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Mercy Wanjohi: Supporting gender-based violence survivors through data analysis 

Participants at Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis training in Nairobi September 2024.
Participants at Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis training in Nairobi September 2024.

Mercy’s new confidence from Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis training means she can demonstrate that gender issues are not “just women’s issues”.  

Mercy Wanjohi works in the County Government of Nairobi, Kenya. She is a social scientist, working in gender and inclusivity. She leads programmes to mainstream gender across the work of the county government, as well as coordinating Nairobi County Safe Shelter, for survivors of gender-based violence. 

Mercy relies on data related to gender and gender-based violence in Nairobi to inform her policy recommendations to decision-makers.  

Gender issues are not given the relevant weight that is needed. There is very low understanding of what other sectors can do to mainstream gender. We don’t have the required information, so we can’t communicate the needs to decision makers.

Why are gender issues not considered important? As Mercy explains, “most people have the perception that gender issues are women’s issues”. 

Mercy joined Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis training in September 2024, to understand how to collect, analyse, and share data with decision makers. Now, she can recommend policies in Nairobi that support survivors of gender-based violence most effectively, and mainstream gender issues across the work of the Nairobi County government. 

“I was able to understand data sources and how to prepare analysis, as well as the different types of analysis”, she says. “Now, I’m confident to present data well for different audiences.   

A renewed confidence to present policy to decision-makers

Since the training, Mercy has returned to her role with a renewed confidence to engage decision makers with data on gender and gender-based violence. She’s reviewing all the data available to her, to analyse and use in her policy-making, and share with key stakeholders. 

“I am a firm believer that we are all endowed with a lot of talents that can help us as communities solve problems. It’s been so valuable to enhance my capacity to do so, through this opportunity”. 

Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis is part of the Data Literacy Project, generously supported by USAID, and delivered in partnership with ACAPS.