Selected from a pool of nearly 600 applicants from across 93 countries, the winning proposals represent a variety of locally-driven solutions that have the potential to scale not only across communities and countries—but across the globe. Further, vast networks of workers will benefit from these innovations, ranging from an app to upskill educators in remote settings to a platform that empowers women-led businesses to increase visibility and sales. Awardees were evaluated in a rigorous multi-step process by a team of judges and reviewers around the world who are leaders in the fields of data science and technology, philanthropy, and education. 

“The impact that these innovative projects will have on our global workforce is significant. Through our shared commitment to educating and empowering industry professionals with the skills to leverage generative AI, we are going to shape the future of data for social impact and its power to transform communities,” said Danil Mikhailov, Ph.D., executive director of data.org. 

In addition to financial support, awardees will receive access to technical resources, technical guidance from Microsoft AI experts, including Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, and data training. The EY organization plans to host capacity-building workshops and coaching for awardees as part of their global efforts to strengthen the use of generative AI across impact organizations and their beneficiaries. This holistic support will strengthen the awardees’ programmatic approaches, advance their organizational maturity, and plan for the sustainability of their solutions.

“AI is a powerful tool that can help solve the world’s toughest problems – but only if workers everywhere have the skills to use it,” said Kate Behncken, corporate vice president, Microsoft Philanthropies. “Generative AI itself can be a powerful tool to help revolutionize skills training and address the digital and AI skills divide, which is exactly why we’re working with data.org and these organizations – to help support innovation in this area.”

The Generative AI Skills Challenge advances data.org’s commitment to train one million purpose-driven data practitioners by 2032. Each awardee has committed to sharing or open-sourcing their work so other organizations can replicate and scale their solutions.

THE AWARDEES:

Global Integrated Education Volunteers Association (GIEVA) – Nigeria

GIEVA will train and upskill women entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria on the use of generative AI capabilities to create digital livelihoods. They will also build an AI-based platform for women-led businesses to create digital assets and increase sales including creating compelling online product profiles and sales assets optimized for sharing over WhatsApp. 

The Myna Mahila Foundation – India

The Myna Mahila Foundation will build on their successful training model for a network of 1,500 women, known as RANI workers. This project will train a portion of the network in generative AI to power a text-based AI platform designed to dispel misconceptions around women’s health. Given the sensitive nature of healthcare, this organization is careful to establish a feedback loop process that includes doctors and medical professionals to ensure that responses combating misconceptions are accurate.

The Tipping Point – Greece 

The Tipping Point will work with their partner, 100mentors, to provide in-depth training, thoughtfully curated prompt libraries, and GenAI-enhanced mentoring to 700-900 educators in remote settings. Thus, educators will gain the skills to effectively integrate GenAI into their teaching by using a GenAI based app, which will also be developed during the grant period.

Data Elevates – Chile

Data Elevates, along with their key partner, CDI Chile will expand on three years of success training Venezuelan migrant women in data skills to create “Avanzando con la AI,” or “Moving Forward with AI,” a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on generative AI. Combining course facilitation with employment training and network events, Data Elevates and CDI Chile will increase economic opportunities for Venezuelan migrant women, while also providing sustainable impact through the MOOC designed for Spanish-speaking populations. 

Mississippi AI Collaborative – United States

Mississippi AI Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder project to develop an ecosystem leveraging AI in the state of Mississippi. The ecosystem intervention includes an intensive AI curriculum program for teachers, students, and businesses, a “Skill-AI-Thon” to develop AI capabilities, and an apprenticeship program, where Jackson State University students will work with small businesses and nonprofits to leverage AI tools.

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About data.org:

data.org is accelerating the power of data to solve some of our greatest global challenges. Launched in 2020 by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation, data.org serves as a platform for partnerships to build the field of data for social impact by widening access to the tools, resources, and talent needed to make sustainable and equitable change.    

A global organization, data.org convenes and coordinates across sectors and is committed to supporting and amplifying visionary — but also practical — solutions to drive greater impact, through data.

Media Contact 

data.org: Emma Marty | emma@data.org

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“During the COVID-19 crisis, experts worldwide developed numerous software tools to enhance outbreak modeling and analytics. Yet, many of these solutions remain isolated, leading to duplicated effort, lack of interoperability, and poor documentation, support, and maintenance” said Dr. Danil Mikhailov, executive director of data.org. “The opportunity for global collaboration and resource-sharing remains largely unrealized. Through generous support from The Rockefeller Foundation, our partnership with the WHO Pandemic Hub reinforces our commitment to leveraging data for social good and brings us closer to our long-standing vision of a safer, healthier global community.”

“Climate change’s rising temperatures and extreme weather are fueling outbreaks of malaria, cholera, and other deadly diseases. Health leaders can outsmart infectious threats like these by combining climate and health information to predict where pathogens will spread – and digital tools can put that data at their fingertips,” said Dr. Naveen Rao, senior vice president of health, The Rockefeller Foundation. “We’re proud to support the sharing of world-class pandemic preparedness technology so people can stay healthy in a warmer world.”

