DEC Development Data Academy

The Data Academy is the World Bank Group's platform for applied learning in data and statistics. We develop and deliver training programs that build practical skills across the full data lifecycle, from survey design and data production to data analysis and visualization, management, and governance.

Operating under the Office of the Chief Statistician, the Data Academy specializes in the context-specific skills that development work demands, drawing on deep institutional expertise to deliver data-focused learning for partners at every level. Our offerings complement the sector-based programs of the World Bank Group Academy by covering the data skills that cut across all sectors and thematic areas.

The Data Academy equips practitioners, policymakers, and researchers working in international development to harness the best available data and data-related technology in practical, responsible, and innovative ways. Our programs are grounded in the real conditions of development work. They address the challenges of producing reliable statistics and insights from incomplete or fragmented data sources, building institutional capacity to collect and use data rigorously and effectively, and translating data into decisions that affect people's lives.

Our public offerings include self-paced eLearning courses and the "Let’s Talk Data" seminar series, and through conferences and special events we convene experts working at the forefront of data for development. Collaborating with partners, we also develop tailored workshops and courses for governments and other stakeholders. To inquire about a program for your institution, please contact us.

Meet the Team

Gero Carletto
Deputy Chief Statistician
Ravi Kumar
Senior Program Officer
Francesca Spagnoli
Senior Learning Specialist
Noemi Caiazzo
Learning Analyst

Our partners >

Browse our self-paced eLearning courses here. These are designed to build practical data skills you can apply directly in your work. Courses cover a range of topics related to development data, from survey design and data quality to visualization and AI-enhanced methods, and are free to access. New courses are added regularly.

Fundamentals of Data Visualization: Crafting Compelling Stories with Data
Discover how to select the most suitable visualizations for specific datasets and communication goals, applying best practices to create clear and impactful visuals.
- REGISTER here
Documenting Development Data Using Metadata Standards
Learn how to create high-quality, standards-based metadata that improves data discoverability, supports reuse, and ensures readiness for AI applications.
- REGISTER here
Foundations in Mobile Phone Data for Policy: Design and Implementation of MPD Initiatives
This non-technical practitioner training course is designed to get newcomers up to speed quickly on using mobile phone metadata for real-world decision-making.
- REGISTER here
Technical Foundations in Mobile Phone Data (MPD) for Policy: Data Pipelines and Data Products
This training program is designed for technical stakeholders involved in creating or expanding the use of mobile phone data for policy in their country context.
- REGISTER here
From data to impact: Strengthening gender statistics across the data lifecycle
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to gender data and their critical role in shaping policies that expand women's access to jobs and economic opportunity.
- REGISTER here
Geographic Considerations in Evaluating Women’s Employment Opportunities: 2026 Edition!
The course equips participants with a comprehensive understanding of how geographic factors influence women's access to employment and business opportunities.
- REGISTER here
Understanding Citizen Data for Better Decision-Making
In this self-paced course, delve into the essential role that citizens play in gathering and using data to shape policies and improve public services.
- REGISTER here
Fundamentals of Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs)
Course participants will learn to comprehend key PPP concepts and data requirements; understand the ICP program; connect PPPs with their uses and applications; and grasp basics of PPP calculation methods and processes.
- REGISTER here
- LEARN more
Global Data Facility Video Series: Putting Innovative Data to Work in Crisis Contexts
Watch this online course to gain practical knowledge based on the World Bank’s experience using geospatial and other ICT tools to collect a broad range of data.
- WATCH the course here
- EXPLORE the course's companion site
Data for Better Lives: A New Social Contract
With this course, explore the 2021 World Development Report (WDR) and learn more about how data can be used for advancing development outcomes.
- REGISTER here
Food Prices for Nutrition: Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet and other Indicators
This course trains users on the construction of diet cost and affordability indicators that focus on access to a healthy diet and other dietary standards.
- REGISTER here

Archived eLearning >

The Data Academy designs and delivers tailored learning programs including workshops, courses, and masterclasses for government entities, think tanks, and development organizations. The programs below illustrate the breadth of our work as a training provider and learning partner.If you are interested in organizing a program for your institution, please contact us.

