Global Data Initiative (GDI)
Turning cooperative data into insights for impact
Building a trusted picture of cooperative finance across Africa.
The Global Data Initiative brings together standardized and validated data from SACCOs, credit unions, regulators, and sector partners across Africa.
By improving the quality, consistency, and availability of cooperative financial data, GDI helps organizations identify trends, benchmark progress, make informed decisions, and strengthen the cooperative finance sector.
Wherever you are in your data journey, your participation matters.
About the Global Data Initiative
The Global Data Initiative (GDI) is a collaborative effort to strengthen the availability, quality, and use of cooperative financial data across Africa.
The Global Data Initiative delivers reliable, standardized, and comparative data that enables stakeholders to benchmark performance, identify trends, manage risks, inform policy, and make better strategic decisions for greater impact and sustainability.
Many organizations already collect valuable information about their institutions, members, and markets. GDI helps bring that information together through a common framework, creating a more reliable picture of the cooperative finance sector and the impact it delivers.
The initiative recognizes that countries and institutions are at different stages of their data journey. Some have established reporting systems and benchmarking programs, while others are building foundational data capabilities. GDI creates space for all participants to contribute, learn, and grow together.
GDI creates opportunities for institutions to contribute, learn, and grow together while building a stronger understanding of cooperative finance across Africa.
Insights & Impact
GDI helps generate a stronger understanding of cooperative finance across Africa through:
- Sector benchmarking and performance trends
- Evidence-based policy and regulatory insights
- Research publications and market intelligence
- Improved institutional performance monitoring
- Stronger sector resilience and decision-making
Pillars of Value
Benchmarking
Measure institutional performance against peers, regional trends, and industry standards.
Intelligence
Transform data into meaningful insights that support strategic planning and informed decision-making.
Impact
Strengthen institutions, enhance member value, and contribute to sustainable sector growth.
Opportunities to Participate
Share institutional or sector data to help strengthen the quality, consistency, and coverage of cooperative financial data across Africa.
Compare performance against peers, identify trends, and support continuous improvement within your institution.
Partner with ACCOSCA on sector reports, studies, and thought leadership that advance understanding of cooperative finance.
Contribute to a stronger evidence base for regulation, supervision, advocacy, and sector development.
Support the tools, systems, and initiatives that improve data collection, reporting, and sector knowledge.
Help expand data collection, research, and reporting efforts that benefit the broader cooperative finance sector.
Leverage GDI publications, benchmarking resources, and sector analysis to inform planning and decision-making.
Help Strengthen Cooperative Finance Through Better Data
The future of cooperative finance depends on trusted information, shared learning, and informed decision-making.
Whether you contribute data, support research, participate in benchmarking, or collaborate as a partner, your involvement helps build a stronger, more resilient cooperative finance sector across Africa.
