A major component of the engagement and participation methods on the Data Ecosystem project are the Participatory Action Research groups we hold. In September 2023, we launched the first iterations of the PAR groups in Lagos, Nigeria. 

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The PAR groups consist of community representatives, including women, youth, elderly, and people with disabilities, alongside formal community leaders. At these initial sessions, the research team in Lagos gave an overview of the project to enable participants to familiarize themselves with the project goals and understand how it relates to the issues they face in their communities. 

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The main activities of these initial meetings focused on sub-domains of deprivation that may be mapped during the project. Participants were asked to rank a list of sub-domains in order of importance, and then they discussed how having data on these types of assets and deprivations in their community could be useful in terms of advocating for development, enabling better community planning, and negotiating for improvements to infrastructure. 

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Participants in the PAR group will meet again soon to discuss in more detail how different indicators of deprivation in their community can be visualized and communicated to reflect their lived experiences.