Data isn’t just about raw numbers and statistics: it’s information we use to understand our world and make better decisions. When it comes to cities, data-driven decision-making helps accurately identify problems, allocate resources, and design effective policies. Mapping adds another layer to this insight by making data spatial. It helps planners and professionals visualise when, where, and why problems occur, and for whom. However, not all data is created equal. Gender-disaggregated data, which is collected and presented separately for women, men, and gender-diverse people, makes visible the inequalities that shape access to services, safety, mobility, and well-being. Without gender disaggregation, we risk designing policies and infrastructure that ignore how different groups experience the city.
This report presents three case studies that show how cities have used mapping and gender-disaggregated data to inform interventions to improve urban life. Whether starting with simple open data inventories or developing advanced digital tools, the lesson is clear: gender-responsive governance starts with gender-aware data.