data.org's Year in Review

data.org started its journey nearly four years ago with a mission to democratize data and engage a diverse global community in building the field of data for social impact.

As 2023 comes to a close and we look to the new year, we are encouraged by our progress and energized by the opportunities ahead.

Launched with the generous support and vision of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation , we have worked with some of the most committed leaders and organizations in the world—leaders who understand the power of data to accelerate change and organizations that are tackling some of the world’s greatest challenges. In every conversation, webinar, training session, and convening, we are grateful for the partnership and leadership of these forces for social impact, and we share some of those highlights below.

Because if there is one common theme across all of our work, it is that no one can do this alone. 

Committed people, working together and armed with good quality data have the power to right injustice, close equity gaps, and drive solutions that improve the physical, mental, environmental, and financial health of communities around the world. To do that, though, we need better rules of the road. We need a community of practice that allows for the sharing and scaling of best practices. And we need to build the workforce of tomorrow, which is why data.org is committed to training one million purpose-driven data professionals.

We made a lot of progress this year, but there is so much work left to be done. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and I hope you will join us in 2024 and beyond to advance data for social impact.

Cheers,

Danil Mikhailov | Executive Director, data.org

Our Year in Review

Highlights from data.org’s work in 2023

Accelerating Progress in Data for Social Impact

To solve our greatest global challenges, we need to accelerate how we use data for good and create solutions that are more inclusive and interdisciplinary. We started 2023 on a high note with the release of “Accelerate Aspirations: Moving Together to Achieve Systems Change,” a comprehensive report on the key trends and tensions in the emerging field of data for social impact.

Elevating Underrepresented Voices

Marginalized people have long been excluded from the data revolution. Our under / over initiative aims to raise awareness of successful ways for women and gender-diverse individuals to be represented in data, and to themselves harness the power of data to drive social impact.

under / over is currently a finalist in The Anthem Awards 2023! Click here to show your support, and we could win the first-ever Anthem Community Voice Award!

Taking One Step to One Million

With support from Wellcome Trust earlier this year we launched the India Data Capacity Accelerator—the third workforce partnership in a growing global network of CAN partners. Working with top universities in India and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) , the India Accelerator is building a workforce of purpose-driven data professionals in India and beyond. 

Preparing for the Next Pandemic

Bolstered by a $2.5 million grant from The Rockefeller Foundation , we are building on our Epiverse initiative through a partnership with the World Health Organization Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. Together, we are driving the development and deployment of digital public goods for pandemic and epidemic intelligence so we are collectively positioned to tackle global epidemic and pandemic threats.

Skilling the Workforce of Tomorrow

From an impressive pool of nearly 600 applicants across 93 countries, data.org and Microsoft announced last month five awardees of the Generative AI Skills Challenge, a global grant to explore, develop, and implement ways for organizations to train, upskill, and reskill the workforce to use generative AI. We can’t wait to see the innovative solutions coming from the Global Integrated Education Volunteers Association (GIEVA), the Myna Mahila Foundation , The Tipping Point in Education , Data Elevates , and the Mississippi AI Collaborative .