Data scarcity in lower-income countries makes it difficult to effectively design critical public polities and track development goals that target poverty reduction, climate change risk mitigation, and health services improvement.

To bridge this gap, this research developed local partnerships and connected with government and policy experts to create a community-owned and managed wireless data hub in Kibera; stimulate economic, educational, and social growth amongst community-based users of the network; and assess the possibility of scaling up the LDH model to drastically expand internet access and community-driven data collection across other data-scarce African cities.

Key outcomes included the installation of data sensors and four internet access points across Kibera; improvement in conditions of public spaces, community solidarity, and financial opportunity; ongoing data collection and analysis coordinated by and through users of the Kibera LDH network; confirmation of scalability of the LDH prototype; and a comprehensive guidebook that instructs on the deployment of future hubs.