About

Global Pulse’s objective is to foster development of the analytical, technological and organizational capacities that decision makers need to access and utilize new digital data sources and real-time analytics. This will facilitate faster, greater understanding of how vulnerable communities are being affected, even as a crisis or shock is still unfolding. It will lead to more agile, precise and efficient policy action.

Global Pulse’s goal is widespread public sector uptake of the methodologies and technologies needed to incorporate real-time information into work norms. As such, the initiative is designed as a temporary scaffolding to promote awareness and the benefits of Big Data as a public good. We are working to build communities of practice, catalyze innovations in real-time monitoring, and accelerate adoption of proven solutions across development practice.

To achieve these objectives, Global Pulse’s strategy includes:

1. Research & Development:Conducting research to discover new proxy indicators in digital data that can help us improve how development progress is tracked, and how we identify impediments to population wellbeing. This work will help us to develop a toolkit of the most effective methodologies and technology tools.
2. Big Data Partnerships:Forging partnerships with companies and organizations that have the data, technology and analytical expertise needed for the success of “Big Data for Development” research and advocacy. We work with companies to determine how they can effectively contribute data tools and expertise to the public good.
3. Pulse Lab Network:Working with UN Member States to establish an integrated, global network of Pulse Labs, where researchers work to prototype and pilot approaches at country level. Successful data analytics methodologies and technology tools that Pulse Labs develop would be widely shared for adoption by institutional partners.

Project Goals

Global Pulse’s role as an innovation lab is to encourage and facilitate research and development (R&D) that leads to successful approaches for harnessing big data to understand changes in human well-being in real-time. The development of a new set of technology tools, partnerships and capacities - designed to complement existing data-gathering and analysis methods – will contribute to improved global development outcomes in three ways:

1. Enhanced Early Warning: Earlier detection of anomalies, trends and events allows earlier response to emerging crises.
2. Real-Time Awareness: A more accurate and up-to-date picture of what a population needs and wants can lead to better, more effective programme planning and implementation.
3. Real-Time Feedback: Understanding sooner where needs are changing or are not being met will allow for rapid, adaptive course correction in development programmes and current policies—in essence making impact evaluation and response more agile.

Key Milestones

2010

• Consultations and Program Design. Series of workshops and consultations with UN Agencies, Member States, and thought-leaders in data science and development innovation communities to inform Global Pulse initiative’s strategy and blueprint.
• Voices of the Vulnerable Reports. Publication of two high-level reports highlighting plight of most vulnerable communities in the wake of the global economic crisis.
• Lab Location Scoping. Lab Location Scoping. Scoping of first 2 potential pulse lab locations, establish preliminary presence in Kampala.
• Strategic Plan for 2 Pulse Labs.  With the support of donors, UN agencies, and the Governments of Indonesia and Uganda, Global Pulse completes the scoping phases and develops strategic plans for the launch of the first two Pulse Labs in the network. 

2011-2012

• 5 Proofs of Concept. Research team completes series of 6 joint research projects with private sector and academia demonstrating that new sources of data may be combined with traditional data to speed up analysis of emerging vulnerabilities.
• 9 Interagency Research Projects. Global Pulse hosts RIVAF Partners Conference (“Toward a Real Time Understanding of Emerging Vulnerability”) that brought together UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNWTO, ILO, UNSPIDER, WFP, UNODC and UNESCO to share key findings of 9 projects Global Pulse funded investigating the impacts of the 2009 crisis on vulnerable populations.
• HunchWorks Prototype. With more than 300 pages of designs, and with tremendous external support from volunteer software developers, Global Pulse completes the first working prototype of Hunchworks, the first open source tool in the Global Pulse Technology Toolkit.
• Strategic Plan for 2 Pulse Labs.  With the support of donors, UN agencies, and the Governments of Indonesia and Uganda, Global Pulse completes the scoping phases and develops strategic plans for the launch of the first two Pulse Labs in the network.
• Launch of Pulse Lab Jakarta. Pulse Lab Jakarta begins applied research by conducting a series of proof-of-concept projects in collaboration with UN and government partners, and sharing findings and any resulting technology prototypes.
  

2013-2014

• Launch of Pulse Lab Kampala. Pulse Lab Kampala begins applied research by conducting a series of proof-of-concept projects in collaboration with UN and government partners, and sharing findings and any resulting technology prototypes.
  
• Applied Research & Development. Global Pulse establishes a mechanism for joint research that brings UN agencies with programmatic needs together with cutting-edge data mining partners in the private sector and academia.
• "Big Data for Development" Partnerships. Global Pulse forges global and country-level partnerships with private sector partners with the requisite technology, expertise, and data to contribute to R&D and the Technology Toolkit.
  
• Data Philanthropy Initiative. Through consultations and partnerships, development of a global strategy for convening private sector partners to develop a model for safely sharing real time data from the private sector support evidence-based policy action.

2015-2016

•  Pulse Lab Network.  With at least 3 Pulse Labs launched, labs are sharing analytical methodologies and key innovations in relevant technologies to support institutional partners in the adoption of real-time data into their decision-making and monitoring.
  
• Real-Time Monitoring Framework. Building from continued joint research on real-time monitoring with governments, UN agencies, private sector and academia, publishes compilation of methods papers. 
• Pulse Lab Cookbook. Cookbook, capturing lessons and best practices in analysis, technology innovation, community engagement and partnerships to support government use of Big Data for real-time development monitoring and planning.
• Technology Toolkit.  Integrated suite of free and open source technology tools for data collection, analysis, and decision support made available to the global community.
• Data Philanthropy Network.  Global Pulse assembles a global network of public and private sector partners sharing data through a secure network to support real time tracking of development.