Annual Report 2023 : simplebooklet.com

475791011Table of Contents3Welcome BackImpact StoriesForeword from our Chair - Embracing Transition, Amplifying ImpactExposing the impact of heatwaves on children across the worldBuilding HeightsUnderstanding the impact of seasonality on nutrition survey results on wasting Intro from our Director - The Ripples of ChangeListening to young voices in our work with the Observatory for Sport in Scotland Our Service CatalogueProviding UNICEF with data to reach more children needing vital vaccinationsAdolescent discourse on mental health on social mediaIntroducing our new Advisory BoardRecognitionOur Project PortfolioOur Wider Impact1415HighlightsPartner with us1214151619202227282930

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IwonaAlexFraserWelcome Back!Another fruitful year of collaborating This year was marked by ongoingtransformation and tremendous progressacross all our activities. As we transitioned from our initial start-upphase, we feel privileged to be a part ofthe innovation ecosystem at theEdinburgh Futures Institute, University ofEdinburgh. We continue to collaborate withorganisations across the globe to developdata-driven solutions to addresschallenges facing children. This year, we have embarked on a journeyto apply our methods and expertise tosupport our diverse partner network inleveraging data for broader societalimpact. Our annual report is a chance for us toreflect on our progress, what we'velearned and, most importantly, how weuse data to improve children'soutcomes. We are excited to share withyou some of the highlights, showing howour work continues to create real-worldimpact. If you want to find out more aboutanything we do, please check out ourwebsite or, even better, get in touch!We hope that reading and learningmore about us can inspire further workin the hugely important domain of Datafor Children. Best Wishes,4Olivia

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EmbracingTransition,Amplifying Impact5The year in retrospect was marked by significantsocietal and geopolitical challenges, notablyimpacting children's well-being. Thesechallenges provided a renewed relevance andimpetus for the Data For Children Collaborativeto drive transformational change, underpinningits transition into a pivotal resource hubdedicated to establishing data collaborativesresponsibly.This transition symbolizes a critical step forwardin the Collaborative’s journey, amplifying its coreethos of fostering a data-driven culture toaddress children-centric societal challenges.The burgeoning recognition of its efforts, not onlywithin Scotland but globally, is a testament to theunwavering commitment and expertise of itsstaff and community that has been honed overthe years.The reputation of the Collaborative as a trustedentity has burgeoned, evidenced by a growingdemand for its expertise in data collaboration. Ina world where data is the linchpin to tacklingmultifaceted societal challenges, especiallythose pertaining to children, the role of theCollaborative has never been more pertinent. Itsconsultative and collaborative approach,documented in the various impact stories, isbeing increasingly sought after to providevaluable insights and actionable solutions thathave a tangible impact on children's lives.At the same time, the increased recognition anddemand underscores the vital necessity forenhanced support and investment. Dr. Stefaan Verhulst Advisory Board Chair Data for ChildrenCollaborative Co-Founder, The GovLab The significance of the Collabarative is wellestablished and unanimous, yet there’s apalpable gap in the commitment towardssustaining and augmenting the capacities itbrings to the table. The discourse around data collaboration isgaining momentum, with many stakeholdersunderlining its importance. However, the requisiteinvestment and support to propel datacollaboration to new heights, remains a domainawaiting earnest engagement.Looking ahead, the pathway is laden withimmense possibilities and equally greatresponsibilities. The narrative of datacollaboration intertwined with children's well-being is not just a narrative of hope, but a clarioncall for action. It is an invitation to stakeholders,partners, and patrons to engage, invest, andcontribute towards a future where data doesn’tjust represent numbers, but epitomizes apromise for a better, safer, and prosperous worldfor all children. The ethos of the Data For ChildrenCollaborative is a beacon that guides us throughthis journey. Gratitude to every funder, partner, and memberof the community who has walked alongside theCollaborative in this journey of transformationand impact. Your engagement and support arethe bedrock of our aspiration to shape a bettertomorrow for every child.In earnest anticipation of the journey that liesahead,Stefaan

