UCT collaborates extensively with international partners regarding data gathering and dissemination. Some examples from 2024 include:

Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit (SALDRU)

Relevant SDGs: SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

In 2024, Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit (SALDRU) advanced data-driven policy dialogue and research on poverty and inequality through its leadership in foundational learning and labour studies. The unit hosted the African Foundational Learning Data Hub (AFLEARN) in collaboration with DataFirst, convening a high-level workshop in December 2024 that brought together researchers and policy partners from across Africa. These engagements reinforced SALDRU’s longstanding role in shaping equitable education and labour outcomes across the region.

DataFirst (UCT Research Data Service)

Relevant SDGs: SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), cross-cutting contributions to SDG 1, SDG 4, and SDG 10

DataFirst continued to expand open access to high-quality African datasets supporting research on poverty, education, and inequality. In 2024, the unit was listed in the World Bank’s Microdata Catalog as the host of the Afrobarometer and SACMEQ education datasets. It also collaborated with SALDRU and regional partners to launch the AFLEARN initiative, strengthening Africa’s data infrastructure for evidence-based policy. DataFirst’s partnerships with the World Bank, Stats SA, and multiple African research institutions underline its pivotal role in advancing data transparency for development.

DataFirst also contributed to Afrobarometer, a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Its work is guided by a vision of a world in which Africa’s development is anchored in the realities and aspirations of its people.

Nine survey rounds in up to 39 countries have been completed since 1999, and Round 10 was launched in January 2024. Afrobarometer’s National Partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice. 

Desmond Tutu HIV Centre / Desmond Tutu Health Foundation

Relevant SDGs: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

In August 2024, the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation launched the MOBILE MEN Programme, a multi-country initiative aimed at improving men’s health and HIV prevention outcomes through mobile and digital engagement tools, and multi-site data collection in South Africa and Uganda. Conducted jointly with the Africa Health Research Institute and the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute (Uganda), the programme represents a major step in regional collaboration to address gendered health disparities and strengthen community-based public health research.

Health Economics Unit (HEU), School of Public Health

Relevant SDGs: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The Health Economics Unit (HEU) at the University of Cape Town actively collaborates with international partners including the World Health Organization, World Bank, and the International Decision Support Initiative to strengthen data systems for health financing, technology assessment and equity analysis. In 2024, HEU researchers continued contributing to global health data platforms and advisory work that support the institutionalisation of Health Technology Assessment in South Africa and across Africa. These collaborations involve collecting, harmonising and analysing health cost, utilisation and outcome data — forming the evidence base for policies advancing Universal Health Coverage and equitable healthcare systems.

Gender, Health & Justice Research Unit (GHJRU)

Relevant SDGs: SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

UCT’s Gender, Health & Justice Research Unit (GHJRU) in the Faculty of Health Sciences, maintained global engagement in 2024 through participation in the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum. The SVRI Forum 2024 was the world's most significant research conference on violence against women, violence against children, and gender inequality in low and middle-income countries. Over 1,500 delegates from 112 countries attended, sharing new research, innovative practices, and collaborative solutions. The unit contributed to cross-country collaborations focused on strengthening gender-based violence prevention, survivor support, and justice-sector reform. The SVRI also focused on building researchers' capacity in participatory and ethical research on child sexual violence and published a Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) Shared Research Agenda. The TFGBV Shared Research Agenda is a set of research priorities for the next 5-10 years, developed by the SVRI, APC, UN Women, and the Global Partnership to End Online Abuse and Harassment. Launched in September 2024, it aims to guide stakeholders in addressing knowledge gaps and developing more effective responses to TFGBV by outlining key research areas and supporting resource allocation. 

UCT Children’s Institute (CI)

Relevant SDGs: SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

In 2024, the Children’s Institute published its annual South African Child Gauge and institutional report, both of which incorporated data and insights from government, UNICEF, and leading civil-society partners. This 17th issue of the South African Child Gauge focuses attention on early childhood development – from conception until the start of formal school. It collates the latest evidence to reflect on progress, identify challenges and point the way forward.

At a time when South Africa is seeking solutions to complex societal challenges, it reminds us that the answers lie in early childhood. With nurturing care and the proactive support of families, communities, and the whole of society we can protect young children from harm, enable them to thrive and build a strong foundation for national development.

Published in partnership with UNICEF South Africa; the DSI-NRF Centre for Excellence in Human Development, University of the Witwatersrand; the Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation and The LEGO Foundation.

 The 2024 Child Gauge focused on evidence-based interventions to improve education and health outcomes. Through these collaborative outputs, the Institute continues to influence child and social protection policy at national level.

Global Digital Heritage Afrika - UCT Faculty of Engineering

Relevant SDGs: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

In March 2024, UCT’s Faculty of Engineering launched Global Digital Heritage Afrika. A transdisciplinary research group, GDHA uses digital technologies to document, preserve, and interpret cultural and natural heritage sites across Africa. Its work involves the 3D documentation of sites, monuments, and museum collections, with a focus on research, conservation, and community engagement through initiatives like 3D visualization and virtual experiences. The collaboration enhances digital preservation capacity in African institutions and contributes to inclusive access to cultural knowledge, aligning with global goals for sustainable cities and cultural heritage protection.

Linguistics / Natural Language Processing / Sign Language Research

Relevant SDGs: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

UCT’s Linguistics Department and Natural Language Processing Group advanced digital inclusion in 2024 through the development of new South African Sign Language (SASL) datasets and student-led theses on African languages. The group’s collaborative projects contribute to language accessibility, multilingual education, and social inclusion, strengthening UCT’s leadership in African language technology.

South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town

Relevant SDGs: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

The South African College of Music sustained collaborative cultural initiatives in 2024 through the Ibali digital storytelling platform and archival recording projects. These initiatives, developed in partnership with heritage and music archives, preserve South Africa’s musical legacies while fostering education and cultural sustainability.

Engineering – J-PAL Africa Water, Air & Energy Lab (WAE Lab)

Relevant SDGs: SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

Launched in April 2024, the J-PAL Africa Water, Air & Energy Lab at UCT expanded the university’s capacity for evidence-based sustainability policy evaluation. The lab conducts randomised impact evaluations and data collection in collaboration with J-PAL Africa, the City of Cape Town, and regional policymakers, supporting rigorous assessment of energy and water interventions.

Law – Open AIR (Intellectual Property & Innovation)

Relevant SDGs: SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)**

The Open AIR Network, co-led by UCT’s Faculty of Law, released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting cross-country research on innovation governance and intellectual property frameworks. Involving partners from Cambridge, Ottawa, and other African institutions, the network’s comparative studies on regulation and open innovation continue to inform inclusive knowledge-policy debates across the Global South.

Law – Land and Accountability Research Centre (LARC)

Relevant SDGs: SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

The Land and Accountability Research Centre (LARC) deepened its work on land rights and governance through the release of a landmark Ingonyama Trust report in March 2024. Based on collaborative fieldwork with local communities, NGOs, and customary land institutions, the study provided critical analysis of rural land administration and women’s tenure security, reinforcing UCT’s commitment to social justice and accountable governance.