Sightsavers launches new action plan on inclusive data

Sightsavers has updated its Inclusive Data Charter Action Plan for 2024-2027 to reaffirm its commitment to enhancing inclusive data and collaboration in the international development sector.

The plan sets out how Sightsavers aims to strengthen its knowledge on inclusive data and collaborate with partners, to increase awareness, improve accountability and advocate for stronger inclusive data policies, systems and processes.

Inclusive data is a critical issue for global development because when people are not counted, they risk being left behind. Around the world, some of the most marginalised people are excluded from data, making them invisible to governments and decision-makers.

Sightsavers is a co-founding champion organisation of the Inclusive Data Charter (IDC), a global initiative launched in 2018 to mobilise political commitments and create meaningful actions that advance inclusive and disaggregated data.

Alongside the action plan, Sightsavers has published a vision and approach to inclusive data which outlines why inclusive data is central to Sightsavers’ work.

Through work at national and global levels, Sightsavers advocates for strengthening data systems to drive evidence-based decision-making and inclusive policies in education, health and social inclusion.

In countries including Cameroon, Pakistan and Senegal, Sightsavers’ advocacy work has encouraged decision-makers to recognise the importance of inclusive data and commit to action.

Sightsavers’ programme manager for the IDC, Tichafara Chisaka, said: “We’ve made progress as an organisation on inclusive data, but the work is not done yet. We want to see more commitments by governments and organisations on inclusive data.

“Together we can address the barriers to inclusion and ensure that inclusive data drives better decisions and ultimately contributes to delivering fairer, more equitable outcomes for all.”