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The Ripples ofChangePulling together an annual report is such animportant step in our high tempo workingcycles to pause, reflect and treasure the workthat we’ve done across another remarkableyear. We can take pride in our achievements—our well-balanced project portfolio, therelationships we continue to develop acrossour community, and the substantial increase inboth our outputs and the types of initiative weare getting involved in. I think this shows anincrease in the level of confidence that wehave in our capabilities across the board. As we review the vast and diverse expanse ofour portfolio, encompassing a myriad ofthemes and data types and sources, we aredetermined to keep pushing for impact. This isthe reason that we are all so engaged in ourjobs, our collaborative teams and thesuccessful delivery of our work.Our philosophy shuns the notion ofindiscriminately wielding data and inventingapplications for it. Instead, we ardentlyembrace a challenge-led approach, ensuringthat our work is steered by those who possessthe insight into how our endeavours cantangibly enhance a child's life. The partnershipsthat we foster with our challenge owners areabsolutely key to the likelihood of our workactually having an impact for thoseorganisations that are working with children.We take the time from the outset of potentialproject work to assess what thepotential outputs, outcomes and impactscould be. Collaboration, Data, andImpact: Are we building abetter future for children?More often than not we are delighted thatthose outputs, outcomes and impactsactually increase across the life of the project.As another year has passed, I feel we areeven more convinced of the value ofcollaboration in effecting the outcomes ofthese projects. Mere proximity does not sparkcollaboration; it is the cultivation of mutualrespect that fosters true synergy. Ourmethodologies and strategies are alldesigned to facilitate such collaborations, aswe firmly believe that it is the results bornfrom these alliances that will profoundlyimpact the lives of children.I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all ofour delivery partners in helping us to makedata collaboration a success, as well as ofcourse the Data for Children Collaborativeteam. This year we have gone through atransition from a partnership model tobecoming a standalone specialist unit withinthe Edinburgh Futures Institute, but we havekept our eyes on our mission throughout –using data responsibly to improve outcomesfor every child. This year we are eager to share our storiesabout impact across our portfolio with ourwide range of partners. Please do not hesitateto get in touch to find out more about any ofthe stories that we are profiling in this report.Together, we can continue to transform ourknowledge into actions that truly make adifference in the lives of children.Alex HutchisonDirector7

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Qualifying the problemFraming the question Building the right team Co-creating a project Delivering a solutionMeasuring the impact010203040506Review, learn & shareIdentifying the problem you areactually trying to solve andwhether you are best positionedto be the one to solve it.Using our Impact Collaborationsapproach to assemble the rightblend of perspectives. Tacklingthe challenge by leveraging ourglobal community of experts.Managing multi-stakeholderteams with systematic tools andprocesses, in an agile, adaptiveand constructive way,underpinned by our ResponsibleInnovation framework.Respecting our values of ForEvery Child, with Trust, withTransparency and with SafeData - we seek to continuouslyimprove our approaches andprocesses and share ourlearnings.Breaking the problem downinto challenge questions andidentifying the required skillsand expertise. Using design-thinkingprinciples to bring challengeowners together with diverseexpertise and build ademand-driven project.Tracking, monitoring andreporting impact using adynamic and intuitive impactevaluation framework.Our Service CatalogueFind out moreand get in touch079

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Exposing the impact ofheatwaves on children acrossthe world559 million children currently exposed to high heatwavefrequency, rising to all 2.02 billion children globally by2050More about theHeatwave ReportThe team generated the data and evidenceneeded to publish a globally recognised report:'The coldest year of the rest of their lives:Protecting children from the escalatingimpacts of heatwaves'. Since it’s publicationand release during COP27 in Egypt, UNICEFtogether with a multitude of international newsoutlets (in over 20 countries), have reported onthe increasing threat of heatwaves on theworld’s children. Do we really understand where across the world children aremost vulnerable to a changing climate?In 2022, we worked with UNICEF to develop aunique multi-disciplinary partnership to buildthe first Children's Climate Risk Index (CCRI).The CCRI gave UNICEF a unique insight into thevarious climatic hazards that impact children.But this only told us part of the story. The realquestion is:UNICEF need to advocate for change, placingchildren centre stage in the climate debate. Todo this, they need to understand which hazardsare most likely to be a concern in the next 30-50 years. Our heatwaves collaborative project wasshortlisted for the 2023 DataIQ Data For Societyaward.How will children be affected byclimate change across the worldmoving forward? The analysis and forecasting showed that thehazard that stood out, particularly in the risk itpresented to children, was Heatwaves. We were uniquely placed to answer thisquestion. Using the expertise established withinthe CCRI Impact Collaboration, our teamdeveloped plausible scenarios in 2050 acrossclimatic and environmental hazards.More about CCRIProjectPhoto credit: © UNICEF/UN010156/Ayene12