The WHO Pandemic Hub fosters a collaborative environment for innovators, scientists, and experts from across a wide spectrum of disciplines, leveraging and sharing cutting-edge technology and anchoring our work in the needs of stakeholders around the world. Building on expertise across disciplines, sectors, and regions, the Hub leverages WHO’s convening power to foster global solutions built on an architecture of global collaboration and trust. By leveraging Epiverse’s existing collaborative network—including academic partners—data.org will support the WHO Pandemic Hub in crafting the “Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence (PEI) Collaboratory.” Tailored for pandemic intelligence professionals, the PEI Collaboratory will make digital public goods more accessible for WHO country members and partners engaging on the platform. There, they will find a space that fosters collaboration, the sharing of ideas and best practices, and joint problem-solving for better public health results. 

Across both the PEI Collaboratory and Epiverse networks, data.org also aims to increase the uptake of Epiverse digital public goods in low- to middle-income nations to streamline the global public health tech arena, granting open access to best-in-class epidemic intelligence resources for health institutions globally. This builds on data.org’s ongoing work with The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, Universidad de los Andes, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, where locally-developed tools and human-centered design are leading to more effective, more equitable public health solutions. As part of this process, community-based champions will be identified and mobilized to build trust locally and lead change management efforts in a way that increases in-country adoption. Outreach to other existing communities of practice will likewise help identify a diverse group of stakeholders and bring them into the fold to use Epiverse tools and engage with the growing community.

“Collaborative efforts in the realm of global health data are not just strategic, but essential,” said Dr. Julia Fitzner, unit head of insights and analytics at the World Health Organization. “As we’ve witnessed, isolated solutions can only go so far. By uniting our expertise and resources with data.org through the PEI Collaboratory, we’re not just aiming to respond to global health threats but to anticipate them. Our shared vision is to empower nations, especially those most vulnerable, with the tools and insights they need for a healthier tomorrow.”

About data.org

data.org is accelerating the power of data to solve some of our greatest global challenges. Launched in 2020 by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation, data.org serves as a platform for partnerships to build the field of data for social impact by widening access to the tools, resources, and talent needed to make sustainable and equitable change.    

A global organization, data.org convenes and coordinates across sectors and is committed to supporting and amplifying visionary — but also practical — solutions to drive greater impact, through data.

About WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence is working towards a world where collaborative surveillance empowers countries and communities to minimise the impact of pandemic and epidemic threats. Collaborative surveillance, a key concept within WHO’s framework to strengthen the global architecture for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR), facilitates the systematic strengthening of capacity and collaboration among diverse stakeholders globally, both within and beyond the health sector, to enhance public health intelligence and improve evidence for decision-making.

With the support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, the WHO Pandemic Hub was established in September 2021 in Berlin, as part of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. More info here.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal and sustainable by advancing the global climate transition and ensuring everyone can participate in it. Our focus is on mobilizing collective action that transforms four systems that are essential to the well-being of people and planet: energy, agriculture, health, and finance systems. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.

Media Contact 

data.org: Emma Marty | emma@data.org

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“Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize how we tackle global challenges thanks to its unparalleled ability to scale — but only if applied with awareness of its limitations and a strong emphasis on community-led solutions informed by local context,” said Danil Mikhailov, Executive Director of data.org. “That’s why we are pleased to partner with Microsoft to help upskill and reskill the social impact workforce using generative AI effectively and responsibly. Together, we are taking a significant stride towards fulfilling data.org’s commitment to train one million purpose-driven data practitioners by 2032.”

As part of the company’s new AI Skills Initiative, Microsoft is providing funding for the Generative AI Skills Grant Challenge, with awards expected for five organizations. In addition to financial support, the awardees will receive access to cloud computing resources, technical guidance from Microsoft AI experts, and data training. Nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, and academic / research institutions strongly dedicated to creating upskilling opportunities in generative AI are encouraged to apply. Submissions are welcome from organizations with extensive technical experience, as well those with an emerging and locally unique idea for advancing the workforce and closing the digital divide through the use of generative AI. data.org and Microsoft will share with the broader community the rubrics and best practices used to judge the applications and select the eventual awardees.

“AI offers great potential to empower workers around the world, but only if everyone, everywhere has the skills to use it,” said Kate Behncken, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Philanthropies. “By launching this grant challenge with data.org, we can help develop new ways organizations can deliver skilling opportunities and drive inclusive economic growth, especially in historically marginalized populations around the world.”

By engaging a diverse range of communities – and a particular focus on AI’s fair and community-led integration in low- and middle-income countries and contexts (LMICs) —  this Challenge will work to accelerate digital inclusion, socioeconomic mobility, and skills advancement and acquisition for workers from historically marginalized populations around the world.

The Generative AI Skills Grant Challenge is now accepting applications. The deadline for initial proposals to the Challenge will be August 15, 2023. To learn more and participate, visit data.org/challenge.

About data.org

data.org is accelerating the power of data to solve some of our greatest global challenges. Launched in 2020 by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation, data.org serves as a platform for partnerships to build the field of data for social impact by widening access to the tools, resources, and talent needed to make sustainable and equitable change.    

A global organization, data.org convenes and coordinates across sectors and is committed to supporting and amplifying visionary — but also practical — solutions to drive greater impact, through data.

Media Contact 

data.org: Emma Marty | emma@data.org

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The India Data Capacity Accelerator is the third workforce partnership in data.org’s Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN). To date, data.org programs have engaged 16 academic partners around the world to help build data capacity and tools within the social impact sector. 

Selected by an open request-for-proposals process, Ashoka University, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), and Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Delhi will support the design and rollout of curriculum, resources, and interdisciplinary and experiential learning programs to create and engage top data talent — a consistent challenge for the social impact sector.  

