That being said, while the scope of data continues to grow, access to this data is not equally distributed. As many individuals and organizations work towards building a world that is sustainable for all, we need to recognize the power inherent in accessing data.

This is where the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data comes in. As a cross-sector initiative of nearly 200 organizations, from multinational conglomerates to international nonprofits, the Partnership’s overall goal is to put data in the hands of decision makers around the world to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From ending poverty to stopping climate change, there are 17 SDGs that are as ambitious in scope as they are vital in shaping a world that supports all life. As the earth’s population continues to grow and we continue to put demands on its resources, these 17 goals are as important as ever.

Over the last few months, Forum One has been working with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data to build a marketplace that connects the supply of data services with the global demand for those very services. Put differently, we are working together to create a market-based approach to fill global data gaps. Sort of like Amazon, but for data.

We’re thrilled to announce that the first iteration of the Data4SDGs Digital Marketplace is now live and we look forward to seeing how people use it. And of course, this is just the beginning. We will continue to work together with the Partnership to further develop and build out this new data marketplace and so that its contribution towards the SDG goals is as valuable as possible.