Improving Data Use through Data Parties
Recently at the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) Academy, Salanga had the privilege of presenting with World Vision Canada on “From Data Collection to Use: Enhancing Your Monitoring and Evaluation Journey.” We took participants on an interactive journey through the lifecycle of data—sharing strategies for effective collection, real-time analysis, and collaborative review to drive data-informed decisions and continuous improvement.
One of the highlights? Data Parties—our favourite way to transform data review into a team celebration of learning and progress!
Here are 5 Key Tips for a Successful Data Party:
- Purpose First: Frame the session as a learning opportunity, not a performance review. Real-time data disaggregation by demographics or regions adds depth to discussions.
- Schedule Strategically: Plan regular reviews (e.g., monthly at the output level or mid-reporting periods) to foster timely project adaptations.
- Engage the Team: Encourage staff to explore data independently before the meeting and come prepared to share insights.
Ask the Right Questions:
- What’s the data telling us?
- Why is this happening?
- Are we on track?
- What’s surprising?
- What should we adjust?
Dive Deep: Investigate successes, failures, and outliers to learn what they teach us about future planning and validate project assumptions.
Key Takeaway: Data Parties are more than reviews—they are moments to build ownership, strengthen team connections, and foster a culture of ongoing learning.
Bonus Resources:
- Key tips from our session for you to download. Feel free to use these in your next data party planning!
- Do you want to see how we use Kinaki to facilitate and document insights from data parties? Check out the session recording – the demo begins around the 34-minute mark.
Thank you to CanWaCH Academy for hosting such an inspiring event, and to everyone who joined us! 🙌
Ready to host your own data party? Share your thoughts, tools, or experiences below! 👇
If you’re interested in exploring Kinaki further and finding out if it’s the right fit for you, please reach out and we’d be happy to help.
