​Big Win Project

Background

Kenya, a lower-middle-income country with a population of over 54 million, continues to prioritize early childhood development (ECD) and nutrition as strategic pillars for improving long-term developmental outcomes. With 40% of its population living in urban areas and Nairobi housing over 5 million residents—70% of whom reside in informal settlements—ECD services are particularly vital in urban contexts. Nairobi alone has approximately 700,000 children under the age of five, the majority from disadvantaged backgrounds. These children face compounded challenges, including limited access to clean water, sanitation, ECD centers, and safe play spaces. Over 23% of Nairobi's families live below the poverty line, making accessible and high-quality ECD services not just beneficial but essential.

Study Purpose

The baseline study was commissioned to provide a comprehensive understanding of the state of early childhood development in Nairobi. It focused on two primary objectives:

  1. To assess the developmental progress of young children across Nairobi, identifying both those on track and those facing delays.
  2. To inform the design of integrated, multisectoral interventions aimed at improving developmental outcomes for children under six years of age.

Data Visualization Strategy

To ensure the findings were impactful and widely understood, the Data Innovation Office supported and enriched the study with a strong data storytelling strategy. This included:

  • Innovative Data Visualizations: Complex data was translated into interactive, intuitive visual formats to enhance accessibility.
  • Narrative Scrollytelling: A dedicated scrollyteller website guided users through data-driven stories, featuring child personas that contrasted the lived experiences of children who were developmentally on track versus those who were not.
  • Multimedia Integration:
    • Infographics: High-quality visuals illustrated the research context, methodology, and key findings.

    • Dynamic Website: All data visualizations and media content were hosted on a custom-designed, interactive web platform, serving as the central access point for the study’s insights. Key platform features included: User-Friendly Interface: Designed for ease of navigation by both technical and non-technical audiences, Interactive Storytelling: Scroll-based animations and multimedia content improved user engagement and understanding and Centralized Resource Hub: The website offered a unified space to explore findings, infographics, and supporting materials. The site integrated animations and interactive visuals to bring the data to life.​

Methodology

While a specialized research team conducted the data collection and analysis, the Data Innovation Office team worked closely with them to interpret findings and design visuals that faithfully represented the data. The goal was to preserve analytical depth while making the insights understandable and actionable for a broad audience.

Outcomes

The project achieved the following:

  • Enhanced Understanding: Complex data was made comprehensible through engaging and interactive formats.
  • Increased Engagement: A compelling narrative structure and visual design drew attention from stakeholders across sectors.
  • Informed Policy Discussions: The visuals provided decision-makers with clear, data-driven insights to guide future ECD strategies and investments.

Conclusion

This project transformed traditional research communication by turning raw data into an immersive digital experience. It ensured that the needs and potential of Nairobi’s youngest residents were not only measured but meaningfully communicated. By leveraging visual storytelling, the study empowered stakeholders to take informed action for equitable and impactful early childhood development in Nairobi City County.