“A million brains are better than one, and the fact is, we need to accelerate training more data practitioners in the social sector to take advantage of the data revolution,” said Danil Mikhailov, executive director of data.org. “Our recent Workforce Wanted report identified an opportunity for 3.5 million jobs in the data for social impact field in developing countries alone over the next decade. The India Accelerator gets us one step closer to our commitment to training one million, purpose-driven data practitioners by 2032. We are thankful for the support from Wellcome and our partnership with J-PAL, and we look forward to collaborating with these three prestigious universities, who, together, will offer a comprehensive platform that combines academic excellence with practical application and classroom learning.”

The World Health Organization estimates that between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year. This new capacity accelerator will train data practitioners on the front lines of the climate crisis to help advance solutions to climate-related health issues. 

“Practical, effective, and scalable solutions to the climate crisis in India and the world will remain elusive unless innovations have been rigorously tested for effectiveness,” said Tithee Mukhopadhyay, Deputy Executive Director, J-PAL South Asia. “The India Data Capacity Accelerator is the latest step in J-PAL South Asia’s continued efforts to unlock and leverage data and scientific evidence for making effective policies in collaboration with our university, social impact, and policy partners. The program’s innovative model of combining theoretical lessons and practical training on harnessing, analyzing, and applying data will prepare young professionals to become leaders in the social impact sector.”

The three universities chosen for this important work demonstrated not only experience and capabilities in data, climate, and health — but in social impact; intersectionality; and inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). 

“Given the diversity of a country as large as India and the varied needs of a broad set of learners, we knew we needed a mix of public and private universities covering a wide geographic footprint and offering online, in-person, and hybrid learning opportunities,” said Priyank Hirani, associate director of CAN. “We are so pleased with our first set of academic partners in this network in India who each bring complementary expertise and cater to a specific segment of aspiring data talent.”

• Ashoka University is India’s first liberal arts and sciences private university and a prominent player in the Indian social sector through its esteemed research centers. As part of the accelerator, it will offer an online postgraduate certificate targeted to young professionals in climate and health organizations.
  
  “We are excited to launch the executive development program for social sector practitioners with data.org’s support as part of their India Data Capacity Accelerator,” said Pramath Raj Sinha, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Ashoka University. “Much like data.org, Ashoka emphasizes nurturing leaders committed to addressing systemic social challenges, interdisciplinary approaches to solving global problems in its curricula, and inclusion and diversity in its student body.”

• One of the first six schools to be awarded the “Institute of Eminence” status in 2018 by the Government of India, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) has four campuses across the country and will offer both an undergraduate minor to students in its Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad campuses and a postgraduate degree through its work integrated learning platform for professionals who already have technology and data proficiency.
  
  “India generates a lot of data that can be of immense use when addressing climate change or finding better healthcare solutions for the world’s population,” said Professor V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani. He added, “BITS Pilani is committed to providing solutions to effectively utilize this data by increasing the trained manpower in data for social good through interdisciplinary programs for both first-degree level and working professionals.”

• Created by an act of the Delhi legislature as a comprehensive research-led teaching institute, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) will provide both technical and non-technical professionals with the hybrid program Post-Graduate Diploma in Data Science in Health and Climate Change for Social Impact.

“Data for social impact is a growing field in India, but until now, there have been limited academic courses, training, or leadership development programs available,” said Ranjan Bose, Director of IIIT-Delhi. “Building on our experience of running existing programs in computing, data science, and AI, we are excited to bring our expertise to this partnership as we work toward increasing capacity in India, and, ultimately, helping improve lives.”

The launch of this new accelerator was celebrated at a day-long convening of leaders across sectors hosted by data.org and the Working Group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities: Climate, Environment, and Net Zero Targets under Civil Society 20 during India’s G20 Presidency 2023. The convening took place at the University of Chicago Center in Delhi, where participants presented expert perspectives and discussed shared goals for impact through the creation of data capacity for climate and health. 

About data.org: 

data.org is accelerating the power of data to solve some of our greatest global challenges. Launched in 2020 by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation, data.org serves as a platform for partnerships to build the field of data for social impact by widening access to the tools, resources, and talent needed to make sustainable and equitable change.    

A global organization, data.org convenes and coordinates across sectors and is committed to supporting and amplifying visionary — but also practical — solutions to drive greater impact, through data.

About Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia: 

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of 294 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.

J-PAL was launched at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2003 and has 7 regional offices around the world. J-PAL South Asia, hosted by the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), Chennai, has built partnerships for the generation of new research and advancement of evidence-informed policymaking with 20 Indian state and central government ministries, as well as training partnerships with the governments of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

 For more information, visit povertyactionlab.org/south-asia. 

About Ashoka University

Ashoka University is India’s premier interdisciplinary research and teaching institution, providing higher education at par with the best in the world. A unique example of collective philanthropy, it is funded by close to 200 leaders, thinkers, academics and philanthropists from a range of fields. Its faculty body consists of eminent individuals who have studied and taught at the world’s finest institutions. Ashoka offers a diverse and inclusive space for its students to think deeply and critically. It envisions developing global leaders who understand disciplinary boundaries, express themselves creatively, and communicate with meaning to cause impact and change. With over 2600 students and 14 dedicated research centres today, the university offers programmes and research opportunities in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. In its next phase of growth, the university is building a second campus and making major investments in the Sciences, including original cutting-edge research in vital areas like biosciences and information technology. Ashoka’s 4000 alumni are making a significant impact in hundreds of leading organizations and dozens of leading universities across the globe. Ashoka is a non-profit university established under the Haryana Private Universities Act, 2006. It is located in Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Delhi NCR, India.

About Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani)

The Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), is a deemed university recognized as an “Institution of Eminence” by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. BITS Pilani is a pioneer in Higher education in all the major disciplines of Engineering and Sciences, with Humanities, Social Sciences, Economics and Finance in its ambit. Its four modern, aesthetically beautiful and fully residential campuses at Pilani, Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad with state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and research provide a unique ambience for student and faculty interaction. BITS Pilani is establishing yet another campus in Mumbai to house the School of Management and School of Law. The primary aim of BITS Pilani is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century. The Institute was established in 1964 by the late Shri G. D. Birla, an eminent industrialist, a participant in the Indian freedom struggle and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Over the years, BITS Pilani has provided the highest quality technical education to students from all over India, admitted on the basis of merit. Its graduates can be found worldwide in eminent leadership positions in all areas of engineering, science and commerce. BITS Pilani is proud to have given 13 unicorns to the country and more than 7500 founders and co-founders. The Institute’s commitment to excellence, adherence to merit, transparency, innovation, and enterprise have characterized its steady march to eminence.

About Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi)

IIIT-Delhi is a comprehensive research-led teaching Institute where faculty, students, and alumni work together in a spirit of discovery and creativity to build a better world. The Institute, set up by an Act of Govt. of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD), awards B.Tech., M.Tech., and Doctoral degrees. It emphasizes quality education, curiosity-led research, and innovation leading to entrepreneurship. The teaching activities at the Institute derive strength from the cutting-edge research conducted by faculty, strong industry linkages, and international collaborations.

IIIT-Delhi has six academic departments – Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Computational Biology, Human-Centered Design, Mathematics, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Its research centers include the Infosys Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Centre for Design and New Media, Centre of Technology in Policing, Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Mobility, Centre of Excellence in Healthcare, Centre of Excellence on Light Fidelity, Datakart Centre of Excellence, Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Human-Centered Computing, and ​​​Center for Quantum Technologies.

The IIITD-Incubation Centre on campus is instrumental in driving the growth of entrepreneurial activities. IIIT-Delhi has also set up a Technology Innovation Hub called iHub Anubhuti under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems. There is also an Electropreneur Park focused on electronics startups.

More details can be found at iiitd.ac.in.

Media Contact 

data.org: Emma Marty | emma@data.org

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On their digital platform, data.org provides a free Data Maturity Assessment (DMA) to give SIOs the ability to assess their current data implementation strategies, identify opportunities for growth, and apply positive change through curated resources and guides from their Resource Library. This suite of self-service tools helps organizations become “data-led” to better meet their missions. The DMA is a key tool supporting the Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN), a data.org initiative dedicated to developing one million purpose-driven data professionals across the globe over the next decade, and empowering organizations with the analytical skills needed to thrive in a data-driven landscape.

“Social impact organizations have historically lacked the resources, tools, and capability to harness the power of data,” said Danil Mikhailov, executive director at data.org. “Our Data Maturity Assessment helps organizations chart a path forward in their data journey and prepares them for the kind of transformative growth that drives lasting impact.”

Microsoft Philanthropies’ two-year partnership includes:

• the next phase of the DMA tool with an expanded assessment and improved analytics. Microsoft’s robust network of SIOs will engage with the DMA to assess their organizational data maturity and connect to resources.
• a cohort program for a subset of SIOs to focus on data maturity transformation over a 12-month period with additional in-kind resources from Microsoft such as computing and engineering support, access to Microsoft products, and related technical assistance. Insights from this cohort will help identify approaches and resources to support the social impact sector at scale.

This investment will help generate a collection of key learnings and case studies, as well as a playbook to identify transformational models that could enable organizational change, contributing to the CAN initiative’s suite of open-source resources for the wider DSI sector.

“data.org continues to leverage its comprehensive platform to bring together the experience of social impact organizations, the strength and capabilities of Microsoft Philanthropies, and the power of data to derive insights and inform future digital resources,” said Mikhailov. “These insights will allow data.org to continue building a community of data-led organizations and unlock potential solutions to address some of the world’s most complex challenges including health, climate, and financial inclusion.”

“Microsoft is committed to empowering organizations with the tools, skills, and resources needed to succeed in the digital world,” said Kate Behncken, Vice President Microsoft Philanthropies. “We’re proud to work with data.org to strengthen the power of data to drive social good.”

About data.org: 

data.org is committed to democratizing data, for good. Founded by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, data.org is a platform for partnerships, and works with organizations all over the world to increase the use of data science to tackle society’s most pressing challenges and improve the lives of millions of people. For more information, visit data.org and follow us on Twitter @datadotorg.

Media contacts: 

data.org: Emma Marty | emma@data.org  

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Data has the potential to create high-impact interventions that are affordable and that drive resilience to combat rising inequality, public health crises, widespread threats to democracy, and climate change. The Accelerate report recognizes this incredible potential and raises urgent questions about the purpose and practice of this nascent field and the people it will require to keep it all moving.

“We have the power to build—and fund—a data-driven social impact sector that drives affordable and innovative ways of addressing the multitude of challenges we face,” said Dr. Danil Mikhailov, executive director of data.org. “But we must do the hard work to change how we as individuals, organizations, funders, and ecosystems operate. At the heart of this report is a focus on collaboration. Together, we must be willing to take risks, align incentives, and partner differently to drive sustainable and systemic change.”