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Phase 1 of theprojectPhase 2 of theprojectBuilding data teams to supportinternet connectivity in remoteschoolsHalf of the world’s population has no regularaccess to the internet. Millions of children leaveschool without digital skills, making it muchmore difficult to thrive and contribute to localand global economies. This has created adigital divide between those who are connectedand those who are not, a divide that hasbecome even wider during the Covid-19pandemic. Internet access is a new form ofinequality.A new type of data partnership.When connecting schools to the internet viaradio links, there must be a line of sight betweenthe school and the nearest antenna. Thisinformation is, in general, not readily available.Simply put, there is a need to know if buildingsor terrain are higher than the school in astraight line between the school and the chosenantenna. Therefore, the basic informationneeded is the height of the buildings.To help address this challenge, we explored anew type of partnership – supportingacademics retraining to become industry-ready data scientists. We partnered with Pivigoand their novel Science 2 Data Scienceprogramme. The five-week intensive hackathonenables academics to dive deep into a datachallenge and develop innovative solutions. The team used high-resolution data from theregion in Brazil to develop and train amachine-learning model that coulddetermine building heights from satelliteimagery. Following the five weeks, Data forChildren Collaborative supported continuingthe work to explore the feasibility of usingfreely available data and broadening themodel's capabilities. The learnings from the project have beenpassed on to UNICEF to support their ongoingGiga programme, a joint initiative betweenUNICEF and the InternationalTelecommunications Union.As the part of he second phase of the project, theteam explored radar images from Sentinel 1 - he firstof the Copernicus Programme satellite constellationconducted by the European Space AgencyImages Source: European SpaceAgencyImage genrated by the projectteam14

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Building a systematic method forenhancing childhood wastingestimationsWe had the privilege of working alongside UNICEFand the Jameel Observatory for Food Security EarlyAction to help transform how countries reportchildhood wasting estimates. Child wasting refers toa child who is too thin for his or her height and is theresult of recent rapid weight loss or the failure togain weight (source WHO). Wasting is the mostimmediate, visible and life-threatening form ofmalnutrition. It is a condition that can have seriousimpacts on the health, development and life of achild. The project's inception revolved around a pivotalChallenge Question: "How can we enhance the accuracyand temporal consistency ofchildhood wasting estimates byexploring the influence of surveytiming and climate factors?" To address this question, we harnessed ourinnovative Impact Collaboration approach, bringingtogether a diverse team of experts from the UnitedKingdom, Ghana, and Kenya. This team brought awide array of skills in data analysis, public health,and environmental science.More about theprojectOver the course of a year, our primary goal was toinvestigate the existence of secondary variablescapable of rectifying temporal inconsistencies insampling. We achieved this by integrating data fromvarious sources, such as census data, MultipleIndicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic andHealth Surveys (DHS), and earth observation data.Our project's focus spans four countries: Nigeria,Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Bangladesh. These nationswere selected due to their high rates of childhoodwasting and the availability of pertinent data. Tofacilitate our research, the team crafted acomprehensive meta-database. This databaseencompassed survey data, census data, land useand land cover information, crop yield values,infrastructure networks, and market information. Thisrich dataset provides broad understanding of thefactors influencing childhood wasting across thetarget countries.Our collaborative project will publish a comprehensivereport comparing three statistical models. This reportwill help illuminate the temporal inconsistencies inchildhood wasting estimates and furnish valuablerecommendations for the Joint Monitoring andEvaluation (JME) community. Our recommendations hold the potential to informpolicy decisions and enhance interventions aimed atmitigating childhood wasting in our target countries.More about ImpactCollaborations15

