1. Where We Work

Financing Data-Powered Development

From survey information to satellite pixels, data can power development, spur economic growth, and fuel our progress towards a more sustainable future. That is the vision at the heart of the Global Data Facility, an innovative funding instrument that is revolutionizing the way we finance data.

See how the GDF maximize the impact of data investments to improve people’s lives and safeguard our planet:

Learn more about the Global Data Facility >

Featured

GeoWEAF research article Thumbnails
Research Article

A Comparative Assessment of Spatial Factors Influencing Women's Access to High-Skilled Employment in Albania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye

This study applies the Geospatial Women’s Employment Analytical Framework (GeoWEAF) funded by the GDF to assess how place-based factors shape women’s high-skilled employment opportunities in Albania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye.
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International Debt Report 2025
Publication and Blog

JUST IN: The 2025 edition of the International Debt Report

Dive into the International Debt Report (IDR), the World Bank’s flagship annual publication on debt and read the blog: When relief isn’t enough — LMICs face their largest external debt outflows in 50 years here.
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Global Data Facility Biodiversity guidance space2stats blog
Blog

Conservation in the path of development: new data to guide road corridor investments

This Blog explores how biodiversity loss poses a direct threat to human well-being, economic development, and planetary health. Read more and download the full research paper here.
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Global Data Facility Space2Stats blog admin boundaries
Blog

Mapping progress: How the World Bank is improving access to global administrative boundaries

Read about how the GDF's project Space2Stats is helping produce accurate, up-to-date maps that are essential for understanding the world around us—and for driving smarter, more inclusive development.
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Mobile Phone Data Cohort 2 Workshop
Blog

Dialing up the use of mobile phone data for statistics in the South African Development Community

Imagine repurposing anonymized network data from everyday mobile phones into better statistics that could improve policy. Learn more about how this GDF financed workshop helped South African Development Community do this and more.
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Blog

New poverty estimates: A crucial tool to shape Guatemala’s national development

After a nine-year hiatus, the publication of official poverty estimates for Guatemala is a reality. The World Bank played a key role with the NSO in conducting the 2023 National Life Standards Survey with the support of the GDF.
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GDF Blog on International Comparison Program's 2021 Cycle Result
Blog

JUST RELEASED: New global purchasing power parities (PPPs)

The GDF is proud to announce the release of the International Comparison Program's 2021 cycle results which shed light on global economy and living standards.
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Indermit Gill: GDF was designed to implement the key recommendations and insights from the 2021 World Development Report.
Indermit Gill, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, World Bank Group
The GDF is designed to help the 274 million people who need urgent support due to overlapping global crises.

MULTIMEDIA

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VIDEO

What is the Global Data Facility?

Watch how the Global Data Facility helps improve people's lives and livelihoods and safeguard our planet.

MULTIMEDIA

The Global Data Facility was launched by Haishan Fu during the 2021 UN World Data Forum.
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Watch the official launch of the Global Data Facility during the 2021 UN Data Forum

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Formal launch of the Global Data Facility at the 2021 UN World Data Forum

Unlocking Data for a Better, Greener, Safer Future (Policy briefing) (PDF)

World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives

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