The Accelerate report surveys the current state of data for social impact through interviews, quantitative findings from a data maturity assessment, and a comprehensive literature review, and culminates in critical next steps to advance the field.

The field of data for social impact stands at a crossroads. According to data.org’s Data Maturity Assessment results, 90 percent of respondents report that their organization is committed to investing in data tools, training, and staff. However, most organizations lack the infrastructure, capacity, and sustained support from funders to meet their aspirations. So, we face a choice. Business as usual can continue through funding and implementing under-resourced and siloed data projects that deliver incremental progress. Or we can think and act boldly.

The Accelerate report urgently calls for:

1. Improving data strategies through common governance and tools, data sharing, aligned incentives, and most importantly, cross-sector coordination. 
2. Building a more diverse and interdisciplinary workforce of purpose-driven data practitioners who can locally drive change. 
3. Creating stronger funding models with longer time horizons, more flexible structures, and better coordination to build sustainable and interoperable solutions.

The Accelerate report builds on data.org’s 2022 Workforce Wanted: Data Talent for Social Impact report, which identified an opportunity for 3.5 million jobs in the data for social impact field in developing countries alone over the next decade. In response, data.org is working to train one million purpose-driven data practitioners in the next 10 years through their Capacity Accelerator Network of knowledge hubs around the world, from the United States, to India, and sub-Saharan Africa.

“A more diverse, global workforce with interdisciplinary perspectives can provide a foundation for data for social impact work that is both effective and just,” added Dr. Uyi Stewart, chief data and technology officer at data.org. “Because as cross-sector work gains traction, we need data practitioners that not only understand and can translate, but actually come from marginalized communities and geographies inclusive of low- and middle-income countries to develop these critical data ecosystems.”

Since the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation launched data.org three years ago at the World Economic Forum, it has quickly become a connector and coordinator—a platform for partnerships delivering capacity-building programs and widening access to tools, resources, and knowledge for social impact organizations around the world.

About data.org:

data.org is committed to democratizing data, for good. Founded by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, data.org is a platform for partnerships, and works with organizations all over the world to increase the use of data science to tackle society’s most pressing challenges and improve the lives of millions of people.

Media contact: 

data.org: Emma Marty emma@data.org

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With this grant, data.org will work with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data and J-PAL South Asia to establish new accelerators in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. The accelerators will equip emerging data professionals with the interdisciplinary skills needed to work at the intersection of climate and health to tackle society’s greatest challenges and improve lives across the world. 

“Data is crucial for helping us understand and tackle the health effects of climate change. But right now, the field lacks people with the necessary skills and expertise, particularly within the communities that live on the frontlines of the climate crisis. We must train a new generation of data practitioners to address the health impacts of climate change where it matters most. That’s why we’re pleased to support data.org with the accelerators in India and Sub-Saharan Africa — to help bridge gaps in the field and create meaningful solutions that improve lives,” said Tariq Khokhar, head of data for science and health at Wellcome. 

Wellcome’s transformative grant will advance data.org’s ambitious mission to train one million purpose-driven data practitioners over the next decade, as it leads global efforts to strengthen data talent in the social impact sector. This initiative builds on data.org’s recent partnership with the University of Chicago’s Financial Inclusion Accelerator, made possible by funding from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.  

The announcement comes during the 77^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and will reinforce efforts to create an enabling environment for equitable, inclusive, and timely policymaking and service delivery in India and Sub-Saharan Africa. Underlining the importance of investing in data systems, new Dalberg research—commissioned by the United Nations, The World Bank, and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data—shows that for every $1 USD invested in data systems and skills, there is $32 USD  worth of benefit.   

“At data.org, we believe in democratizing data, for good. Creating a network of capacity accelerators around the world puts that concept into action, informing, training, and mobilizing the next generation of data professionals,” said Danil Mikhailov, executive director of data.org. “Against a backdrop of the climate crisis, pandemics, and rising inequality, the world faces enormous, systemic challenges. Data science and other data-driven technologies can offer part of the solution through their tremendous ability to scale, but only if we ensure these data professionals are equipped with the interdisciplinary skills to ask the right questions and build trust with the communities they serve.” 

The first capacity accelerator will be based in Sub-Saharan Africa in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), followed by the launch of a second accelerator in India in collaboration with Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia. Both delivery partners have proven experience and deep networks, particularly with local stakeholders in their respective geographies, enabling them to create scalable and sustainable global impact. As a platform for partnerships, data.org has consistently demonstrated its ability to connect partners across the world and foster collaboration that drives collective change. These programs will do the same, resulting in a set of open-source resources, including modular curricula, made available to social impact professionals worldwide. 

“To achieve better outcomes for people and the planet, we as the international data community need to collaborate to make technical skills and knowledge more accessible to all. The Global Partnership is working to help governments address information gaps in climate, health, and vital statistics. Partnering with data.org, J-PAL South Asia, and a constellation of education providers will help collectively leverage our networks to strengthen local data talent, which in turn will help unlock solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges” said Claire Melamed, chief executive officer at the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. 

Each accelerator will produce a cohort of data practitioners with interdisciplinary subject-matter expertise in health and climate data. In surrounding communities, dozens of social impact and public sector organizations will reap the benefits, hosting paid data fellows who graduate from the program. 