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We partnered with the Observatory of Sport inScotland (OSS), Abertay University, OptimaConnect and Urban Foresight to investigate thedata that underpins our understanding ofchildren’s and young people’s access to sportacross Scotland. Specifically, the team werefocused on the effects of Covid-19 on the uptakeof recreational activity. A big part of this exercise is mapping out sportsorganisations, authorities and trusts that providerecreational activities for young people acrossScotland, visualising the linkages, andunderstanding the accessibility of data collected. A fundamental part of this project is the ability tomatch lived experience with what the data istelling us. To do this, the team need to listen tochildren and young people across Scotlandabout their experiences of sports and physicalactivity. Steering data policy through lived experienceand listening to young voices acrossScotland.More about theprojectThe team talked to 9 national, 5 regionaland 8 local organisations, amounting tonearly 20 hours of interviews!With the support of the Data for ChildrenCollaborative and the wider team, researchers atAbertay University conducted a diverse study,which included online surveys for young people,children and their families, focus groups withyoung people and interviews with sportsorganisations. It was essential to give children a range of waysto express thier views, while reaching manycommunities as possible. Children in schools andin focus groups were invited to draw pictures anddiscuss their experiences of sports and physicalactivity before, during and after COVID-19. Youngpeople aged 13 to 18 were invited to uploadphotos in an online survey showing what sportsmeans to them. The team was able toaccommodate various accessibility challenges,ensuring the barriers to participation wereminimal. More about ImpactCollaborationsMore about YouthParticipation We supported our colleagues at Abertay through theapplication of our Youth Participation Workbook, whichensures meaningful participation, and bespoke ethicsprocess that helps to keep ethical consideration atthe center of each project through ongoing reflectionsand risk identification. We also providedcommunication support, helping produce materialsfor dissemination and create an online home forsome of the collateral. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to provide insightinto the practical solutions to promote and increaseparticipation. The outputs will be used to supportpolicymakers to make a difference in children’s livesacross Scotland. Thanks to our extensive experience in runningimpact data collaborations, we can create aspace for amplifying the voices of children andyoung people and ensure that the livedexperience takes a critical place in holistic dataanalysis exercise. 16

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At the community centre, there used to be a snooker training thing that I used to go to but nowthat's closed down. If you want to go to the one in the town they're all really expensive and thenthat's hard to get to.I like sports because it helps you stay healthy and find what you like to do in Life. It makesyou go outside more and not stay in your house and play on your PC or PlayStation 5. It'sgood because it clears your brain from staying inside and getting all stuffed up. It's likesomething to keep you quite occupied and healthy. It helps your health.I think a lot of people don't do certain sports because they get bullied for it, like girls infootball or boys in gymnastics and dancing. I don't think that’s right - slagging girls fordoing sports. I've never done that, but I know some people would. I know some boys woulddo that. I just think that whole thing needs to be not a thing. Yeah, it’s the 21st century.Everyone deserves to do what they want.What did children tell us?17

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This research is about children's experiences of sport activity through COVID-19, andtherefore, critical children's voices are included and at the forefront. Children tookpart in interactive focus groups, including drawing pictures and maps and sharingexperiences of sports activities in Scotland. Children's invaluable efforts inparticipating in this research were inspiring and appreciated. As a researcher, I oftenfind the most enjoyable part of research is listening to participants stories. It was anhonour to be let into to children’s experiences, in which they shared with such depthand honesty about sport and activity. I especially enjoyed listening to children'sideas and recommendations for the future of sport in Scotland. Dr Julia Chan, Teaching Fellow in Sociology of SportResearch Assistant, Abertay UniversityFrom the beginning of this project, the research team has strived to capture childrenand young people’s experiences of sport and physical activity pre and post Covid-19. It was vital that children and young people were provided the opportunity to sharetheir lived experiences as only by capturing these experiences can we begin topropose more targeted approaches. I am grateful to the schools, children,organisations and families who allowed us to capture their experiences with the aimof improving sport and physical activity opportunities. Running the interactive focusgroups with children was particularly enlightening and provided unique insights intohow they experienced sport and physical activity pre and post pandemic. Thisexperience has emphasised the importance of promoting youth voice. Children andyoung people have demonstrated enthusiastic views about sport and physicalactivity and what these should look like in the future.Dr Paula Murray, Lecturer in Sport Development and Coaching, CIMSPACoachPractitioner, Abertay University Hear from the reserchers18

