Across Africa, researchers, innovators, and organizations have long faced a significant challenge: limited access to localized, high-quality datasets. This “data gap” restricts meaningful research, policy-making, and innovation that reflects the continent’s unique contexts. Global platforms often lack African-specific data, and when datasets do exist, they’re scattered, siloed, or behind paywalls. The absence of a unified, community-driven platform has hindered collaboration and slowed down efforts to develop evidence-based solutions to African challenges.

AfriData directly addresses this issue by providing a centralized, secure, and collaborative platform for sharing and accessing African datasets. Built through JHUB Africa at JKUAT, it empowers local researchers to upload their data, set their own usage terms, and receive recognition or revenue in return. Users can explore datasets across sectors like health, education, agriculture, and finance, all contextualized for African realities. With over 120 datasets already live and contributors from 15 African countries, AfriData is not only bridging the data gap but democratizing research, amplifying African narratives, and fueling development with accurate, accessible information.