Melinda Gates announces $80 million at ‘Women Deliver’ conference to close gender data gap

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced $80 million funding over the next three years 'to close gender data gaps' and help accelerate progress for women and girls around the world.

Co-chair of the philanthropy, Melinda Gates made the announcement while delivering a keynote speech at the ‘Women Deliver’ conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

At least 5,500 people including world leaders, advocates, policymakers, journalists, youths, and civil society of over 160 countries have convened at the largest ever global meet focusing on health, rights, and the well-being of girls and women.

This is one of the first major global conferences following the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in January.

By adopting the SDGs the world agreed to achieve gender equality by 2030. But Melinda Gates said: “We can’t close the gender gap without closing the data gap.”

But right now there is “insufficient data” to build a baseline for nearly 80 percent of “SDG 5” indicators, she said.

“…without taking advantage of the power of data we will not make enough progress to be able to declare victory”.

She said the new money would improve methodologies for data collection, and allow us to collect data in areas such as time use, unpaid work, and economic empowerment.

It will build on work already under way to provide a fuller, richer picture of the challenges women and girls face.

“And not only will we collect data – we will put that data to use. Because better data will help in formulating better policy, programming, and accountability,” she said, adding that data alone would not change women’s lives.

“It is just the foundational part of the work, and how we’re going to be accountable to the women we serve and support”.

“It won’t do us much good unless it is used to influence decision-making and accountability.

“And it won’t do us much good unless it gives women and girls access to healthcare, greater decision-making power, and increased economic opportunity”.

She promised to the world that the Gates foundation would be “there every step of the way”.

“I will be there every step of the way.”