and action plans designed to help organizations and institutions move toward achieving digital maturity, fostering greater impact, and optimizing resource use.

Gender and Data Capacity Building

___

Gender data literacy and mainstreaming initiatives that strengthen the capabilities of individuals and organizations through tailored in-person, hybrid, or online training programs designed to meet specific contextual needs.

Awareness-Raising

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Book and Movie Clubs developed in partnership with Eureka, along with other initiatives, that foster critical reflection and transformative action. These efforts engage diverse audiences through edutainment approaches and intersectional feminist lenses.

See Projects

Our Strategy and Approach

Our approach to Just Digital Transformations is rooted in inclusive, participatory, and sustainable methodologies. We emphasize:

To achieve this, the Program’s strategy is structured around three core pillars:

Strengthening Evidence through Intersectional and Feminist Research

  • Conducting mixed-methods research to generate high-quality, disaggregated gender data that accounts for the diversity of lived experiences.

  • Utilizing non-traditional data sources, including geospatial analysis, AI models, and participatory data collection to fill critical gender data gaps.

  • Expanding research beyond gender-based violence to include areas such as sexual and reproductive health and rights, climate change, migration, and economic empowerment.

  • Partnering with international organizations, governments, and academic institutions to ensure research findings translate into evidence-based policymaking.

Enhancing Gender Data Capacity and Literacy

  • Developing tailored capacity-building programs to equip policymakers, researchers, and civil society organizations with the tools to collect, analyze, and apply gender data effectively.

  • Delivering hybrid, in-person, and online courses such as Gender Data 201 and specialized training on feminist data methodologies.

  • Supporting national and local institutions in mainstreaming gender data into policy frameworks, ensuring more inclusive decision-making.

  • Engaging with feminist and gender data coalitions to foster cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Leveraging Technology and Data Science for Gender Equity

  • Innovating AI-driven models to improve the analysis of gender data, particularly in understanding the barriers to reporting gender-based violence.

  • Designing digital platforms and tools that visualize gender data trends, facilitating real-time monitoring and improved policy interventions.

  • Assessing and promoting ethical, inclusive, and gender-sensitive technological solutions, ensuring AI and digital governance frameworks do not reinforce bias or exclusion.

  • Advocating for feminist technology policies and digital rights, particularly in the Global South, through research on AI bias, responsible AI, and gender-equitable technology development.

By integrating rigorous research, strategic capacity-building, and technological innovation, the Data Feminism Program is reshaping gender data ecosystems to better serve the needs of women, girls, and gender minorities. Through this multi-pronged approach, the Program works to ensure that gender data is not only more widely available but is also utilized as a catalyst for structural change and gender justice.

Our Impact

Collaborating with UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, and the Rainbo Initiative, we contributed to a movement addressing child marriage and female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone, leading to a historic 2024 national bill to ban child marriage.

Anna Spinardi, Director of the Data Feminism Program

The Data Feminism Program has played a key role in strengthening gender data ecosystems globally by ensuring that research, capacity-building, and technological innovation directly support evidence-based policymaking and advocacy. Through strategic partnerships and rigorous methodologies, the program has improved the availability, quality, and use of gender-disaggregated data to advance gender equality. By integrating an intersectional feminist lens into data science, policy, and advocacy, the program continues to drive systemic change—leveraging gender data as a powerful tool for equity and inclusion.

Over the past several years, the Program has:

25

Projects
Implemented 25 Projects since 2020, producing dozens of gender-focused outputs, including mixed-method assessments; publications, project reports, and policy briefs; training initiatives; GBV data models; and gender data visualization platforms.

27

Countries
Worked across 27 Countries in all major regions (Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, Asia, and Oceania), directly contributing to stronger gender data ecosystems and equality-focused interventions in countries such as Mexico, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, and Nepal.

+30

Partners
Collaborated with over 15 funders and more than 30 partners, including UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, GIZ, governments and NGOs, directly supporting their missions to advance gender equality, inclusion, and justice.

Multi-year

PJMF Grant
Secured major multi-year support from PJMF (Patrick J. McGovern Foundation), beginning with a $300,000 grant in 2022, followed by $400,000 in 2023 and $350,000 in 2024, supporting the Program and broader DPA initiatives.

Advanced Gender

Data Capacities
Led high-impact capacity-building initiatives for policymakers, researchers, and advocates—including the Gender Data 201 course funded by Meta, advanced training with UN Women’s Gender Statistics Unit, and justice sector training in Pakistan. These efforts have strengthened gender data literacy, data feminist approaches, and advocacy across sectors and geographies.

Informed

Policy-Making
Informed national and local gender equality policies, including feminist urban planning strategies in Kenya and the Philippines; care economy initiatives for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities in Nepal and Bangladesh; digital sexual and reproductive health interventions in Latin America; and harmful practices prevention frameworks in Sierra Leone.