“The fight against poverty and climate change is more data-driven than ever before, and scalable, rigorous technical training is needed to build capacity to use data for evidence-informed decision-making. The accelerator represents a unique opportunity to build talent and impact the future of data use for research and policy, in India and worldwide, through this collaborative partnership between data.org and J-PAL South Asia,” said Iqbal Dhaliwal, global executive director at J-PAL. 

Accelerators will partner with universities and other social impact and public sector organizations that will support the research and roll out of curriculum, resources, and experiential learning programs, in an effort to engage top talent in social impact—a consistent challenge for the sector. A recent report from data.org and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, “Workforce Wanted: Data Talent for Social Impact,” found that there is an opportunity to develop 3.5 million data professionals focused on social impact in low- and middle-income countries over the next 10 years. 

“No one can do this work alone, but together, we can build a diverse workforce of purpose-driven data practitioners, advancing social impact. We invite funders, social impact organizations, academia, and government to join us,” added Mikhailov. 

About Wellcome 

Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, global heating and infectious diseases. 

About Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL): 

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of 262 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. 

About The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD): 

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data is a fast-growing, dynamic international partnership bringing together over 650 different organizations including governments, UN agencies, private companies, civil society organizations, and many others. The Global Partnership convenes, connects, and catalyzes action to address the problems of poor data use, access, quality, and production, and to work with stakeholders to fully harness the new opportunities of the data revolution in the service of sustainable development. The Global Partnership aims to link and align action, capacities, and resources across geographies, sectors, and data communities. 

About data.org: 

data.org is committed to democratizing data, for good. Founded by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, data.org is a platform for partnerships, and works with organizations all over the world to increase the use of data science to tackle society’s most pressing challenges and improve the lives of millions of people. For more information, visit data.org and follow us on Twitter @datadotorg. 

Media contacts: 

data.org:
Emma Marty | emma@data.org 

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data:
Jennifer Oldfield | joldfield@data4sdgs.org  

J-PAL:
Evan Williams | ewilliams@povertyactionlab.org 

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“Our rapid growth in scope and scale of our global initiatives have heightened our need for technical depth to conceive and evaluate programs, and to make use of the increasing volume of data informing our overall work today” said Danil Mikhailov, executive director at data.org. “We are delighted to be working with an esteemed data and technology leader to bring oversight and insight to our efforts, and to deepen our networks globally, particularly in Africa.”

Previously, Uyi served as an executive director of data science, Technical Operations, at  Seagen Inc., where he focused on the digitalization of biologics data to accelerate the development of transformative cancer drugs. Prior to that, he was the executive director at AI Commons, a non-profit focused on democratizing access to AI in emerging markets. Uyi was a director of global development’s strategy, data and analytics at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, centralizing the use of data to fight disease, poverty, and inequity.

Uyi was also a Distinguished Engineer, co-founder and Chief Scientist, at IBM Research — Africa, where he pioneered the use of big data to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and other ML/AI solutions to address societal challenges across the African continent. He continues to serve as Chair of Data Science Nigeria’s board of directors.

Uyi holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from McGill University. He has 15 patents, has authored 65 publications, and has been involved in the implementation of hundreds of innovative digital solutions across Africa, Asia, and the USA.

“Spending the past year on the Epiverse Advisory Board gave me an early look at data.org, its innovative initiatives, and commitment to providing a bellwether platform for partnerships to build the field of data science for social impact,” said Uyi. “I am thrilled to be joining this team, and look forward to leading the data strategy propelling our initiatives and our organization forward — and maximizing our social impact to make a purposeful difference in people’s lives.”

The post data.org welcomes Uyi Stewart as Chief Data and Technology Officer appeared first on data.org.

Workforce Wanted clarifies what is needed to identify, cultivate, support, and retain a diverse workforce of data professionals to solve the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, healthcare disparities, food insecurity, and lack of financial inclusion. The report explores four potential pathways — new talent, existing talent, transitional talent, and leadership — to develop a robust workforce of data professionals. 

“Data-driven nonprofits face a critical resource gap: experienced data professionals with lived experience of communities around the world,” said Claudia Juech, Vice President of Data and Society at the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. “Building a diverse and deep talent pool will equip social change organizations to reduce bias within data, unearth better insights, and enable improved decision-making on serious issues facing humanity.”

Through a review of nearly 200 data talent initiatives, a literature review of approximately 90 articles and reports, expert interviews with 30+ leaders across the globe, and extensive desk research, this report surveys the current state of data training and talent initiatives and culminates in this landscape analysis of the sector’s challenges.

Together, PJMF and data.org tapped the research capabilities and global network of Dalberg to produce this sector-defining report, and to explore what is needed to shape an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible (IDEA) talent base of data professionals driving social impact. “The Workforce Wanted report provides an important foundation for understanding how building a diverse generation of data professionals is essential for advancing socioeconomic goals. Across low and middle-income countries, our conservative estimate is that there is potential to create a cohort of 3.5 million data professionals focused on social impact.” said Robin Miller, regional director for Africa, and global digital & data practice lead at Dalberg.

“In advancing the purpose-driven data talent workforce, we must act boldly to ensure better and more access to training and upskilling opportunities for women, people of color, and people from different economic backgrounds and conditions. This mission calls for partnerships across sectors—social impact organizations, government, philanthropy, academia, and tech—to develop, foster, and unlock data talent. This report illuminates the opportunity to align on shared goals and create a plan which is both achievable and ambitious. Together we can build and empower a workforce and a social sector that can harness the power of data to benefit everyone, everywhere.” said Ginger Zielinskie, senior advisor at data.org.