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Providing UNICEF with data to reachmore children needing vitalvaccinationsLast year, UNICEF commissioned us to developtools to shed light on the gender-relatedbarriers to receiving vaccinations and informcritical programming decisions. Our projectmarked a significant milestone for the Datafor Children Collaborative as our first toreceive direct funding from UNICEF. The challenge we faced was establishingscalable and sustainable methods foridentifying communities at higher risk ofgender disparity in vaccination access. Gender disparities in accessing vaccinationservices have been a persistent challenge among a number of different communities.Unfortunately, granular data to identify andaddress these barriers has been limited.Our collaboration includes experts acrossUNICEF, and the University of Edinburgh'sSchool of Geosciences and School ofInformatics. The new partnership was bornout our work developing innovative travel timemaps, a direct outcome of our "ChildrenAccess to Services" project. This newpartnership is funded by GAVI, The VaccineAlliance.Our project is aimed at enhancing availability oftimely and detailed data to support futureUNICEF vaccination efforts. The team haveemployed Geographic Information Systems(GIS) to link existing data sources, includingpopulation characteristics, health outcomes,and health infrastructure. This approach isproviding valuable insights into thedeterminants of health inequities, particularly inthe context of gender-related barriers toimmunization.This project represents a significant steptoward addressing gender-related barriers toimmunization, and we are proud to havecontributed to UNICEF's mission to ensureequitable access to essential healthcareservices for all children.The project is building onresearch outputs from aprevious Data for ChildrenCollaborative project:Child Poverty Access toservices. The project wasa partnership betweenUNICEF and University ofEdinburgh. Image Source: Child Povertyand Access to ServicesAnalysis SummaryViewprojectoutputshereMore about theproject19

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Building participatory approaches tomachine learning models to contribute toUNICEF’s global efforts on mental healthMore about theprojectBy developing this methodology, we seek to contributesignificantly to improving the mental health and well-being of adolescents, aligning with UNICEF's missionand global efforts to prioritise the needs of youngpeople in an increasingly digital world.By using participatory methods, our researchers canbuild more trust in the insights that their modelsproduce. Dialogue can vary from generation togeneration, and is particularly variable in a digitalcontext. Engaging young people in conversationsabout what they talk about online, how they talk andhow we can interpret that is essential to the success ofmodel development.This is highly sensitive work. Convening groups ofyoung people to talk about a broad spectrum ofmental health issues needs much care around howthose conversations are facilitated and supported,including how those young people are provided withresources for their ongoing support following thesediscussions This is where collaboration with the rightpartners, detailed planning and wide discussions inpreparation for these sessions are essential to ensurewe are delivering the highest duty of care in how weconduct our work.We are delighted to be partnering with UNICEF’sEurope and Central Asia Regional Office to buildupon prior work that they conducted with theUkraine Country Office, where machine learningtechniques were employed to monitor onlinemental health discourse among young people. We have worked with UNICEF to identify the need fora participatory approach, engaging directly withadolescents and young people to inform themachine learning models and validate the storythat the data is telling. We are delighted to beworking with both the Tajikistan and KazakhstanCountry Offices, who are facilitating the focuseddiscussions with young people. Our collaboration allows us to understand theonline behaviour of young people from the twocountries in question, the types of language used(e.g. formal and informal), and the contexts inwhich they seek mental health information orsupport. This project will culminate in thedevelopment of a transferable model,incorporating participatory data gathering,technical tool selection and context specificadjustments. The resulting analytical tool can offertimely insights into adolescent mental healthdiscourse, with the potential for adoption by UNICEFoffices globally. It is key that organisations that deliver supportservices to adolescents understand what help isneeded most and how to best deliver it. TheThe extent of young people’s engagement with thedigital world creates an opportunity to deepen theunderstanding of the most up-to-date discourseamong them on issues of mental health, which canin turn inform UNICEF’s programming.20

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The support provided by the Data for ChildrenCollaborative has been integral to the project. Theirguidance and understanding of the ethical issues inthe area have been invaluable in planning andconducting ethically robust research. Theircommunications and project management havebrought together and facilitated a consortium whichaims to answer difficult questions in a complex dataenvironment in an innovative manner. Theknowledge and awareness of the sector have reallyadded value to this project.Dr Clare LlewellynPrincipal Investigator for the mental health project with UNICEF, Lecture in Governance, Technology, and DataNeuropolitics Research LabsSchool of Political and Social Science and Edinburgh Futures InstituteUniversity of Edinburgh21

