Reimagining IATI Data Quality – A User-Centric Approach

  • Jan. 8, 2026

As IATI begins rolling out its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, it is taking early steps to improve how data quality and usability are understood and strengthened across the IATI community.

As part of this work, the IATI Secretariat has published a new Issue Note: Reimagining Data Quality – A User-Centric Approach, aligned with Action Area B on improving IATI’s infrastructure. Today, more than 1,700 organisations publish information on their development and humanitarian activities to IATI. But data only delivers value when people can actually use it. This note looks at data quality through the lens of real users — recognising that different users need data for different purposes, and that “good quality” means data that supports real decisions.

The proposed approach sets out a small, shared baseline of core expectations for all publishers, alongside tailored perspectives for different types of organisations, reflecting their roles and data needs. It also treats data quality as something that improves over time — through automation, user feedback, dialogue, and practical guidance.

This work builds on evidence and feedback gathered over several years through community consultations, regional workshops, user surveys and analytics, and is supported by funding from the European Commission.

Community consultations in Q1 2026

The IATI Secretariat will run a series of focused community consultations in Q1 2026, bringing together partner countries, civil society, development partners, and other publishers. Feedback from these discussions will directly shape new data-quality diagnostics and enhancements to the IATI Dashboard, planned for rollout in 2026.

Get involved

Read the Issue Note Reimagining Data Quality – A User-Centric Approach, share your early reflections, and follow updates on IATI Connect. Your input will help shape how data-quality diagnostics are developed and reflected in the IATI Dashboard and related services.

👉 Join the discussion and contribute your reflections on IATI Connect