Products and Projects

Product 1

Gender Diagnostics

See Projects

Product 2

Gender and Data Capacity Building

See Projects

Product 1

Awareness-Raising

See Projects

Gender Diagnostics

Global Analysis on Women Scientists in Crisis and Emergency Contexts

  • Countrie(s) and region(s):
  • Partner(s): UNESCO
  • Theme(s):

Funded by UNESCO, this project seeks to determine the impact of crises and emergencies on women scientists and identify future actions to ensure that women’s inclusion, safety, autonomy, meaningful participation, leadership and freedom of expression. Through a mixed-methods approach, this global analysis examines how existing inequalities related to gender, race, class, geography, disability, migration status, and institutional position shape scientific research and knowledge production during periods of instability, particularly for women scientists.

Towards Caring Cities: A Geospatial Analysis in Viet Nam

As part of UN Women’s “TransformCare Investment Initiative” in the Asia and Pacific region, this project aims to promote evidence-informed decision-making for equitable care systems as a foundation for inclusive urban development. UN Women leads the initiative, with Data-Pop Alliance providing analytical and research support. Focusing on Viet Nam, the project assesses the demand and supply of care services through a gender-inclusive lens, with particular attention to how care systems shape women’s economic participation and overall well-being.

Using geospatial analysis, satellite imagery, and administrative data, the research maps care infrastructure, including childcare, eldercare, and services for persons with disabilities, while identifying spatial inequalities, service gaps, and areas of unmet need. The analysis also examines how urban form, land use, and climate risks intersect with access to care. By generating actionable, data-driven insights, the project supports gender-responsive urban planning and investment in accessible, affordable, and quality care systems, contributing to more inclusive and resilient cities in Vietnam.

Publication

Towards Caring Cities: A Geospatial Analysis in Nepal

As part of UN Women’s “TransformCare Investment Initiative” in the Asia and Pacific region, this project aimed to promote evidence-informed decision making for equitable care systems as a foundation for inclusive urban development. UN Women led the initiative, with the Data-Pop Alliance (DPA) providing analytical and research support.

Focusing on Nepal, the project assessed the demand and supply of care services through a gender-inclusive lens. Using geospatial analysis, satellite imagery, and administrative data, the research mapped existing care infrastructure—including childcare centers and services for older persons and people with disabilities—while identifying service gaps and areas of unmet need. The goal was to provide concrete, data-driven strategies to guide policy planning and investment in accessible, affordable, and quality care systems that empower women and support communities.

Publication

Intermediate Evaluation of the Implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan III (2021-2027)

The EU Gender Action Plan III (EU GAP III) is the European Union’s framework for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in its external action for the period 2021-2025. As this period comes to a close, DPA, in collaboration with ADE, is leading the evaluation of the approach and results reached in terms of gender mainstreaming and women and girls’ empowerment in the third EU Gender Action Plan (GAP). To achieve this, DPA is creating an evaluation framework based on research, document reviews, and interviews, in addition to two field missions to gather firsthand insights. Additionally, DPA will collaborate with the evaluation team from the European Union and other stakeholders to ensure alignment in findings.

With the ultimate objective of advising the European Commission on improved approaches to achieving universal gender mainstreaming and elevating gender equality to benefit women and girls around the world, this work will form part of the next GAP framework.

Mali Country Gender Equality Profile

DPA, with funding from UN Women – Mali, conducted a comprehensive analysis of the situation of women and men in Mali, identifying key challenges faced by women and girls in realizing their economic, social, and political rights. The analysis combined documentary reviews with analyses of qualitative and quantitative secondary data to develop tools and frameworks for planning gender-sensitive policies, programs, and strategies. It assessed the institutional environment, the implementation of gender equality commitments, within the context of the security crisis and institutional changes.

Publication

Political Parties Response to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV) in Brazil

  • Countrie(s) and region(s): ,
  • Date: November 2024 - January 2026
  • Partner(s): Align (Advancing Learning and Innovation on Gender Norms) by ODI (Funder), DRPC (Development Research and Projects Center)

Technology-facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV) against women in politics is an increasing, global concern for democracies. It is situated within the rising anti-gender and anti-feminist backlash and further aided by resistance from technology companies for greater regulations of their activities and responsibility to prevent and address such violence. This research project is implemented in partnership with Align and seeks to identify how social (gender) norms and other factors shape political parties’ responses to TF-GBV against women in politics in Brazil and what practices can be adopted by political parties to address it and to create a more enabling environment. A partner organization will be conducting similar research in Nigeria.

