African Development Bank, Partners Push Better Gender and Child Data to Drive Inclusive Development across Africa

In YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon, African governments, development partners and statistical experts have renewed calls for stronger investment in gender and child statistics, stressing that reliable data is essential for designing policies that improve the lives of women, children and vulnerable communities across the continent.

The commitment was reaffirmed at the close of the first African Forum on Gender and Child Statistics (AGCSF 2026) in Yaoundé on 10 July, where participants agreed that quality, disaggregated and harmonised data is key to ensuring that no one is left behind in Africa’s development journey.

The five-day forum, hosted by Cameroon, marked a continental first and was organised by the African Development Bank Group, the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), UN Women and UNICEF, in partnership with Cameroon’s National Institute of Statistics (INS). It brought together government officials, national statisticians, researchers, civil society organisations, development partners and private sector representatives under the theme, “Statistics that matter: Rights, justice and opportunities for all.”

Away from technical discussions, participants highlighted the human impact of better statistics. They noted that accurate data helps governments identify underserved communities, allocate resources more fairly and measure whether investments in education, healthcare, social protection and economic empowerment are reaching those who need them most.

To the millions of African women and children, particularly those living in rural communities, informal settlements and conflict-affected areas, being counted can mean greater access to schools, maternal healthcare, birth registration, social welfare programmes and economic opportunities. Without reliable statistics, many vulnerable populations remain invisible in national planning and budgeting processes.

Opening the forum, INS Director-General Joseph Tedou described quality data as the foundation of inclusive governance and equitable development. “There can be no inclusive development, no social justice and no equality of opportunity without reliable data“, he said, warning that populations not reflected in official statistics often remain excluded from public investment and protection.

The 2026 gathering also marked an important evolution of the platform, originally established in 2017 as the African Forum on Gender Statistics. For the first time, child-related data was fully integrated into gender statistics, recognising the strong links between women’s wellbeing and children’s development and creating a more comprehensive framework for measuring social progress.

African Development Bank Group Director General for Central Africa Léandre Bassolé said evidence-based policymaking remains central to Africa’s development ambitions. “What is measured is what changes“, Bassolé said, reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to strengthening statistical systems through initiatives such as the African Gender Equality Index, capacity building and support for member countries to improve the production and use of development data.

Throughout the forum, delegates explored practical ways to modernise Africa’s statistical systems, including greater use of administrative records, digital technologies and artificial intelligence. Discussions also examined pressing issues affecting communities across the continent, including violence against women and children, access to justice, legal identity, migration, climate change and women’s leadership.

Participants said stronger data systems would help governments respond more effectively to these challenges by enabling targeted interventions that deliver measurable improvements in people’s lives while promoting accountability in public spending.

The forum also advanced preparations for the African Gender Index (AGI) 2027, a joint initiative of the African Development Bank Group and the ECA, with experts reviewing the expanded methodology, lessons from pilot data collection and implementation plans aimed at strengthening how progress on gender equality is tracked across Africa.

UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa Ramou Ndure reminded participants that every statistic represents real people whose experiences should shape public policy. “Behind every piece of data lies a human reality. Behind every indicator, there is a child seeking an education, a girl facing discrimination, a family aspiring to a life of dignity, or a community seeking better access to essential services“, Ndure said.

At the conclusion of the forum, participants recommended making the gathering an annual platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing. They also called on African governments to increase investment in national statistical systems, while urging development partners to provide sustained technical and financial support to help countries produce high-quality data that advances gender equality, protects children’s rights and promotes inclusive socioeconomic development across the continent.

As African countries pursue ambitious development goals, delegates agreed that stronger statistical systems are not merely technical tools but powerful instruments for improving livelihoods, expanding opportunities and ensuring that public policies reflect the realities and aspirations of communities at the grassroots.

SOURCE: AfDB