The Collaborative on Citizen Data moves from vision to implementation

The Collaborative on Citizen Data, co-led by the UN DESA’s Statistics Division and the International Civil Society Centre, recently brought together more than 70 participants from civil society organizations, national statistical offices, national human rights institutes, academia, and regional and international organizations to focus on the next steps for implementing the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data. Held in Bangkok three years after UN DESA’s inaugural meeting on citizen data in 2022, the gathering provided an important moment to reflect on progress and shape a shared path forward on bringing community voices into the heart of data systems and policymaking.

Over three days, participants reviewed the roadmap for implementing the Framework, offering feedback on its relevance, priorities, and how it aligns with different national contexts. They also took stock of advances made by the Collaborative and its members to date, including methodological developments, country-level support, and the creation of the Citizen Data Commons platform.

The meeting featured dedicated sessions on integrating citizen data into official statistics, exploring practical pathways for interoperability, attribution, and quality assurance. Participants also examined emerging opportunities, including the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing the production and use of citizen data. Discussions extended to fit-for-purpose capacity development, innovative financing options, and ways to strengthen engagement across the Collaborative by leveraging the community’s diverse expertise.

Looking ahead, the Collaborative, now a growing network of more than 500 members, will continue to deepen its support to practitioners and partners. Next year, it will highlight citizen data champions and their contributions, host focused webinars on topics identified by the community, explore capacity-building needs, and expand e-learning resources. A key priority will be maximizing the value of citizen data, especially for populations who are invisible in official statistics.

The Collaborative aims to translate the inclusive promise of citizen data into meaningful action, because, as Cyrus Darpoh from Ghana Statistical Service aptly noted during the meeting, “alone we can go fast, but together we can go far.”