About The Data Kitchen
The Data Kitchen is run by a group of development professionals from different sectors, curious about the good, the bad, and the ugly of data for development. All five of us are enrolled in the Masters of Communication for Development at Malmö University, Sweden. We are interested in new technology and applications for data that many times are known as technological ‘advances,’ but that also introduce positive biases. Through The Data Kitchen, we delve into the details of interesting new data applications, bring up critical perspectives of data-driven initiatives and hope to spark discussion and interaction with our readers.
During the coming weeks, we will explore these themes by bringing a critical eye to a range of applications of data for development in the Global South. We want to understand what is the best recipe for data-driven solutions for development by taking a nuanced view of the impacts of technology-based interventions on the people they are intended to support. And we want to ensure that development professionals always remember that technology is not neutral.
We hope you will stick with us here at The Data Kitchen as we explore how development professionals, implementers and researchers can deliver data-driven solutions that improve the lives of people in the Global South – without reinforcing inequalities.
Who we are
Lorena. For over 7 years, Lorena has been working in the field of marketing communication for the finance, technology and health sector. As a Colombian living in Switzerland and working for the World Health Organization, she brings a fresh perspective on multi-sectorial topics focused on data for development. Lorena is interested in how the world is portrayed, consumed, and transformed by new digital media.
Moa. Moa specialises in the nexus between social protection and labour market policies. This interest was born when conducting field studies on how Indonesia’s universal health care insurance is perceived by workers in the informal sector. Moa is particularly interested in agency and empowerment of the individual. Upon graduating from BA in Development studies at Lund University, Moa took on a role as Communications Officer at the Swedish Embassy in Uganda, where she stayed until covid-19 hit. Coming back to Sweden, she began working with unemployment benefits. Earlier this year she joined the International desk of the Swedish Public Employment Services (PES). At the Swedish PES, she coordinates Sida-funded capacity development programmes within social protection and decent work. When she’s not working or studying, she loves to dance, knit, sew.
Kristin. Kristin has been working in business development and communications for an East African development research firm for more than three years. But her career has not been a linear one. Since completing her Bachelor’s degree in urban planning in Sydney, Australia, her interest in studying and understanding inequalities has only deepened. After graduating Kristin spent four years working on environmental policy reforms before moving to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where she briefly studied economics at the Vrije University before landing her first communications job for an impact investing cooperative. When she’s not working or blogging, she also enjoys reading, cooking and watching unhealthy amounts of TV.
Lia. It is fascinating how same news and events take different shapes and voices in the eyes of the beholder. Lia happens to be the beholder that takes time to analyse the received input from news and social media many times before making her mind about them. In the data kitchen she is speculating on the ways in which the communicated data is perceived given her academic past in languages interpretation and visual communication studies. Together with her interest in cinematography, psychology and the way we intake information nowadays make her reflect on the way data is being manipulated or simply misinterpreted depending on the tools that were chosen to communicate one or another notion. Although new to the development area, Lia is excited about what data can become if properly seasoned.
Tanika. Tanika considers herself a runner with a passion for coffee and travelling. For over nineteen years, she has worked with several international organisations gaining experience in statistics, digital technologies, marketing and strategic communications. Currently, Tanika is a Communications and Advocacy Expert with the European Forest Institute. She works on a sustainable forest development initiative for the Guyana Government while pursuing her Masters in C4D at Malmö University. With an undergraduate degree in Information Systems and Management from the University of London and some experience and knowledge of new technology and data4dev, Tanika looks forward to critically exploring changes within the digital world and discussing these within the blog.
Get in touch
Do you wish to get in touch with us to ask a question, discuss an article or know more about us and the blog? Please get in touch with us via one of the following two channels:
E-mail: thedatakitchenblog@gmail.com
Twitter: thedatakitchen_