Publication
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Feminist Urban Design: A Gender-Inclusive Framework for Cities

Data-Pop Alliance (DPA), in collaboration with Open Data Watch (ODW), was tasked with creating a pioneering gender data framework for urban environments, commissioned by the City Hub and Network for Gender Equity (CHANGE). This framework was intended for implementation across CHANGE’s network cities, starting with Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Nairobi, and Quezon City as the initial participants. Capitalizing on DPA’s and ODW’s specialized knowledge in data analytics and gender-focused research, the project’s core objective was to provide a robust measurement of gender equity within varied city landscapes. The project’s deliverables included: A comprehensive blueprint outlining the essential requirements and stages for cities to prepare and deploy the framework; The framework itself, featuring specific dimensions and indicators that assessed both the processes and physical form of the cities concerning gender equity; and a specialized data collection tool, complete with training materials, to enable cities to gather and process all necessary data to effectively utilize the framework. This multi-faceted approach ensured that the participating cities were equipped with the knowledge, tools, and methods required to drive meaningful progress in the realm of urban gender equity.

Publication
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Tracking Policy Influence Using Gender-Based Violence as a Case Study: Assessing the Overton Platform

Publication

Increasing and Strengthening the Availability of Digital Sexual and Reproductive Health Services with Youth-Friendly Approaches in Latin America

In partnership with Fòs Feminista, Data-Pop Alliance conducted a nine-month project aimed at strengthening understanding of how youth-friendly approaches are being applied in digital sexual and reproductive health (SRH) interventions across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Through a combination of a systematic literature review, five case studies, and a self-assessment survey for Fòs Feminista’s network partners, the project identified key strategies, challenges, and best practices for reaching youth and adolescents through digital technologies such as apps, chatbots, and web platforms.

By critically analyzing existing digital health interventions (DHIs) and their methods for engaging young populations, the project produced actionable recommendations to enhance future initiatives. Special attention was given to assessing digital maturity, integrating intersectional perspectives, and fostering youth-friendly environments to ensure that digital SRH services are inclusive, accessible, and impactful for young users.

Publication
Video

Towards Caring Cities: A Geospatial Analysis in Dhaka City

As part of UN Women’s “TransformCare Investment Initiative” in the Asia and Pacific region, this project aimed to promote evidence-informed decision making for equitable care systems as a foundation for inclusive urban development. UN Women led the initiative, with DPA providing analytical and research support.

Focusing on Dhaka City, Bangladesh the project assessed the demand and supply of care services through a gender-inclusive lens. Drawing on geospatial analysis, satellite imagery, and administrative data, the research mapped care-related infrastructure, including early childhood education, eldercare, disability services, and community-based care facilities, while identifying underserved areas and gaps in service provision. The objective was to generate data-driven recommendations to guide urban planning and investment in affordable, accessible, and quality care systems that recognize women’s unpaid care work and strengthen community resilience.

Publication

Regional Consultations: Towards Real Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence – Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Project

Mila’s AI for Humanity Team identified high-impact, socially beneficial projects and invested in their development and deployment. AI offered possibilities for enhancing well-being and contributing to the SDGs but also had the potential to deepen divides. AI was generally designed and evaluated without systematic gender and diversity approaches, potentially leading to negative consequences. This project aimed to provide the AI ecosystem, particularly the member States of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), with a framework of tools and recommendations to ensure diversity and gender equality throughout the AI cycle. DPA provided technical, organizational, and research support for GPAI’s Project on DGE in AI, organizing consultations and data collection with advisory groups from various sectors, focusing on marginalized and minority groups globally.

Publication

Reporting and Registering Domestic Violence Against Women and Girls in Bogota and Sao Paulo: A Data-Driven Model

This project, developed in partnership with UNIDAS and GIZ Data Lab, leveraged traditional and non-traditional data sources to assess the reporting capability of women and girls in Bogota and Sao Paulo. The analytical model estimated the probability of registering domestic violence at the locality or municipal level, taking into account personal (e.g. age, educational attainment) and environmental factors (e.g. access to support services, human mobility during the COVID-19 quarantine). The report for Mexico is not available.

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Gender and Data Capacity Building

Study of the Big Data, Gender and the SDGs

This consultation will support the Ministry of Economy and Finance, through its Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts, in strengthening gender-responsive policymaking by introducing innovative and appropriate methodologies for the collection and analysis of unconventional data. By integrating non-traditional data sources into national analytical frameworks, the initiative seeks to enhance the monitoring of efforts undertaken in the area of gender equality, deepen understanding of the structural causes and manifestations of gender inequalities, and identify targeted, evidence-based policy levers to reduce these disparities. This approach will generate actionable insights to inform decision-making, improve planning and resource allocation, and ultimately contribute to more inclusive and equitable development outcomes.

