Mbabane – UNDP’s Mpendulo Masuku says inclusive data is essential for development planning, not only for LGBTI communities but for all groups whose voices are often left out of national records.
Masuku explained that evidence-based information strengthens advocacy and ensures governments adopt policies that reflect the realities of their citizens. He pointed to Kenya’s 2019 national census as an example, where a sex marker for intersex persons was introduced for the first time. The data provided figures for males, females and intersex individuals, allowing a clearer picture of the country’s population diversity.
According to Masuku, the availability of such data empowers civil society and communities with credible, government-recognised information that cannot easily be dismissed. This, he said, makes it easier to push for inclusive programmes and policies. 
He noted that resistance remains from some states that are reluctant to adapt their administrative records and surveys to include all sub-populations. Masuku suggested that instead of running separate short-term studies, governments could integrate key indicators into existing national surveys for more effective and efficient data collection.
