Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data

What Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data does

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), operating as GPSDD and Data4SDGs, is a non-profit network organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Washington D.C., with a distributed Secretariat across more than 11 cities including New York, London, Nairobi, Bogota, Abuja, Bonn, Oslo, Valencia, Toronto, and Austin. The organization convenes a network of 700+ partner organizations spanning governments, civil society, academia, private sector, and multilateral institutions across 80+ countries, with the United Nations Foundation serving as fiduciary. Its core function is to broker data partnerships and political coalitions that strengthen national data systems for the Sustainable Development Goals, organized around three development challenges: agriculture and food security, climate and health, and AI in development.

The portfolio of initiatives includes the Power of Data Initiative (national data partnerships in 16+ countries co-led with UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNSD, and UN-CCS), the biennial Global Data Festival (1,376 participants in Nairobi 2026), the Inclusive Data Charter, the Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN) for Africa, the Data Values Project, the Make Inclusive Data the Norm program, and the Citizen Data Collaborative. The organization deploys applied machine learning in country-level programs (crop yield prediction in Senegal, cholera modeling in Nigeria, satellite-based flood and drought monitoring, and ML-assisted official statistics in Colombia) and operates the Data4Dev Resource Navigator, a custom AI retrieval tool. It is funded primarily by grants from the Hewlett Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, UK FCDO, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank Institute, and GIZ.

The business model is grant-funded non-profit: no fees are charged to network participants, and services are delivered free of charge. The go-to-market is community-led, with growth driven by convening events, national-level political engagement, and the production of practical resources (playbooks, e-learning courses, starter packs) that are distributed through the network. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data

Legal name

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data

Website

https://data4sdgs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data is a non-profit network of 700+ organizations across 80+ countries that brokers data partnerships and political coalitions to strengthen national data systems for the Sustainable Development Goals, funded by foundations, governments, and multilaterals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Data Coordination Services

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data, Surveillance & Digital Public Goods Partnerships for Global Health (HLAJAOAN), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Global Health (HLAJAOAD), Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI)

Keywords

• Sustainable development data
• Data governance networks
• Development data partnerships
• Data capacity building
• Inclusive data systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: The organization operates as a non-profit, funded primarily through grants and support from foundations (Hewlett Foundation, Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust), governments (UK FCDO), multilateral organizations (World Bank, Islamic Development Bank), and GIZ. The United Nations Foundation serves as the fiduciary.
2. Partnership Contributions: Partners contribute to the network without formal membership fees; the network provides information-sharing, connection, and visibility benefits in exchange for engagement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) operates as a global multi-stakeholder network of 700+ partner organizations across 80+ countries, convening governments, civil society, academia, private sector, and multilateral organizations to strengthen data systems for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It runs flagship initiatives such as the Power of Data Initiative, the Inclusive Data Charter, the Capacity Accelerator Network, the Make Inclusive Data the Norm program, and the biennial Global Data Festival, and produces practical resources, e-learning, and AI-powered tools such as the Data4Dev Resource Navigator.

Product overview

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data operates as a coordination network rather than a single software product. Its core offering is the Global Partnership Network of 700+ organizations working on data for development. The organization runs flagship initiatives including the Global Data Festival (major annual event), the Power of Data Initiative (national data partnerships across 16 countries), the Inclusive Data Charter, the Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN) for skills training, the Data Values Project with e-learning courses, and the Make Inclusive Data the Norm program. Key focus areas span climate and health, agriculture and food security, and AI in development. A notable AI tool is the Data4Dev Resource Navigator. The organization also produces practical resources including playbooks, starter packs, and guides. These initiatives work together as a portfolio approach to strengthening data ecosystems for sustainable development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Data Festival A biennial flagship convening event bringing together data practitioners, policymakers, funders, and researchers to connect, prototype, and share ideas on data solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Data4Dev Resource Navigator A custom AI tool trained on materials from the GPSDD network and wider data-for-development community that answers questions and directs users to relevant reports, toolkits, guides, and datasets.
• Power of Data Initiative A High Impact Initiative that builds national data partnerships in 16 countries to unlock the data dividend for the Sustainable Development Goals, with research showing an average return of $32 for every $1 invested in data systems.
• Inclusive Data Charter An initiative that brings together governments, civil society, and international organizations to develop and implement commitments for improving inclusive data methodologies within their organizations.
• Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN) A network of data experts across Africa that provides 3-month training programs and 6-month fellowships with placements and peer learning, focusing on climate and health data skills.
• Make Inclusive Data the Norm (MIDN) An international programme designed to embed inclusive development data into national statistical systems and government planning processes, currently supporting Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average return of $32 for every $1 invested in strengthening data systems in low and middle income countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and general.

• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Host partner for Global Data Festival 2026 and co-organizer with Kenya Space Agency. Signed MoU with Safaricom on mobile phone data at the festival.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead of Power of Data initiative, bringing UN system's convening power and technical expertise to national data partnerships.
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead of Power of Data initiative, contributing population and health data expertise to national data partnerships.
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead of Power of Data initiative, providing expertise on child-focused data and statistics for sustainable development.
• United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead of Power of Data initiative, offering statistical standards and methodologies to strengthen national data systems.
• UN Committee of Chief Statisticians of the UN System (UN-CCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead of Power of Data initiative, coordinating statistical expertise across the UN system.
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)generalOthersNetwork partner providing expertise on internal displacement data and monitoring.
• Data4ChangegeneralOthersNetwork partner focused on data-driven approaches to social change.
• INE Cabo Verde (National Institute of Statistics)generalOthersNational statistical office partner supporting data ecosystem development in Cabo Verde.
• Premise DatageneralTechnology or IntegrationPrivate sector partner providing data collection and analytics technology.
• Kenya Space Agency (KSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of 2026 Global Data Festival and Kenya Space Expo & Conference, combining data and space technology for development.
• Colombia National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Colombia's first Citizen Data Framework (Marco de Datos Ciudadanos para Colombia) as part of Make Inclusive Data the Norm initiative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN): Global UN-linked network operating across 130+ countries to mobilize scientific and technical expertise for the SDGs. Directly comparable as a parallel convening network competing for similar foundation funding, country partnerships, and policy influence in the data-for-development space.
• PARIS21 (Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century): OECD-hosted partnership focused on statistical capacity building in developing countries, with a particular emphasis on national statistical offices. Directly comparable mission around strengthening data systems for SDG monitoring, with overlapping funder base and target beneficiaries.
• Open Data Institute (ODI): UK-based non-profit focused on building an open, trustworthy data ecosystem, with particular emphasis on data infrastructure, governance, and capacity building. Comparable as a data-focused intermediary working with governments and civil society on data adoption, though more technology-oriented.
• Data-Pop Alliance: Non-profit coalition focused on using big data and AI for development and humanitarian action, founded by Harvard, MIT, and Overseas Development Institute. Comparable as a data-for-development network leveraging multi-stakeholder partnerships to drive impact in LMICs.
• Development Initiatives: Non-profit focused on producing trusted, independent data and analysis on poverty, inequality, crisis, and development financing. Comparable as a data-for-development organization producing research, tools, and convenings that inform SDG delivery, with overlapping technical analysis team pedigree.
• GODAN (Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition): Multi-stakeholder network of 1,500+ organizations advocating for open data policies in agriculture and nutrition. Comparable as a sectoral convening network of similar scale, with overlapping foundation funding sources (Gates) and government partners.

Regional players

• Cepei: Bogota-based think tank focused on data and evidence for sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Comparable as a data-for-development organization with similar thematic focus; GPSDD's LAC Regional Lead was previously a Program Officer at Cepei, suggesting direct personnel overlap and shared methodology.

Broad incumbents

• World Bank Development Data Group: World Bank's central hub for open development data and statistics, providing global public goods in development indicators and statistical capacity building. Comparable as a major data-for-development player with vastly larger budget; serves as both a GPSDD partner and potential competitor for convening authority.
• UN Statistics Division (UNSD): UN Secretariat entity responsible for global statistical standards, methods, and coordination of national statistical systems. Comparable as the global convening body for official statistics; co-leads GPSDD's Power of Data initiative while retaining authority that could absorb GPSDD's convening role.

Emerging players

• Global Data Barometer: Multi-stakeholder initiative producing comparative assessments of how countries use data for public good. Comparable as a thematic data-governance initiative operating within the same global data ecosystem and donor network, though narrower in scope than GPSDD's full convening role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Data4SDGs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEMg6Vq6XnweunR23ZIDexA
• Facebookfacebook.com/data4sdgs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-partnership-for-sustainable-development-data

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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