UN Women Gender Data Training for Planning and Budgeting in Pakistan

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UNFPA kNOwVAWdata Training on Harmful Practices

Data and Algorithms to Measure and Prevent Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the UK

DPA, in collaboration with the University of Surrey, developed a project to highlight the importance of understanding the multiple factors that influence the reporting, prevention, and response to GBV. The project aimed to create a novel, comprehensive, data-driven framework to identify and analyze the underlying causes of GBV. It focused on three main objectives: developing a conceptual framework that combined qualitative and quantitative methods to understand underreporting factors, mapping available data to apply the framework in the UK, and using this framework as a basis for future studies. This approach sought to account for the various factors involved in underreporting, beyond just statistics, to inform future GBV research and policy recommendations aimed at improving prevention and support strategies.

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UN Women Gender-Responsive Data Training in Bangkok

In partnership with UN Women Asia and the Pacific Regional Office, DPA conducted a two-day in-person advanced training for the Gender Statistics Unit at UN Women. The primary objective was to empower participants with the skills to handle non-traditional data sources and showcase their real-world utility in the context of gender-sensitive monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This comprehensive training program integrated a variety of interactive activities designed to foster theoretical, technical, and practical learning across the four key dimensions of Big Data. These included conceptual presentations, ethical discussions, data-focused technical tutorials, interactive forums, and hands-on laboratory sessions.
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GIZ Data Feminism Series

The Data Feminism Series, co-organized and developed by the GIZ Data Lab and Data-Pop Alliance, aimed at exploring, from different angles, what Feminist Development Cooperation is / should be, specifically within the context of the GIZ. In addition, the event sought to inspire decision-makers to view Gender Data as a cornerstone of successful feminist development cooperation, considering power relationships and adopting intersectional approaches. Under the motto “From Talk to Action”, the series was divided into 4 separate events, each featuring high-ranking experts in their field in order to leverage experiences from around the globe, as well as from different sectors and stakeholders.

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Gender Data 201 Course

Gender Data 201, is a free, self-paced, online course developed by DPA with support from Meta and in collaboration with TechChange (the hosting platform). The objective of the course has been to offer a hands-on online learning experience that equips participants with the data skills needed to lead gender-responsive advocacy work, decision-making processes, and/or policy design and implementation. With over a hundred participants from around the world and expert facilitators from various organizations, this course provided a unique opportunity for participants to start leveraging gender data in their own projects and become part of a larger international community of practitioners driving social change through collaboration.

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Awareness-Raising

“Eureka Moment: Feminism, Culture and AI to Reimagine Our Futures” Workshops

During these 2 hour sessions, we leverage the best of our experience conducting the trilingual Book and Movie Club “Technology Through Feminist Lenses” to conduct an interactive workshop titled “Eureka Moment: Feminism, Culture, and AI to Reimagine Our Futures”. The ultimate goal is to foster critical and transformative dialogue about artificial intelligence (AI) and technology through an intersectional feminist perspective by leveraging the Eureka methodology. The workshop has been presented at several international events, including MozFest 2023, the Code for All Summit 2023, CryptoRave 2024, Fórum da Internet No Brasil (FIB14) 2024, ACM FAccT 2024, and the Global Digital Development Forum (GDDF) 2024.

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Book and Movie Clubs with Eureka

  • January 2021 - Currently available
  • Partner(s): Eureka
  • Countrie(s) and region(s):
  • Date: January 2021 - Currently available
  • Partner(s): Eureka

Eureka is the first Book and Movie club platform built expressly for social change. Non-profit and non-extractive, it gives readers and viewers a space to discover works on a shared theme, debate them in a safe community, and turn the insights that emerge into concrete action. Eureka’s premise is simple: culture sparks conversation, and engaged conversations spark change. Each club—co-curated with partner NGOs, universities and grassroots groups—uses carefully chosen books or movies as a springboard for “Eureka moments”: personal revelations powerful enough to ripple outward and transform the collective.

Developed through a Mozilla Foundation fellowship, Eureka shows how storytelling can ignite deep dialogue, build community and inspire positive social engagement.

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Explore

Book and Movie Club: “Technology Through Feminist Lenses”

“Technology Through Feminist Lenses” is a trilingual Book and Movie Club by DPA and Eureka, supported by the Patrick J McGovern Foundation. Through curated content, it explored technology from intersectional feminist perspectives—addressing race, class, and gender—while fostering community and cross-cultural exchange among 700+ participants.

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Video

Book Club: “Counting Femicide with Catherine D’Ignazio”

“Counting Femicide with Catherine D’Ignazio”, a multilingual Book Club supported by MIT Press, explored data activism and gender-based violence through the book “Counting Femicide: Data Feminism in Action“, by Catherine D’Ignazio. Featuring eight live sessions with the author, it brought together over 500 participants worldwide.

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