GROOTS Kenya, an organisation championing for the rights of women at the grassroots level, has called for more investments in gender-disaggregated data and information to streamline gender issues in the country.
GROOTS Kenya Chief Executive Officer Fridah Githuku noted that journalists writing gender stories have had difficulties in accessing gender data.
It is for this reason that the organisation has taken the initiative to harvest gender data from different stakeholders with the focus being launching a Gender Data Dashboard which journalists will be able to access when writing stories on gender.
Ms Githuku was addressing journalists from various counties who converged in Machakos on Saturday for a two-day workshop on gender reporting.
She said the launch of the Gender Data Dashboard will help save time for journalists whom she noted need quick and accurate information that can be accessed easily.
The online portal that is expected to be launched early next year will only require journalists to quote the source of the data that shall have been collected from various stakeholders but under one point of access.
“As journalists when you are writing a story you don’t have the privilege of time and therefore this dashboard will help address that as it will be easily accessible,” said Ms Githuku.
According to the Global Gender Index that was launched this year, Kenya has made some progress compared to other countries in Africa and the World as far as gender issues are concerned.
Ms Githuku challenged journalists in the country to also make good use of the Global Gender Index when writing articles on gender issues.
She urged both the county and national governments to invest more on gender-disaggregated data and information.
“The moment you know the progress that women are making or areas that need investment then we will be able to ensure resource allocation. That’s why we cannot have gender budgeting if we do not have gender-disaggregated data and information,” said Ms Githuku.