Responsible Data for Children

Guidance, tools and leadership to support the responsible handling of data for and about children.

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The RD4C Principles

Principles to guide responsible data handling toward saving children’s lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence.

01

Participatory

Engaging and informing individuals and groups affected by the use of data for and about children.

02

Professionally Accountable

Operationalizing responsible data practices and principles by establishing institutional processes, roles, and responsibilities.

03

People-Centric

Ensuring the needs and expectations of children, their caregivers, and their communities are prioritized by actors handling data for and about them.

04

Prevention Of Harms Across The Data Life Cycle

Establishing end-to-end data responsibility by assessing risks during the collecting, storing, preparing, sharing, analyzing, and using stages of the data life cycle.

05

Proportional

Aligning the breadth of data collection and duration of data retention with the intended purpose.

06

Protective Of Children’s Rights

Recognizing the distinct rights and requirements for helping children develop to their full potential.

07

Purpose-Driven

Identifying and specifying why the data is needed and how the intended or potential benefits relate to improving children’s lives.

From our blog

New developments from RD4C.

About us

The RD4C initiative is a joint endeavor between UNICEF and The GovLab at New York University to highlight and support best practice in our work; identify challenges and develop practical tools to assist practitioners in evaluating and addressing them; and encourage a broader discussion on actionable principles, insights, and approaches for responsible data management.

The work is intended to address practical considerations across the data lifecycle, including routine data collection and one-off data collections; and compliments work on related topics being addressed by the development community such as guidance on specific data systems and technologies, technical standardization, and digital engagement strategies.

Additional tools and materials are coming soon and will be posted on this website as they become available. Join the conversation to receive regular updates.

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