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In summary, our engagement in this work reinforcedthe significance of listening genuinely, transparency,diplomacy, and robust decision-making. Ithighlighted the alignment of our collaborativeprojects' principles with the larger context of ethicaldiscussions. Looking ahead, we are committed to notonly identifying ethical challenges but also activelyworking to solve them in collaboration with diversestakeholders.Fusing expert perspectives insupport of the Scottish Government’sEthical Digital Nation PublicationIn the past year, the Data for ChildrenCollaborative had the privilege of contributing toan expert group report titled "Building Trust in theDigital Era," commissioned by the ScottishGovernment. This opportunity resonated deeplywith our commitment to ethics, aligning perfectlywith our broader mission of being ethical activists.Substantial groundwork had already beenaccomplished by a diverse expert group, includingcitizens from various sectors and disciplines, whoprovided invaluable insights through a mini-publicconsultation exercise, expert interviews, and casestudies. Additionally, an "Objects of Trust"framework had been developed to guide digitalinnovation. However, there was still much work tobe done.Our task was to synthesize this wealth of informationinto a report tailored for an audience that includedministers, policymakers, businesses, civil society,and the people of Scotland. We diligently identifiedkey themes, logically organized the content, andstruck a delicate balance between positive andnegative aspects of innovation and ethics. Whilehighlighting ethical risks posed by innovation isstraightforward, we needed to emphasize theenduring demand for digital innovation while raisingawareness of ethical risks and the necessity forcollective mitigation efforts.A key tenet of our assessment of the expert contentwas to acknowledge the permanence of technologyand focusing on responsible navigation. Thisendeavour underscored the importance ofauthentic listening, transparency, diplomacy, andstrong decision-making. It closely mirrored thecollaborative approach we embrace daily, bringingtogether experts from diverse fields with a sharedmission. As the field of data ethics and digital ethics matures,it's time to move beyond setting the stage and startsolving the problems. The fact that the ScottishGovernment commissioned this reportdemonstrates Scotland's commitment toaddressing these issues. The report's primary aimwas to provide recommendations for collectiveaction, recognizing trust as the cornerstone ofethical digital activities.Find out more andread the report However, unlike our usual practice, we didn't start withan exercise to understand personal motivations, whichmade it somewhat challenging to fully grasp individualcontributions.23

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Using retail data to inform children’swellbeingWe are collaborating with UNICEF to utilize supermarket data, aiding inunderstanding how local and central agencies in Kazakhstan can effectivelysupport families with children amidst rapidly changing food prices.Kazakhstan is currently grappling with economic shocks, resulting in supply chaindisruptions, currency instability, and significant food price inflation, all of which arelikely to negatively impact the wellbeing of children. Using Impact Collaborations on a FoodSecurity challenge in East AfricaOur recent collaboration with the Jameel Observatory was a prime example ofthe transferability of our Impact Collaboration process. It showcased how ourstructured approach to collaborative project development can be appliedeffectively across diverse domains.Photo credit: ILRI, Stevie MannUNICEF's objective is to assist children and their families during this challenging period. Utilizing near-real-time monitoring of children's well-being will be a valuable tool for gaining essential insights. The UNICEFKazakhstan office is working in partnership with a national retail chain to analyze extensive data generatedfrom daily operations, linking it to already available survey and administrative data. This analysis aims touncover the correlations between the rising cost of living, shopping behaviours, and their effects onnutritional intake across various regions in the country.We are aiding UNICEF in effectively leveraging this data by facilitating a student partnership with theUniversity of Edinburgh School of Informatics MSc programme, offering expertise in data science.We are fostering this collaborative relationship by utilizing our tools and methods and conducting ethicsworkshops for all partners. These workshops are based on our Responsible Innovation practices and tools.Working in close partnership with the Jameel Observatory, we explored the various complex issues related tofood security in East Africa and developed a well-defined Challenge Question. The challenge questionfocused on enhancing food security early actions and community resilience against recurrent droughts andother climate shocks in the Horn of Africa.Once the Challenge Question was formulated, we assembled a review team of experts in relevant fields toevaluate submissions from a broad range of experts and perspectives. Using our design thinking process, aseries of workshops served as a platform for collaborative brainstorming and idea generation, setting thestage for addressing the challenge effectively. Our collaborative efforts culminated in developing a primedproject that was ready for onward ownership by the Jameel Observatory.This case study underscores the power of our Impact Collaboration approach, demonstrating its adaptabilityand effectiveness in driving meaningful solutions across different domains. 24

