Secretary Clinton's Remarks at Evidence and Impact: Closing the Gender Data Gap

Today, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks at Evidence and Impact: Closing the Gender Data Gap. Hosted by the Department of State and Gallup, Inc. in Washington, D.C., the conference brought together leaders in business, academia, big data, government, and the international community to discuss how to collect and use data to create better policies and outcomes for women and girls, and thus entire economies and societies. As the Secretary said in her remarks, “Data not only measures progress, it inspires it.”

Why More Data is Needed

Research indicates that investments in women’s employment, health, and education are correlated with a range of positive outcomes, including greater economic growth and improved child health and survival. A growing body of evidence shows that women’s contributions in decision-making can lead to improved outcomes in conflict prevention and resolution. However, across the world, we are missing critical gender data on women and girls’ economic, political and social well-being and status, independently and relative to men.

Secretary Clinton’s Vision for Improved Data Collection & Analysis

The Secretary outlined a vision for improved data collection and analysis to leverage our investments and drive better outcomes. She emphasized the need to build political will, increase resources, and harness the power of the digital revolution. She challenged governments, multilaterals, foundations, academia, and the private sector to take concrete steps, including:

• Investing in gender-sensitive data collection, use and publication;
• Harmonizing and coordinating data collection methods, questions, and indicators;
• Leveraging public-private partnerships, as well as academic and technological innovations, to generate gender-sensitive data; and
• Developing national capacity to collect and analyze data and training for the next generation of data scientists to create and use gender-sensitive data.

Launch of Data2X

To further this vision, the Secretary launched Data2X, which will publish a roadmap for closing key gender data gaps and develop principles and standards for curricula on gender-sensitive data collection and use. The project, with initial support from the Hewlett Foundation and USAID, will collaborate with the UN, the World Bank, OECD, PARIS21, and Gallup.