**Empowering the Invisible: How Strategic Gender Data is Revolutionizing Global Equality and Saving Lives**
In the coastal villages of Zanzibar, the crackle of a radio isn’t just background noise; for many women, it has become a lifeline. At Tumbatu FM, a community station that serves as the heartbeat of the region, presenter Juma Haji Juma understands that his words carry a specific weight when they are anchored in reality. Since 2024, his station has dedicated a monthly segment to a topic once whispered about in shadows: gender-based violence. But instead of speaking in vague generalities, the broadcasts are fueled by hard, local statistics. “We share the data because it is so important,” Juma explains. “When news is backed by data, it carries more weight—and encourages people to find the right solutions.”
This shift from anecdote to evidence is part of a global movement led by UN Women to bridge one of the most significant gaps in international development: the gender data void. While decision-makers frequently call for evidence-based policy, gender data is paradoxically often the last area to receive meaningful investment. Since 2016, however, the Women Count programme has sought to flip this script. With over USD 80 million invested by UN Women and its partners, the initiative is proving that when you count women, you can finally begin to solve the specific challenges they face. From the floodplains of Kenya to the corporate boardrooms of Georgia, the strategic collection and use of gender-disaggregated data are not just filling institutional gaps—they are saving lives and rewriting the social contract.
### Breaking the Silence in the United Republic of Tanzania
In Zanzibar, the challenge of addressing gender-based violence (GBV) has long been hampered by deep-seated cultural norms that discourage public discussion of domestic abuse. Silence was often the default, leaving survivors isolated and perpetrators unaccountable. This began to change when Tumbatu FM and the youth-led Kati Radio started airing monthly statistics provided by UN Women and the Zanzibar Office of the Chief Government Statistician.
The impact was immediate. For listeners like Fatma Haji Silima, the data provided a map where there was once only confusion. “Before, I didn’t know where to report cases of violence,” she recalls. “Now, I have the information and confidence to help others in my community do the same.” By demystifying the prevalence of violence, the radio segments have transformed a private struggle into a public health priority. Amina Mohamed, a presenter at Kati Radio, notes that their programming goes beyond the numbers, hosting expert interviews and taking live calls to challenge the misconceptions that protect abusers.
The results are quantifiable. The Zanzibar Police reported 1,809 cases of GBV in 2024—a staggering 28 percent increase compared to 2020. This rise isn’t necessarily an indication of more violence, but rather a testament to increased reporting and a breakdown of the culture of silence. These figures are now being used to refine Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to End Violence against Women and Children, leading to the creation of specialized “gender desks” for confidential reporting and one-stop centers where survivors can access health, legal, and psychological aid in a single location.
### Precision Humanitarianism: The Kenyan Floods
When the Mathare River in Nairobi burst its banks in April 2024, the devastation was instantaneous. Isabella Nzioki was jolted awake by the screams of her neighbors as homes were swallowed by the rising tide. In the chaos of a natural disaster, aid is often distributed in a “one-size-fits-all” manner, which frequently overlooks the specific needs of women and children. However, Nzioki, a Community Health Promoter, had recently participated in gender-data training organized by UN Women and GROOTS-Kenya.
As she moved through the disaster zone, Nzioki didn’t just provide comfort; she collected data. She recorded the specific details of 81 survivors, noting that 64 were women, including several who were pregnant or lactating. The Kenya Red Cross utilized this “citizen gender data” to bypass the usual delays in humanitarian response. Because they knew exactly who was affected, they could target food assistance, mobile clinics, and water treatment supplies with surgical precision.
“I was so impressed with how these disaggregated data helped to bridge gaps between survivors and humanitarian agencies,” Nzioki says. In a crisis, data acts as a bridge, ensuring that the most vulnerable don’t just survive the disaster, but receive the specific care required to recover from it.
### Redefining the Domestic Sphere in Georgia
In the Republic of Georgia, the barriers to gender equality were often found within the home and the traditional expectations of fatherhood. For years, the concept of paternity leave was virtually non-existent in practice, even if it was available on paper. UN Women’s national Time-Use Survey (2020-2021) revealed a stark disparity in how men and women spent their days, with women bearing the overwhelming brunt of unpaid care work.
When TBC Bank, one of Georgia’s largest employers, saw these findings, they realized that a corporate culture shift was necessary. Between 2021 and 2022, not a single male employee at the bank had taken paternity leave. In response, the bank introduced mandatory gender equality training based on the survey’s data.
For 34-year-old Avtandil Tsereteli, the training was a revelation. When his son Alexandre was born, Avtandil chose to take paternity leave, allowing his wife to continue her professional career while he bonded with his son. “It was one of the most significant decisions I will ever make,” he says. The success at TBC Bank has rippled outward, influencing Georgia’s Civil Service Bureau to develop legislative amendments that include non-transferable paternity leave for public sector employees, ensuring that the burden of care is more equitably shared across society.
### Climate Resilience in the Kingdom of Tonga
Tonga is on the front lines of the climate crisis. In 2022, the nation conducted a landmark Gender and Environment Survey (GES), which found that 93 percent of the population had experienced three or more natural disasters in just one year. However, the data revealed that the impact was not felt equally. Women were significantly more likely to lose their livelihoods in the wake of a disaster and faced higher risks regarding food security and increased domestic labor.
The survey findings, supported by UN Women, have become a cornerstone of Tonga’s national strategy. From budget revisions by the Ministry of Finance to a total overhaul of the National Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Policy, the data is ensuring that climate adaptation isn’t gender-blind. Anna Jane Lagi, of Tonga’s Women’s Affairs and Gender Equality Division, explains that the data allows for better coordination between disaster management offices and first responders.
When Tonga’s Minister of Finance presented these findings at COP28, it served as a global wake-up call. It demonstrated that gender-responsive environmental action isn’t just a “moral” choice—it is a logistical necessity for any nation seeking true climate resilience.
### A Radical Shift Toward 2026
The “Women Count” programme, currently backed by the governments of Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, and Sweden, alongside the Gates Foundation, is entering a pivotal era. As it prepares for its third phase of implementation in 2026, the focus remains on creating a radical shift in how gender statistics are prioritized. For 15 years, UN Women has championed the idea that what isn’t measured cannot be managed.
The stories from Zanzibar, Nairobi, Tbilisi, and Nukuʻalofa prove that data is the fuel for transformation. It turns a silent victim into a vocal advocate, a chaotic disaster response into a targeted recovery, and a traditional workplace into a modern, equitable environment.
As UN Women marks its 15th anniversary, the organization is calling for continued investment in these data systems. The progress made so far is a testament to what can be achieved when women are no longer invisible in the spreadsheets of power. In the words of the programme’s mission, the time to act is now—to protect the progress made, sustain the leaders on the ground, and deliver the true, data-driven change that the world’s women and girls deserve.