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We have been delighted to broaden our horizons recently in supporting the creation of a newtransdisciplinary network to address the complex challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). By fosteringa transdisciplinary research and engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, spanning academic disciplines,commercial sectors, policy realms, and affected communities there is real hope that a more holisticapproach can help to tackle this wicked issue that spans the human, animal, plant and environmentaldomains. Transdisciplinarity will shape the whole networkfrom conception, to management, tooperationalisation, to delivery and impact. Werecognise the considerable challenges thattransdisciplinary collaboration poses, such assiloed structures, power imbalances, conflictinginterests and motivations. Tackling these bybringing people and disciplines together tospark the unexpected is the ethos of this newnetwork.This is an excellent opportunity to fosterchallenge-led, outcome-driven, transdisciplinarycollaborations. Please do get in touch if you areinterested in joining this network. It is open to all- in line with the ethos of the Edinburgh FuturesInstitute.Our experience of building collaboration between researchers and other partners (third, public and privatesector) sees us supporting some of the key concepts on the creation of this network. Our philosophy ofvaluing diverse disciplines and perspectives to address complex challenges using systematic approachesunderpins this work. Our role in the network is to act as the ‘Transdisciplinary Engine’ that will enable the network to deliver theiraims. Building a transdisciplinary network to focus onAntimicrobial ResistanceTransdisciplinaryworkingThe TransdisciplinaryEngineShared languageBreaking down silosSharing knowledge andsolutionsActive sense-makingPrioritising justice andequityEmbedded purpose andvaluesA co-creationinfrastructureClear governanceprocessesConvening andfacilitationConditions for capacitybuilding25

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Working with the Data for Children Collaborative has been an excellent experience. They brought insight,challenge and support to the task of facilitating a diverse group of stakeholders around a complex task –helping us to convene and collaborate, working together to navigate our options and develop a roadmapto delivery, all the while helping us to focus on what has the greatest potential positive impact for children. Elaine Fulton, Director of Strategic Partnerships, The For Babys Sake TrustDeveloping a Common OutcomesFramework for EnglandWe have been excited to work with partners to support the ongoingdevelopment of a common outcomes framework for England. Working with ForBaby’s Sake, Kindered Squared, and the KPMG Foundation, the team scoped,developed, and facilitated a full-day in-person stakeholder workshop.Delivering responsible innovation trainingIn early September the team at Data for Children Collaborative delivered ahalf day training for the University of Strathclyde Adolescent Health andWellbeing in Malawi programme. The training focused on aspects of our triedand tested responsible innovation framework, which ensures projects arecarried out in a trustworthy, transparent and safe way. The workshop enabled core stakeholders to scope out the conditions in which the Common OutcomesFramework could be successfully developed and used by identifying key barriers and potential solutions. Theworkshop also aimed to clearly define actionable next steps and challenges that must be addressed toenable long-term uptake. The culmination of the days efforts was a co-created road map to delivery,enabling the creation of a business cases for further financial support.Within the course, we provided deep dive sessions into our ethics framework and youth participationworkbook. The training facilitated practical group work that enabled the participants to apply our methodsto their projects. Additionally, we provided an overview of our novel responsible project managementprocesses, including legals, project initiation, and governance. The Common Outcomes Framework represents common vision for the well-being of all children and theirfamilies, emphasizing their safety, health, happiness, learning, and engagement. Central to this framework isa child-centric approach, placing a strong emphasis on what truly matters to children and their families. Theframework adopts a strengths-based perspective, focusing on what can be achieved rather than what mustbe avoided. The primary aim of the framework is to embed a shared commitment to nurturing the well-being of children and families across England.The course provided an opportunity for Data for Children to demonstrate the applicability of the frameworkacross other research areas. The team at the University of Strathclyde, and online colleagues based in theMalawi were extremely happy with the training and excited to explore how the learning can be appliedacross thier ongoing work.26

