Meeting Global Advocacy Needs: Evolving our gender data training and building a learning community 

Why building gender data capacity matters  

When advocates don’t have access to reliable gender data, gaps grow wider. Policies miss the mark. The voices of women and girls — especially those on the margins — go unheard. 

Reliable data about the lives, needs, and challenges of women and girls is essential to advancing gender equality. Yet access to this data remains limited — not just for policymakers, but especially for grassroots advocates working on the frontlines of gender justice. 

In addition to challenges of access, many advocates lack the tools and training to use the limited data available to support their advocacy effectively. In contexts where data is scarce or does not reflect lived realities, it becomes even more vital to equip advocates with the skills to draw insights from their own work and turn their experiences into compelling stories that drive change.  

This is the foundation of our Data-Driven Advocacy (DDA) training: developed in collaboration with advocates, it equips them to find, analyse, and communicate data meaningfully and strategically to influence change.  

Updating the Data-Driven Advocacy Manual: A journey of reflection, revision, and collective action 

Since its launch in 2018, the original Data-Driven Advocacy (DDA) Facilitator Guide has been a cornerstone of the Equal Measures 2030 (EM2030) coalition’s mission to strengthen gender advocates’ capacity to use data to drive change. It has supported thousands of gender equality advocates across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, equipping them with the skills to access, analyse, and use data to influence policies, shape public narratives, and hold decision-makers accountable.  

The guide has been particularly instrumental in strengthening the work of Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), feminist networks, and grassroots gender advocates by offering practical tools and strategies for data-informed advocacy. 

However, the global context has evolved significantly. Today, gender advocates operate in an increasingly complex and constrained environment. Civic space is shrinking. Advocacy and expression are under threat. Gender equality work faces coordinated backlash, while funding shortfalls, digital surveillance, and increased personal risk continue to impact those at the frontlines of change. 

In this evolving landscape, it became clear that advocates need updated tools and support — ones that reflect current challenges and strengthen their ability to respond with strategic, data-informed action. 

Recognizing this, the EM2030 coalition undertook a comprehensive revision of the DDA training manual to ensure it remains relevant, responsive, and grounded in the lived experiences of those using it. We began with an in-depth consultation across coalition members, gathering insight from advocates who’ve used the manual in real-world advocacy.  They told us what worked, what was missing, and what today’s advocates need to be even more effective.   

The message was clear, we needed to update the manual to:  

• ensure stronger strategic alignment with movement informed strategies and integration with tools such as the SDG Gender Index.  

• adapt to evolving advocacy strategies and challenges, and integrate feedback from advocates — insights from those who have used the guide have been crucial. 

• make the manual more flexible and accessible for diverse audiences.  

• use more participatory and intersectional approaches that allow facilitators to tailor content to youth-led, grassroots, and marginalized groups. 

Coalition members reviewed the original content, suggested updates, and proposed innovative additions. Through this collaborative process, the revised manual has emerged not only as an updated resource — but as a more inclusive, dynamic tool that reflects the collective learning, creativity, and experience of advocates across the globe. 

Building a network of trainers to bring the manual to life  

To successfully roll out the revised manual and deepen its impact, we recognized the importance of building a strong network of trainers. That’s why the next step in the revision process was to conduct a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme. 

The objectives of the ToT were to: 

• Equip coalition members with the knowledge and skills to deliver the revised manual; 

• Familiarize them with new content and methodologies; 

• Build a strong cross-regional network of peer trainers and co-facilitators 

Each coalition member identified areas of the revised curriculum where additional training was needed and nominated up to three experienced facilitators who could deliver the sessions within their regions. Nominees were encouraged to choose the specific modules they were most interested in or needed to strengthen — making the learning process personal, relevant, and immediately applicable. 

In return, participants committed not only to using what they learned in their own contexts, but also to actively contribute to a growing global network of gender data advocates. 

To make the training as inclusive and far-reaching as possible, we organized an intensive five-day virtual ToT. The sessions combined practical facilitation skills, in-depth curriculum walkthroughs, and opportunities for peer exchange. This created space for shared learning across regions and lived experiences. 

Looking ahead: A community of learning and action   

Revising the manual and conducting the ToT has not only resulted in an updated training resource — it has shown us the power of collaboration. EM2030 coalition members are already planning regional rollouts in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa in the second half of the year, taking the updated curriculum into diverse advocacy contexts. 

To build on this momentum, we are launching an online community of learning that will bring together trained trainers and gender advocates passionate about using data-driven advocacy for impact. This space will foster shared learning, peer support, and ongoing exchange of tools, strategies, and real-world experiences. 

As the community grows, we look forward to welcoming new members — including organisations and networks interested in strengthening their data-driven advocacy practice. Our training resources and approach are designed to be adapted and applied across different contexts, and we encourage groups seeking to build these capacities to connect with us.  

We believe this growing network of skilled, connected advocates is key to advancing a more just and evidence-informed approach to gender equality. By supporting and investing in initiatives like this — rooted in collaboration, cross-regional learning, and practical action — funders and partners can help scale what works and ensure that gender advocates everywhere have the tools they need to push for a #GenderEqualFuture.