Structuring an innovative development organization: Insights from Data2X

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Data2X made a big impact at the United Nations World Data Forum in October, helping to make gender a core part of discussions of data gaps, solutions, and communicating impact. Gender data has taken off in the past five years among the global data community with Data2X executive director, Emily Courey Pryor, calling the marked change “gratifying.” But it is not a shift that can be taken for granted, and there is a risk that gender data won't be integrated into broader data systems, Pryor said. “It’s like some countries may create a ministry for gender and believe everything will be taken care of,” Pryor told Devex. “But they get the least amount of funding out of the ministries. It’s the responsibility of us and other people who care about this agenda to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Pryor sits down with Devex to share what Data2X has learned in establishing an organizational structure, including how to identify areas that need support and engaging funders. Strategic planning “I am going to go through a stocktake of where we are now and strategy process for the years ahead,” Pryor explained. This exercise will allow Pryor and Data2X to update the gender data landscape — something she said should be conducted every four years to look at past successes and current challenges. “What is exciting now, is that we are able to drill down much deeper into country availability of data,” Pryor said. “But we want to take it a step further — to look at what is available, sources of where that data is coming from ... And what’s actually needed to make that change.” Country-specific programs, where Pryor said the “rubber meets the road,” are important areas of focus. Data2X can make an impact by understanding the data and funding gaps that exist, and being an advocate to donors, she said. “What is hard is that you can be very specific about the topics and the issues, but it’s hard to give people that roadmap for action — and that is the stage we are at now,” Pryor said. Picking battles “There are things we can take on and others we can’t. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t continue to be the global gender data platform where we bring together a body of knowledge on this topic, and we give it a voice and a place for people to know where to go and find information.” In working with limited resources — both funding and staff — it is important to engage the right areas, Pryor said. Where Data2x can add value is demonstrating “use cases;” gender data impact stories that use data supporting policies on violence against women and girls, for example, to communicate the importance of changing policy. “I used to think of it as picking the battles, but now I think about it as picking the right way to fight the battles,” Pryor said. “You pick the right channel to make the most impact within a particular topic. And that is different from having to fix all of the gender data issues. There are so many smart and dedicated people working in this areas and we need to pick where it is harder for them to operate, and assist them to make greater impact.” Communicating strategies and challenges with funders Pryor said engagement and communication with funders is important to ensure they understand and influence goals and strategies. “We have quarterly check-ins and meetings that are less about giving broad overviews of highlights of things that have happened and a look ahead of what is coming up on the calendar. “But it is also important to have relationships with [an organization’s] communicators ... keeping them updated on publications coming out on social media and asking them to push out messaging. This creates a lot of opportunities.” Additionally, Pryor has the two funders — the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation — on the Data2X board to help with the strategies and goals of the organization. Expanding donor base and gender data impact Already, donors have been engaging Data2X with potential collaborations. “Operationally over the next year I will be looking at how we can grow and diversify our funding base to allow us to do more things,” Pryor said. “There are a lot of topical areas where I would like to see Data2X make more of an impact, but currently, funding does not exist for that ... I have to work within our resources.” But Pryor also said it is important to get the foundation right before getting too big, to ensure the goals and objectives are solid. “Executive directors can say what the aspirations are, but as the guardian of the organization you can also discuss lengthening the timeline for greater success and talking out the issues of expanding and hiring new people,” Pryor said. “Working under pressure means you can make the wrong choice. It is a true dialog between funders and organizations that can lead to success. Funders want to point to the success of organizations and organizations need to be honest about what helps them to succeed and what puts pressure on their abilities. “It is an important lesson for the wider development community.” Lisa Cornish attended the U.N. World Data Forum as a Data2X press fellow.