Evidence-Based Policy Engagement of Social Welfare Non-Governmental Organisations: A Case Study on the Democratic Relevance of Caritas Switzerland's Data Ecosystem

The challenges of the COVID-19 era, rising inflation, and global disruptions, combined with increasingly restrictive social welfare regimes, have created a growing demand for quick and low-threshold support provided by social welfare NGOs. These organisations are uniquely positioned to connect street-level social work insights from the poverty line with macro-level policy debates – a role with significant democratic potential to amplify the voices of people experiencing poverty. This article presents a mixed-methods single-case study of the largest SWNGO in Switzerland, combining a systematic assessment of its data ecosystem with insights from 18 semi-structured interviews and focus groups across organisational levels. It argues that investments in robust, ethically governed data systems can strengthen NGOs' democratic role and increase their impact on poverty reduction. We identify seven distinct data types that generate valuable insights into poverty dynamics. However, a key organisational tension persists between the strategic imperative of well-managed data and the limited resources available for case management documentation. The article concludes that high-quality data can significantly enhance evidence-based policy advocacy. Data ecosystems in SWNGOs should therefore be recognised as essential democratic infrastructure in efforts to combat poverty.