Neema Iyer is transforming African civic systems by using feminist data, technology, and art to make them more inclusive, accountable, and designed for the people they serve. Iyer founded Pollicy in 2016 after facing frustrating experiences with public services in Uganda, like getting a passport or accessing healthcare. She saw how poor design and a lack of data literacy held systems back.
At the same time, her work with the Feminist Internet Research Network revealed how women were excluded from digital spaces. Pollicy was born out of a need to fix both gaps – using data, design, and technology to make public services more inclusive, efficient, and centred on feminist values.
Here’s what Pollicy does
From the beginning, Pollicy was built with a feminist lens, grounded in the belief that civic systems should be accessible, inclusive, and accountable to citizens.
Pollicy’s work runs across several interconnected layers. The mission is to make data and digital tools more understandable and valuable, especially for women and marginalised communities. This involves offering training in digital literacy and safety, running workshops in cities like Kampala, Lagos, and Nairobi, and giving people practical knowledge to protect themselves online, demand accountability, and use tech to make their voices heard.
Outside training, Pollicy uses its research to advocate for legislative change. It has worked with Uganda’s Parliament to advocate for stronger digital protections under the Sexual Offences Bill. Beyond Uganda, it partners with civil society groups across the continent to challenge harmful tech policies and propose alternatives that prioritise safety and dignity.
One of their standout strengths is deep, community-rooted research. Iyer Neema and her team have published groundbreaking reports on online gender-based violence, AI bias in African datasets, and how digital exclusion affects women’s economic power. One study highlighted how African women often face uniquely aggressive online harassment and how platforms rarely have the language tools or systems to respond appropriately.
Building systems that support their cause
Aside from research, Pollicy also builds tools. One of its most creative projects is Choose Your Own Fake News, a digital game launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. It walks users through everyday scenarios to teach them how to spot misinformation. Youths, parents, teachers, and civil servants were eager to understand how disinformation spreads and how to fight it.
Another powerful initiative is Vote: Women, a campaign encouraging Ugandan women to enter political spaces. Using storytelling, social media, and targeted education, the project made political participation possible, especially for women in rural communities who had never considered leadership.
What also sets Pollicy apart is how it fuses tech with art. Iyer Neema, a visual artist, uses her drawings, murals, and installations to turn complex data into emotional, accessible messages.
Her influence doesn’t stop with Pollicy. She has been a Mozilla Fellow, worked with Meta on digital safety for women, and advised global organisations on ethical tech policy. Her work bridges activism, governance, and creativity.
