Development Gateway collaborates with 50×2030 initiative on data use in agriculture

Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) is pleased to announce the launch of the Data Interoperability and Governance (DIG) program. Supported by the Gates Foundation, this two-year initiative will strengthen the use of agricultural data for policy development, investment, and program decision-making in Africa, focusing initially on Senegal and engaging moderately in other countries.

To support DIG in strengthening data use in agriculture, we will collaborate with the 50×2030 initiative, a multi-agency partnership working to close the agricultural data gap and transform national data systems in 50 countries by 2030. As a key partner in the 50×2030 initiative, DG will lead data use efforts in Senegal by embedding experts in ministries, supporting inter-ministerial collaboration, strengthening the interoperability of administrative and survey datasets, and developing tools and governance mechanisms that enable the use of data for evidence-based policymaking. DG will also provide flexible support to other countries participating in the 50×2030 initiative, helping relevant governments and partners respond quickly to new opportunities for effective data use.

Key activities of the DIG program include:

• Conducting a situational analysis of Senegal’s data ecosystem to ensure the use of 50×2030 aligns with local policy priorities, drawing on our prior experience in Senegal with the Hewlett AD3 project.
• Building trust and capacity within and across ministries to foster sustained data sharing and decision-making.
• Supporting interoperability and joint analysis of 50×2030 surveys with administrative and other datasets.
• Providing rapid response, technical, and policy support to the other 50×2030 countries based on demand.
• Producing case studies, prototypes, and convenings that explore the impact of Earth Observation (EO) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the deployment and use of agricultural surveys.
• Fostering knowledge exchange and cross-programmatic learning with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), who are presently leading data use activities in Sierra Leone.

Our initial assessment of Senegal’s agricultural data ecosystem under the 50×2030 Initiative revealed that while the country has matured in data production, it faces a systemic bottleneck in data usage and dissemination. In addition, while private sector platforms exist, they are sometimes underutilized, which often leads to the development of new tools that inadvertently duplicate existing systems. Beyond infrastructure, the assessment points to a human capital challenge that limits the transition from statistics to strategic intelligence. 

To unlock the value of this data, the assessment proposes a roadmap that aims to transform Senegal’s agricultural administration from a producer of annual statistics into a hub of real-time strategic intelligence. It will be built on four pillars: (1) Operational Expertise, deploying analysts and hybrid teams equipped with AI capabilities to cross-reference historical data with real-time weather and market signals; (2) A ‘Data-to-Policy’ Culture, institutionalizing a mentorship program for mixed pairs of technicians and policymakers while integrating granular data from Producer Organizations ; (3) Technological Sovereignty, ensuring full national ownership of Earth Observation and AI prediction models with a standardized “dual-track” publication calendar (Provisional vs. Official) validated by the Statistical Visa; and (4) A Foundational Interoperability Layer to reactivate the not operationalized Interoperability Framework.

This program builds on DG’s two decades of experience in West Africa and deepens our partnerships with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Bank, GPSDD, and others. Together, we’re ensuring agricultural data is more accessible, usable, and impactful – helping to improve food security and livelihoods across the region.