Last year was the year that development practioners and policymakers embraced 'data for development' as a priority. For many, the sense of urgency was embodied by the High Level Panel's call for a data revolution. Since 2010, the Secretary-General's Global Pulse initiative has been the UN's innovation lab, harnessing big data for sustainable development.
Over the past year, we have focused our efforts on advocating for the responsible use of Big Data, building partnerships for access to real-time data sources, cutting edge data mining tools and data science expertise. At the country level, we continued to expand our network of Pulse Labs to strengthen national and regional capacity for using Big Data. We are pleased to have begun operating our first regional innovation hub in the vibrant East African technology scene with the opening of Pulse Lab Kampala in late 2013. In 2013, our portfolio of innovation projects involved more than 25 partner organizations including UNICEF, UN Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organisation (WHO).
The Annual Report 2013 summarizes this activity and explains how the UN's Global Pulse Labs operate and innovate. You can download the report (3.5MB) or read it below.