About data.org:

data.org is committed to democratizing data, for good. Founded by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, data.org is a platform for partnerships, and works with organizations all over the world to increase the use of data science to tackle society’s most pressing challenges and improve the lives of millions of people. For more information, visit data.org and follow us on Twitter @datadotorg.

About The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation:

The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is a global 21^st century philanthropy bridging the frontiers of artificial intelligence, data science, and social impact to create a thriving, equitable and sustainable future for all. The Foundation’s work focuses on bringing together academia, practitioners, and civil society to pursue the potential of AI and data science to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

About Dalberg:

Dalberg is an impact advisory group that brings together strategy consulting, design thinking, big data analytics, and research to address complex social and environmental challenges. We work collaboratively with communities, institutions, governments, and corporations to develop solutions that create impact at scale. With more than 29 locations worldwide and a diverse footprint, Dalberg is driven by a mission to build a world where all people, everywhere, can reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.dalberg.com.

Media contact :

George Mastoras
george.mastoras@mcgovern.org
(914) 489-5282

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Cormekki is an experienced CFO/COO with more than two decades of financial planning, analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and operations management in non-profit organizations. She most recently served as Interim Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), where for over a decade she led all aspects of internal management and operations. Prior to joining CLASP, Cormekki served as the Chief Operating Officer for a labor federation where she developed, executed and provided leadership for all of the organization’s financial, operational and human systems. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina State University and advanced degrees from Meredith College and Northcentral University.

Cormekki brings a deep commitment to racial equity and financial inclusion to her work, including extensive knowledge of mortgage markets and fair lending. Her dissertation addressed the impact of the North Carolina predatory lending law and the availability of credit.

“We at data.org believe that how we work internally must be informed by the very issues of fairness and equity that our platform and initiatives address externally,” said Danil Mikhailov, executive director at data.org. “We are fortunate to attract a leader like Cormekki, whose proven track record in finance and operations is accompanied by a focus on tackling systemic inequities.”

“I am delighted to be joining data.org and combining my passion for leadership in high-performing nonprofits with creating a more equitable world,” added Cormekki Whitley. “I look forward to building on my experience to engage in this important work at a global scale.”

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“As we rebuild a more inclusive and sustainable economy, we have an opportunity to harness data and technology to help individuals and small businesses achieve a sense of economic security that fosters a better quality of life,” said Shamina Singh, president, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. “Data-driven insights play an integral role in delivering transformational change as we work towards addressing our most pressing societal challenges. data.org’s Capacity Accelerator Network harnesses this vision and puts these words to practice and we are proud to support this initiative.”

This grant includes a funding award to The University of Chicago (UChicago) Data Science Institute (DSI) to support the creation of a consortium of diverse higher education partners, including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), minority serving institutions (MSIs), and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), to amplify social impact through data science. The consortium, part of CAN’s Financial Inclusion Accelerator, will be a collaborative effort to broaden participation in the talent pipeline, serve communities of highest need, and maximize opportunities for scalability and transferability of this new model.

In leading this new consortium, UChicago DSI brings expertise and experience to building experiential learning programs aligned with inclusive best practices. DSI programs, such as the Civic Data & Technology Clinic, the 11th Hour Project Hub, and the DSI Summer Lab, emphasize collaborative data science projects with positive social impact and provide real-world research experiences for students of all backgrounds.

The grant also fuels the creation of scalable curricula and a Data Science Experiential Learning Deployment Playbook, providing information on how to identify and scope projects, and how to build trust with Social Impact Organizations (SIOs) through data science.

“The field of data science cannot meaningfully advance and realize its potential unless we include students, academic institutions, organizations, and communities that reflect the world we hope to improve,” said David Uminsky, executive director of the UChicago Data Science Institute. “We are excited that this funding and the consortium it creates will enable and expand our partnerships, deepen our impact on education and collaborative research, and help produce a representative next generation of data scientists.”

“Working with a team so committed to centering inclusivity and equity in the field-building process is what makes this partnership with UChicago’s DSI an ideal match,” said Dr. Ronda Železný-Green, program director, Capacity Accelerator Network at data.org. “Working with DSI, and its planned network of HBCUs, MSIs, and HSIs, we are setting ourselves up to create what will be an innovative and comprehensive approach to building the field of DSSI.”

With this commitment, data.org will strengthen the field of data science for social impact, to ensure that non-profit and civic organizations are well positioned to take advantage of the data revolution. CAN’s primary learning and engagement tools will include data.org’s Resource Library, featuring over one hundred curated resources and seven data.org guides. The support also extends to a newly launched Data Maturity Assessment, providing a snapshot of an organization’s data maturity, and relevant resources to move forward on their data journey.

This grant is an output of the broader Data Science for Social Impact initiative and initial $50 million commitment from The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Impact Fund. The focus of this effort is to drive an innovative model for collaborative philanthropy centered on accelerating the use of data science by empowering non-profit, civic and government organizations with the tools, expertise, and resources to help solve the world’s most pressing challenges.