Past Workshops, Courses, and Masterclasses

• Measuring Wealth in Household Surveys in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Vulnerability Perspective
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Mar. 2026
Partner: École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Économie Appliquée (ENSEA)

• Migration and Development: Concepts and Data
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Mar. 2026
Partner: École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Économie Appliquée (ENSEA)

• A Comprehensive Introduction to the World Bank’s Methods for Measuring Poverty and Introduction to Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP)
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Feb. 2026
Partner: École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Économie Appliquée (ENSEA)

• An Introduction to Sampling Methods for Household Surveys
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Feb. 2026
Partner: École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Économie Appliquée (ENSEA)

• Enhancing External Debt Statistics for Greater Transparency and Sustainability
Vienna, Austria, Jan./Feb. 2026
Partners: International Monetary Fund (IMF), Joint Vienna Institute (JVI)

• Data Mapping and Visualizing Socio-Economic Trends
Abu Dhabi, UAE, Nov. 2025
Partners: Arab Youth Center, Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, Erth Zayed Philanthropies

• Small Area Estimation Using Earth Observation Data
Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 2025 and Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 2025
Partners: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

• Spaceborne EO Technology for Agricultural Data Workshop
Frascati, Italy, Oct. 2025
Partners: European Space Agency (ESA), Center for Development Data, and the 50x2030 Initiative

• Enhancing External Debt Statistics for Greater Transparency and Sustainability
Japan, Apr. 2025
Partners: Government of Japan - Ministry of Finance, the Global Data Facility, and the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP)

• Measuring Wealth in Household Surveys in Low- and Middle- Income Countries
Perugia, Italy, Jun./Jul. 2024 (all materials available on the course page)

• Making Debt Data Transparent and Sustainable Amidst Debt Distress
Perugia, Italy, June 2024

• Leveraging Household Surveys to Close the Gender Data Gap
Perugia, Italy, May 2024

• CPI Innovation and Modernization
Perugia, Italy, July 2023

• Special Topics and Recent Developments in Sampling Theory and Practice
Frascati, Italy, November 2019

• Measuring Income and Wealth through Household Surveys
December 2018

• Survey Solutions and Geo-Referencing
May 2018

• Designing Household Surveys to Measure Poverty
Perugia, Italy, November 2017

• Big Data Analytics

• Using Alternative Data to Assess Immediate Socio-Economic Impacts of Crises, Conflicts and Natural Disasters

• Generative AI and LLMs: An Introduction
Multiple locations, Africa, 2024

Featured

Blog

LLMs could democratize data use

Large language models (LLMs) could revolutionize how people learn and work across the developing world, but only if the right choices are made today on infrastructure, governance, and education.
Blog

Unlocking the power of citizen data

A new eLearning course explores how citizen-generated data can fill gaps in official statistics, elevate marginalized voices, and drive more equitable, responsive governance.
Blog

Data from space and the future of agriculture

Learn about how farmers and policymakers are using geospatial data to boost productivity and food security.

World Bank Group Academy

Data360

Institute for Economic Development

Data Blog

Stay Connected

Upcoming Events

Dec. 8-9, 2026

Join this conference to learn about advances in survey methods for cost-effective and high-quality data collection
Go to the conference page

World Bank Group Academy

The WBG Academy is the institution’s flagship knowledge platform providing practical training on sector-specific development policy and operations issues. The Data Academy offers complementary training on data and statistics as a cross-cutting skill area.
Go to the WBG Academy site

Data Academy

Meet the Team

Past Workshops, Courses, and Masterclasses

Featured

LLMs could democratize data use

Unlocking the power of citizen data

Data from space and the future of agriculture

RELATED

Stay Connected

Upcoming Events

Dec. 8-9, 2026

World Bank Group Academy