In a context marked by uncertainty and the urgent need for agile responses, Data Futures positions itself as an intelligence hub that enables the exploration of the implications of various policy combinations before implementation. This forward-looking capability is key to reducing risks, identifying externalities, and anticipating distributed impacts across different scenarios and regions.

The platform is structured around six thematic focus areas: energy, environment, gender equality, governance, poverty and inequality, and resilience. Each area gathers data and research connecting multiple sources to allow a systemic reading of phenomena, from climate planning to internal displacement patterns and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Among its featured products are the GeoHub, the SDG Push Diagnostics, the Trends and Signals Explorer, and the SIDS Data Fitness Tracker. These tools allow users to visualize complex patterns, contrast evidence, and generate real-time inputs for the formulation of evidence-based public policies. Additionally, the platform fosters collective learning through sections like "My DFx," a safe space for internal collaboration among offices and partners.

The initiative is supported by multiple UN agencies and strategic allies such as Microsoft, IBM, GIZ, and the European Commission, reinforcing its value as a digital public good and as an example of interagency cooperation for development.

Essentially, the Data Futures Platform constitutes a central pillar in UNDP’s vision for a more anticipatory, participatory, and data-driven governance of development. Its design aims not only to strengthen informed decision-making but also to democratize access to strategic information, enabling data to become a driver of transformation and sustainability for countries and communities worldwide.

This article was originally published in: https://data.undp.org/