About the Capacity Accelerator Network:

The Capacity Accelerator Network connects a series of strategic accelerators across the world working towards democratizing data skills and investing in social impact organizations’ capacity to be data-driven which will lead to transformative change. The Capacity Accelerator Network works to increase skills and support organizations, enabling them to unlock the power of data to meet their missions. Starting with a global agenda setting exercise, and with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, this initiative commits to training one-million purpose-driven data professionals by 2032. 

About the Data Science Institute at University of Chicago:

The Data Science Institute (DSI) executes the University of Chicago’s bold, innovative vision of Data Science as a new discipline. The DSI seeds research on the interdisciplinary frontiers of this emerging field, forms partnerships with industry, government, and social impact organizations, and supports holistic data science education. The mission of DSI is to address important scientific and societal questions through coordinated advances in applications, models, algorithms, and platforms. Learn more at datascience.uchicago.edu, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth:

The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth advances equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world. The center leverages the company’s core assets and competencies, including data insights, expertise, and technology, while administering the philanthropic Mastercard Impact Fund, to produce independent research, scale global programs and empower a community of thinkers, leaders and doers on the front lines of inclusive growth. For more information and to receive its latest insights, follow the center on Twitter and LinkedIn and subscribe to its newsletter.

About data.org:

data.org is committed to democratizing data, for good. Founded by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, data.org is a platform for partnerships, and works with organizations all over the world to increase the use of data science to tackle society’s most pressing challenges and improve the lives of millions of people. For more information, visit data.org and follow us on Twitter @datadotorg.

Media contacts:

data.org: Nichole Verga | Nichole@data.org

The post Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Grants $4.6M to data.org’s Capacity Accelerator Network to Further Diversity and Inclusion in the Field of Data Science appeared first on data.org.

data.org is building the field of data science for social impact to help solve society’s most pressing problems, from global pandemics to climate, lack of racial justice to financial insecurity. This work is carried out through three strategic pillars: showcasing and supporting the cases of data science used in the social sector, strengthening data science capacity, and—most pertinent to their Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) membership—transforming the commons in creating and sharing digital public goods.

Digital public goods are open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards, and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable laws and best practices, do no harm by design, and help attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To ensure the integrity of this definition, the Digital Public Goods Alliance stewards the Digital Public Goods Standard, a set of specifications and guidelines designed to maximize consensus about whether a digital solution conforms to the definition of a digital public good.

Epiverse, a global collaborative powered by data.org, was founded on this commitment to creating transformative digital public goods for epidemic preparedness and response. Through a partner network of interdisciplinary experts, Epiverse is co-creating a trustworthy, open-source software ecosystem to power epidemic preparedness for users across sectors enabling rapid, robust, and reproducible policy-relevant modeling.

The Epiverse open-source epidemiological software and tools is being developed by a global team of building partners, including the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) at LSHTM, Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes), and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Javeriana). The vision for this suite of tools is to contribute to a global body of digital public goods. However, it is the commitment to community building and co-creation that sets the Epiverse collaborative apart from other open-source data distribution efforts and underscores the impact of their Digital Public Goods Alliance membership. No one sector can meet the challenge of infectious disease response alone – Epiverse starts with a fully representative, interdisciplinary group from around the world, engaged and ready to develop, apply, and maintain this software.

“Creating open and accessible digital public goods is at the heart of Epiverse’s mission, and we are delighted to contribute resources to this dynamic network,” said Ibrahim Mahgoub, Program Director, Epiverse. “data.org’s roadmap membership with the Digital Public Goods Alliance is an ideal match, and we welcome the robust Digital Public Goods Alliance network to the Epiverse collaborative to not only access but contribute to these innovative and lifesaving solutions.”

In addition to the Epiverse initiative, data.org also offers a digital platform, including a Resource Library and Data Maturity Assessment. The Resource Library curates over one hundred of the best resources available and produced by community partners, builders, and experts, and seven data.org guides to provide Social Impact Organizations (SIOs) with starting points for using data for efficiency and effectiveness. The Data Maturity Assessment (DMA) provides a snapshot of an organization’s data maturity, offering organizations a sense of where they are in their journey of using data to advance their operations and mission. 

“We at the Digital Public Goods Alliance are thrilled to welcome data.org as a new member and to collaborate with them to ensure their suite of tools is reviewed and recognized as digital public goods, discoverable on the DPG Registry. We look forward to our partnership with data.org through 2022 and beyond” said Lucy Harris, Co-Lead at the Digital Public Goods Alliance.

About data.org

data.org is committed to democratizing data for good. Founded by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, data.org is a platform for partnerships, and works with organizations all over the world to increase the use of data science to tackle society’s most pressing challenges and improve the lives of millions of people. For more information, visit data.org and follow us on Twitter @datadotorg.

About Epiverse

Epiverse is a global collaborative led by data.org developing distributed data analysis tools as a transformative public good. Through its partner network of interdisciplinary experts, Epiverse is co-creating a trustworthy, open-source software ecosystem to power pandemic preparedness and, in the future, address a broad range of health and social challenges. 

About The Digital Public Goods Alliance

The Digital Public Goods Alliance is a multi-stakeholder initiative with a mission to accelerate the attainment of the sustainable development goals in low- and middle-income countries by facilitating the discovery, development, use of, and investment in digital public goods.  Member organisations that participate in the annual roadmap work collaboratively, transparently monitoring activities, and share updates.

Media contacts:

data.org: Emma Marty emma@data.org

The Digital Public Goods Alliance: Jameson Voisin hello@digitalpublicgoods.net

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