Keynote - Where Theory Meets Practice: Iterating Data Feminism for Real Impact

Our data scientist, Anna-Lisa Wirth, took the stage at our partner organization The Data Tank’s NextGenData Conference in February 2025 to deliver a keynote on Data Feminism. This event brought together youth change-makers to share their experiences, and as a highlight, the Youth Engagement Toolkit for Responsible Data Reuse was launched. The Data Tank is a multidisciplinary Think and Do Tank that is based in Brussels and Berlin with a global approach to data re-use. 

There’s a broad consensus on the importance of amplifying young voices in decision-making, especially in the data space. However, turning this ideal into real-world impact is a different challenge altogether. Structural barriers – such as one-sided business models, a lack of trust in data service providers, and limited participation opportunities – often stand in the way. 

This is where The Data Tank stepped in. Working with partners in Moldova, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Tanzania, they developed a process to establish a social license for data reuse. The result? A practical, accessible, and concise Youth Engagement Toolkit, designed to foster meaningful youth participation and ensure data reuse is built on grounded consent. Anyone working in youth participation and responsible data reuse can use this toolkit as a guide to better practices. 

The NextGenData project and the Toolkit exemplify the approach of Data Feminism, as young people were and continue to be directly engaged, actively shaping data-driven services that genuinely benefit them. Data Reuse is essential for modern service delivery, leveraging the possibilities of the digital age. The Toolkit brings Data Feminism into practice through a structured five-step process, ensuring participatory, ethical and equitable data reuse.

“Engage youth and be engaged. Share your learnings with each other, learn from each other. Create something better together.” 

At GIZ Data Lab, our work is deeply rooted in the principles of Data Feminism, as conceptualized by Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren F. Klein. This framework challenges traditional power dynamics in data science, pushing for equity and justice in how data is collected, used, and shared. 

One of our guiding philosophies is shifting from the mindset of simply “doing good with data” to embracing “data for co-liberation” as author Catherine D’Ignazio puts it. This shift acknowledges that data isn’t just a tool; it’s a form of power that must be wielded inclusively and equitably. 

GIZ is already putting these principles into practice in various projects, such as: 

• The Digital Transformation Center Kenya, which guides young people in navigating the data economy. 

• Miadé Togo, a community data ownership initiative in Togo, co-created with artists and unhoused youth. 

If you’re interested in the Youth Engagement Toolkit, you can check out our partners The Data Tank website for more details. For more insights on Data Feminism in theory and practice be sure to check out our Data Feminism event series videos and our Urbanist AI project. For deeper discussions on Data Feminism and how we apply it in practice just reach out to us directly!

“Good afternoon, dear change makers, esteemed colleagues, partners and guests,  

It is an honor to join you today at the conclusion of the NextGenData Project, a remarkable initiative by the Data Tank that has spanned Moldova, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Tanzania. It is an honor to be here today with you, the dedicated partners who enabled the engaged young people who breathed life into this initiative. Thanks to you, this project has not only engaged youth in meaningful ways but has also pioneered the reuse of data to enhance service delivery, fostering trust and social acceptance in these practices. I sincerely congratulate you, the participants, and you, the Data Tank team, especially Elena Murray and Moiz Shaikh, for this extraordinary project. 

As many of you probably have followed, we had elections in Germany last week. Sadly, the new parliament will only include 5 percent of members below the age of 30. Even though people below 30 make up 30 percent of our population. This is worrying and risks to further disadvantage youth in our world. The good news is: You can change that and in fact some of  you already did. One participatory process at a time. We are together in this quest. GIZ works on including youth and diverse profiles in data projects. 

As Stefaan indicated, I am part of the GIZ Data Lab, a Think and Do Tank of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Since 2019 we have been working on using data for positive change in international development. Our head organization Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit is the German federal enterprise for international cooperation to promote sustainable development. We are active in over 120 countries. This spans cooperation with governments, international organizations, private sector, NGOs, and civil society. We, the GIZ Data Lab, focus on Data4Development developing practice-oriented digital solutions. We do this through experiments, prototypes, event series, and much more. 

Let me present you with two examples of GIZ’s work before letting you in on one of our most important principles to ensure inclusion. 

1) The Digital Transformation Center Kenya supports Kenya’s transformation towards a sustainable and human-centered digital economy and society on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU). The DTC is working to increase trust and understanding in society for open data and data reuse solutions. Additionally, it promotes safe online behavior. One example is the “Keeping Safe Online” comic. 

2) Another example is Miadé net. This was a project enabling the sharing and documenting of communal knowledge as data with community ownership using Raspberry Pies. Raspberry Pies are little PCs you can tinker on, so they are perfect to make sure you control what is happening with your data. The project reached youth communities like artists and street children fostering community during the COVID Pandemic. 

These examples showed one of our core principles in action: Data Feminism. A framework that challenges traditional power dynamics in data science and seeks to make data work for equity and justice. Central to our philosophy is the change in thinking from merely "doing good with data" to embracing "data for co-liberation", as Data Feminism author Catherine D’Ignazio puts it. This transition recognizes that data is not just a tool but a form of power—one that must be wielded inclusively and equitably. 

The NextGenData initiative exemplifies this approach by engaging young people directly, allowing them to actively participate in shaping data-driven services that genuinely benefit them. Such engagement ensures that interventions are not rooted in data extractivism or data ableism and do not exacerbate the digital divide. Instead, they promote equitable representation and inclusivity through five steps that practical tips on how to translate ideals into reality. Data Reuse for service delivery is key to benefit from the possibilities of the digital age. It gives practical tips on how to select partners, how to plan ahead for future issues and how to practically ensure agency. Like this it could make the live of the individual completing the task easier and all our lives richer through inclusiveness. 

As we celebrate the achievements of the NextGenData Project and look forward to the launch of the Youth Engagement Toolkit, let us reaffirm our commitment to these principles. By examining and challenging existing power structures, embracing diverse perspectives, and promoting responsible data practices, we can create a more just and equitable world. You can be part of it – engage youth and be engaged. Share your learnings with each other, learn from each other. Create something better together. You, the youth participants, and researchers have already been applying that. I am looking forward to hearing your insights and learnings during our time together at this event and beyond. 

Thank you and congratulations again!” 

Anna-Lisa Wirth