Working on a data initiative often means navigating complexity – technical, sectoral, organisational, political and human. Sustaining that work over time takes purpose, relationships, feedback, and the ability to shift when conditions change. Long-term impact comes not from certainty, but from the ability to reflect, adapt and stay aligned.
This canvas helps teams explore five interconnected aspects of sustainability:
- Purpose and strategy – clarity of purpose and capacity to adapt
- Resourcing – short and long-term financial viability
- Adoption – engagement, policy, advocacy
- Infrastructure – technical assets and support for use and reuse
- Governance and operations – structures that enable learning, decision-making and delivery
This canvas is available both as an interactive Miro board for workshops and as a printable workbook. It’s a conversation tool, for when a data initiative needs to pause, take stock, and decide where to focus next.
Each section includes a short framing, an exercise layout, and an optional tip box to support facilitation. You can move through them in order, focus on one or two, or use just the final reflection section to draw themes together.
Long-term impact comes not from certainty, but from the ability to reflect, adapt and stay aligned.