At IDW2025, a group of speakers from around the world spoke on ‘Bridging Data Gaps with Citizen Science for People and Policy‘. Although communities have long been studied within research and had data collected about them, there is growing recognition that communities should have a voice in the data produced on them and the policies made downstream. Carolynne Hultquist, Co-Chair of the CODATA Task Group, set the stage on challenges and opportunities of incorporating Citizen Science in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global movement towards meaningful engagement in citizen data. Countries around the world are recognizing the value of involving communities within the official statistical process and learning approaches to address concerns on data quality, standards, and ethics in this new paradigm.
If you are interested in finding out more, come and join the session on Citizen Science, SDGs and FAIR data at the RDA Virtual Plenary on Thursday 19th March 2026 (07:00 – 08:30 UTC)!
Citizen-generated data for progress on the SDGs
The Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data and its implementation – Haoyi Chen, United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
“Nothing about us without us.” The UNSD Collaborative on Citizen Data aims to empower citizens and turn them into agents of change. The impacts of empowering communities opens dialogue with public institutions, respects marginalized voices, and expands the power of data production to citizens. Citizen contributions to data are increasingly recognized as critical to societal wellbeing and in support of the ‘leave no one behind’ principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data has been developed to address challenges in defining citizen data, roles that citizen and national statistical offices can play in data processes, and action points for the sustainable production and use of citizen data. Key responsibilities of National Statistical Offices include supporting on quality standards/methodologies, building capacity and fostering partnerships, raising awareness on the potential of citizen data, as well as promoting its integration into official statistics. Ensuring the voices of communities are heard can help to address intersectional marginalization, hold institutions accountable, and ensure that data remain relevant and impactful.
Read the full blog here: https://codata.org/blog/2026/03/16/nothing-about-us-without-us-reflections-from-the-codata-task-group-on-citizen-generated-data-for-the-sdgs/