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We are grateful to the members who havepreviously sat on our Steering Board, and to ourChair Stefaan Verhulst who decided to continuetheir support in the new capacity. We look forward to working with such a diversegroup who bring unique perspectives to support thedelivery of our activities. Welcoming New AdvisoryBoard This year, our three-year period of being in a uniquepartnership with UNICEF, the Scottish Governmentand the University of Edinburgh’s Data DrivenInnovation programme has reached a graceful end.With such a privileged start, the Data for ChildrenCollaborative has grown into becoming a specialistunit at the Edinburgh Futures Institute at theUniversity of Edinburgh.See who’sinvolved We have casted our nets far and wide to recruitmembers for this new exciting conglomeration, andhad been fortunate to receive many impressiveapplications. The new members of the board bring vast andadmirable expertise, lending valuable insights intoour mission and operations. This means that we can continue to deliver projectswith our original partners, UNICEF and the ScottishGovernment, whilst simultaneously seeking to extendour range of challenge owners and broaden ourimpact for children around the globe. The transition also meant that our governancemodel transformed, resulting in the formation of anew Advisory Board. More aboutEdinburgh FuturesInstituteI’m looking forward to learning a lot from the Data for Children Collaborative asamongst great minds shaping the best methodologies to improve the lives ofchildren- these are great lessons that can be replicated for other marginalizedpopulations. Karen BettSenior Policy Manager, Data Equity and Inclusion, Global Partnership for Sustainable DevelopmentData With my background in international development, and broadresponsibilities for innovative uses of data in Scotland, I’m excited to havethe opportunity of steering and learning from the Collaborative’s dynamicand global offer.Tom WilkinsonChief Data Officer, Scottish Government 28

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Recognition of our work We are immensely proud of our Deputy Director, FraserMacdonald who was honored with the prestigious 2023 DataIQAward in the Data for Good Champion category. Fraser was recognized for his exceptional commitment toleveraging data and analytics for societal improvement,particularly in addressing child-centric challenges. Fraser'sbelief in data's potential for positive impact is evident in his role,where he leads diverse cross-sector teams, creating impactfuldata projects to address a range of child-focused issues. His dedication to advancing the concept of data for good is seen not only professionally butalso in his role as chair of the data advisory group at Young Scot, one of the biggest Scottishyouth charity. Fraser's rich background in cross-sector data initiatives informs his work in therealm of 'Data for Good.' He actively engages with diverse audiences, advocating for responsibledata use and fostering collaborations that bring about transformative projects for children andyoung people. Fraser's passion and dedication to innovating responsibly underscore his effortsto build a community focused on responsible practices, aiming to embed ResponsibleInnovation in the way data science engages with Data for Good work and beyond, setting aremarkable standard in the field. Our team is proud to have been nominated for two other categories in 2023 DataIQ Awards. We arepleased for our team and all our collaborators and partners to have taken place amongst the mostincredible list of shortlisted candidates. It has been a great privilege, given this year has seen a recordnumber of increasingly strong entries. The first nomination recognized our collaboration with The Promise Scotland for 'Best Use of Data forNon-Profit or Non-Commercial Purpose,' where we supported the development of 'The Promise DataMap' to support Scotland's commitment to children's well-being. This initiative brought togetheracademia, public, and private sectors to enhance understanding and address critical aspects forchildren and young people in the care system. The second nomination, 'Data for Society Award,' acknowledged our collaborative effort with UNICEF andacademic experts to publish a report on the harrowing impacts of heatwaves on children. The team'sin-depth analysis and forecasting emphasized the alarming risk heatwaves pose to children,showcasing commitment to impactful research and societal betterment.Deputy Director, Fraser Macdonald,Awarded Data for Good Champion Data for Children CollaborativeShortlisted for two DataIQ 2023 AwardsRead more aboutthe DataIQ AwardsMore about ourwork with ThePromise Scotland29

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The Data for Children Collaborative is on amission to solve problems facing childrenaround the world for our partner organisations. We are ready to partner with new organisationson their challenges.Issues that the world’s children are facing arecomplex and multi-layered. Hopefully we'veshown you in this report that data can be acritical player in solving issues for children,where it is used effectively and responsibly. Bybringing together access to data, data scienceexpertise and those who really understand thechallenges, we can enable our partners toimprove forecasting, tailor programmes, andinform policy-making.Partner with us to tacklecomplex issues for childrenacross the globe.Access the best academic expertise inmulti-disciplinary fields, as well as a widernetwork of expertise across industries andsectors.Partner with the wider network of third,public and private sector organisations withon the ground presence to make an impact.Be a leader in best practice responsibleinnovation in data and data science.If your organisation is seeking to support thedelivery of rigorous, ethical and sustainablesolutions to global challenges for children, thenwe would love to talk to you about how wecould help.By working with us you will:We must act now, and we must act together.30

Annual Report 2023

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