Operational since 2019, the 50x2030 Initiative to Close the Agricultural Data Gap is working with partner countries to produce and use timely, high-quality agricultural and rural data, with a focus on helping them track their progress toward meeting priority indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals on zero hunger and gender equality, and strengthening agricultural data systems, among others. This paper provides an overview of how 50x2030 works toward its vision of strong national agricultural and rural statistical systems in low- and lower-middle-income African, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific and Latin American countries. It explains the Initiative's guiding principles, discusses its approach to robust data production and use, and provides examples of its early impact using the experience of three partner countries, Cambodia, Senegal and Uganda.