AIR’s Gender-Disaggregated Data (GDD) for Inclusive Regulation Program supports financial sector regulators to strengthen how gender-disaggregated data is collected, analysed, and applied in supervision and policymaking. By positioning data as both a diagnostic and an accountability tool, the program supports more adaptive, inclusive regulation.
The program combines research, collaboration and design sprints to:
AIR convened a virtual Global Design Sprint focused on accelerating the adoption and practical use of gender-disaggregated data (GDD) across financial ecosystems globally.
The Global Design Sprint brought together regulators, financial services providers, development institutions, ecosystem organisations, researchers, technologists, and storytelling experts from across jurisdictions to collaboratively explore practical approaches for translating gender data into actionable insights, tools, incentives, and measurable outcomes.
The AIR Global Design Sprint was a six-week, platform-enabled virtual Sprint designed to move beyond data collection and reporting toward the practical activation and use of gender-disaggregated data.
The Sprint combined AI, human-centred storytelling and market activation approaches to explore how gender-disaggregated data can be translated into practical solutions that support better decision-making, product innovation, accountability, and financial inclusion outcomes.
Participants joined the Sprint as part of pre-formed teams or organisations, collaborated with others to form multidisciplinary and cross-jurisdictional teams during the Sprint process, or worked independently to ideate, prototype, and refine solutions across three interconnected tracks.
The AI Track explores how artificial intelligence can support the generation, analysis, interpretation, and practical use of gender-disaggregated data to improve decision-making across the financial ecosystem.
Participants explored how AI-enabled tools and approaches can help identify patterns, generate insights, support customer segmentation, and improve the accessibility and usability of gender data.
The Human Stories Track focused on translating data into clear, engaging, and human-centred narratives that make insights more meaningful and actionable for decision-making across institutions and markets.
Participants explored how storytelling, qualitative insights, and user-centred communication approaches could complement quantitative data to better surface the lived experiences, needs, and challenges of underserved women.
The Market Action Track focused on applying GDD-related insights to financial sector challenges and opportunities.
Participants explored how practical tools and approaches can help financial services providers identify underserved female segments, uncover market opportunities, and strengthen decision-making. This included designing dashboard concepts and insight tools that make gender-disaggregated data more actionable and commercially relevant for financial institutions.
The track also examined how organisations can better understand and measure the influence of GDD insights on institutional strategies, product development, and operational decision-making.
Through collaborative ideation and prototyping, participants developed practical concepts that connect data insights to implementation, market action, and measurable outcomes.
Dates: 20 July – 3 September 2026
Format: Virtual Sprint
Duration: Six weeks
Participation Model: Combination of webinars, masterclasses, collaborative and hands-on solution development
Time commitment: The AIR Global Design Sprint was designed to be flexible and compatible with participants’ existing commitments. The Sprint offered a combination of live and asynchronous activities, including masterclasses, mentorship sessions, collaborative exchanges, and independent Sprint development activities. While participants were encouraged to join live sessions where possible, recordings and supporting materials were made available throughout the Sprint to accommodate different time zones and schedules.
Participants self-selected attendance to sessions most relevant to their interests, track areas, and stage of solution development. Throughout the Sprint, participating teams and individuals had opportunities to engage in mentorship exchanges and regular check-ins with the AIR team to support collaboration, feedback, and ongoing solution development.
Live Q&A Session: A virtual drop-in Q&A session for prospective applicants took place on 23 June at 2 PM BST. View the recording below:
The Sprint culminated in a virtual Demo Day on September 3, 2026, following six weeks of collaboration across the AI, Human Stories and Market Action tracks. Nine participating teams pitched solutions designed to strengthen how gender-disaggregated data is collected, analyzed and applied in supervision, policymaking and market decision-making. The event featured a keynote from David Symington of the Office of the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health. An expert panel of 12 judges from across the globe assessed the teams’ work based on desirability, feasibility and viability.
AIR recognized five winners:
🥇 1st Place: EquiPass
🥈 2nd Place: VFW and CERISE (tied)
🥉 3rd Place: OkHi
🌟 People’s Choice: Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University Team
Thanks to our panel of judges:
• Jo Ann Barefoot, AIR (Chair)
• Kennedy Komba, Bank of Tanzania
• Gisela Davico, Better Than Cash Alliance and UNDP
• Temitope Akin-Fadeyi, Central Bank of Nigeria
• Nataša Goronja, Center for Financial Inclusion
• Dr. Cormekki Whitley, Data.org
• Leora Klapper, World Bank Group
• Sophie Mills, FSD Network
• Michael Wiegand, Gates Foundation
• Dr. Ruth Goodwin-Groen, Independent
• Akinwumi Akinola, Policy Innovation Centre
• Umair Ahmad, State Bank of Pakistan
• Tamara Cook, Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health
Additional videos and materials from Demo Day, including team pitches and the keynote, will be added soon.
AIR thanks our GDD Program Global Advisory Group members for helping inform the design of the Global Design Sprint and for their overall engagement with the program:
• CGAP
• Consumer CentriX
• Financial Alliance for Women
• Gates Foundation
• SME Finance Forum
• UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
• Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi)
• Women’s World Banking
INITIATIVE • Gender-Disaggregated Data for Inclusive Regulation
This program supports regulators to strengthen how gender-disaggregated data is collected, analyzed, and applied in supervision and policymaking. By positioning data as both a diagnostic and an accountability tool, the program supports more adaptive, inclusive regulation.
BLOG • Going Further, Together: Collaborating to Strengthen Gender-Disaggregated Data
This blog outlines collaborative work, challenges in data use, and the multi-country effort to better collect, analyze, and apply GDD for meaningful policy impact.
PODCAST • Seeing the Gaps: Gender Data and the Future of Inclusive Finance
Wendy Teleki and Tatiana Alonso join Jo Ann to explore why gender-disaggregated data is essential to inclusive finance, smarter supervision, and unlocking capital for women entrepreneurs worldwide.
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