Civic-tech tools aim to empower citizens to promote social change in different areas, and gender inequality is one of them. Over the past years, OpenUp has led multiple gender-focused initiatives, which is briefly present in this article. OpenUp’s work shows that civic-tech could have an important role in the fight against gender disparities. It also shows how partnerships with other organisations, help better understand particular user needs, how civic tech can assist them in their fields. In this instance, we focus on gender inequality.

Opening up data is but one leg of advancing access to information through civic-tech. The case study really looks at various aspects of this advancement with specific reference to gender inequality. From training in Data usage to collaborations with organisations in the sector of Gender equality, as well as the development tools which support this, like Wazimap, a case management system for the Social Change Assistance Trust. The real takeaway is the collaborative approach Openup generally takes within the Civic-tech space.

User-centred development can be done with partnering with organisations which are focused on a particular issue and have the knowledge, experience in that field.
Though Wazimap makes Census data more accessible and understandable, we realised the possibilities it has in exploring “niche” societal issues. We keep expanding this tool because of the value it brings to more users.