If you were to count every hour spent preparing meals, cleaning homes, tending to children, or caring for the elderly, how much of the economy would that be worth? For decades, the daily rhythm of unpaid work, mostly done by women, was invisible in national statistics. Time-use surveys started as simple diaries of how people…
Every year on 15th September, the world pauses to mark the International Day of Democracy, a day to reflect on the state of democracy and celebrate the people and institutions working to uphold it. This year, as the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) celebrates 20 years of advancing democratic values, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminded…
In 2019, Kenya launched the first Kenya Strategy for the Development of Statistics (KSDS I) – our first attempt to organise how the nation produces, manages, and uses official statistics. It promised four things: a stronger national data system, better quality, smarter investments in people and technology, and wider use of data by citizens. Six…
The Devolution Conference 2025 convened in Homa Bay marked a key milestone in Kenya’s political and development calendar. It was a moment to reflect on over 12 years of county-level transparency since the 2013 Constitution. For us at Open Institute, it marked more than a decade of collaborating with counties to build open, responsive institutions…
Kenya has embarked on a transformative journey by launching the 5th National Action Plan (NAP V) under the Open Government Partnership (OGP). This is not just another policy initiative—it is a bold leap into a future where governance is transparent, inclusive, and powered by the people’s voices. The sheer ambition of this plan makes it…
For the first time in a decade, the world has witnessed a significant decline in social progress. The Social Progress Index highlights that last year, 61 countries saw a decline, 77 stagnated, and only 32 made real progress, with the UK falling into the second tier for the first time. With 4 out of 5…
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) partnered with the Open Institute to launch the first media centre in Kilifi County! Launched at the Maono Space in Malindi in March 2024, the Maono Media Hub aims to support the production of high-quality content and provide journalists with a conducive working environment. Supporting Journalists Countrywide Established in…
One of the main goals of our active citizenship work is making sure that data is widely accessed and used not just by governments but by citizens. We cannot achieve true data democracy when citizens are not involved in an active way in the data life cycle. We need to move away from only seeing…
For far too long, women in remote areas have struggled to be seen and heard. At the Open Institute, we’re committed to the ideal of leaving no one behind, especially those most marginalised. We have taken the view that achieving the sustainable development goals is best done at the local level – in all villages. …
There’s a perception that young people are less interested in politics and development than older generations. This might be true for traditional forms of citizen participation like voting, but it doesn’t mean they’re disengaged. An active citizenry is vital for a healthy democracy. When young people feel their voices are unheard and the issues they…
📅 Dates: November 25 & 26, 2024
📍 Location: Nairobi, kenya
Unlock the future of data governance with industry leaders, insightful sessions, and networking opportunities!
