Sharp declines in funding, especially for gender data, could set back gender equality.

Gender data and statistics are critical in guiding effective action to realize gender equality, yet they have been chronically underfunded. Recent funding cuts are expected to further undermine quality and availability. A recent survey of national statistics offices confirmed that 6 in 10 have seen reduced international or domestic funding for statistics since January 2025 (60.4 per cent), including for DHS or related surveys (51.4 per cent). Goal 3 (good health and well-being) is the most affected, with 11 indicators using data from DHS surveys, followed by Goal 5 (gender equality) with 6 indicators and Goal 2 (zero hunger) with 5 indicators.cxcii Without consistent DHS data, countries, especially the least developed, will struggle to monitor progress on gender-related SDG targets as they often lack national surveys with sex-disaggregated data. Even before recent funding cuts, three of every four national statistics offices confronted financial challenges in implementing or using the most recent DHS or related survey (72.7 per cent). Half faced capacity gaps (50.0 per cent).

Efforts to support SDG-related gender data production and use, including in Ecuador, Georgia, Samoa and Senegal, have generated concrete policy changes. Kenya’s 2022 DHS informed policies to create specialized courts for cases of gender-based violence. In Rwanda, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion used reprocessed 2020 DHS data to adjust education policies and allow teen mothers to go back to school. Strengthening and sustaining reliable gender data systems keeps development and gender equality measures on track. Nationally driven survey programmes that build on DHS experiences and lessons could strengthen national ownership and promote innovation and resilience. This could include using digital tools and non-traditional data sources to complement traditional survey methods, in line with international standards. In Senegal, for example, citizen generated data from women in mining communities has brought together local knowledge and structured collaboration to inform a new gender index.

Partnerships for gender data production and use can drive transformative changes for women and girls