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Solving humanitarian and societal challenges?

Data analytics to save lives? Reduce hunger? Cut poverty? Unquestionably, we’ve all already seen the tremendous value that analytics can have for the success of commercial organizations. How about humanitarian and societal challenges? As one of ABW’s founders, we believe that analytics can also contribute to solving these kinds of major challenges facing humanity: from hunger, to deforestation, to the extinction of flora and fauna, et cetera.

“There is so much value to be created by applying analytics to the SDGs, the potential is enormous” says Dick Den Hertog, Science-to-Impact Director of ABW and Professor at the University of Amsterdam. That’s why The Analytics for a Better World Institute was officially launched last year, June 2022, founded by ORTEC, the University of Amsterdam (UvA), and Dimitris Bertsimas of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

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Michael van Duijn, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at ORTEC

"“During my 27 years at ORTEC, I have seen how analytics truly makes a difference at companies across the globe”, says Michael van Duijn, CEO at ORTEC. At the same time, it’s frustrating to see that valuable research, technology and knowledge does not easily find its way to non-commercial organizations. And when it does, the tangible impact is often limited.”"

How to make it work?

ABW enables social good, sustainable development and humanitarian aid organizations to scale up the use of analytics, by educating and helping them build strategic roadmaps to grow their analytics capability, carrying out analytics projects and developing new analytics applications and techniques related to the SDGs.

“Over the past 40 years, we have learned that analytics is not ‘just some technical tooling’. You need much more to make data, mathematics, and statistics work in practice”, says van Duijn. “From the science side of things, much has been written about analytics and its role in boosting humanitarian endeavors, but it is rarely applied in practice”, says den Hertog. “To build something real, you need software and business skills. Fortunately, that’s what ORTEC does best, making this the perfect combination.

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Some highlights of ABW’s first year

The past year, the focus of the Analytics for a Better World Institute was primarily on expanding the partner network and running impact projects. At ABW's recent Conference, they reflected on their first year: 'We’re happy with all the contributions and engagement we received from many companies and researchers, and very proud of the successful built up and extension of the ABW non-profit network, and various impact projects and collaborations we’ve been working on so far.' says Robert Monné, Managing Director at ABW. Two impact stories he likes to highlight are Amref and 510/Red Cross:

Amref

Data is an essential enabler for Amref to reach their goal: lasting health change in Africa. By applying data analytics technology, they can increase their impact on the people in need today and influence the policies of tomorrow. Overall, a data-driven approach empowers Amref to effectively tackle critical health challenges and improve healthcare outcomes for the African communities they serve.

Read the full social impact story of Amref
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510/Red Cross

In close pro bono collaboration with ORTEC and Analytics for a Better World, 510/Red Cross took various steps to contribute to their Digital Transformation journey. Thanks to data, they can improve humanitarian aid.

By converting data into understanding, 510 support numerous National Societies to better prepare for and cope with disasters and crises. It's their purpose to improve the speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness of humanitarian aid by using data and digital products.

Read the full social impact story of 510/Red Cross
510 Red Cross ORTEC Analytics for a Better World ABW

About the series ‘Jointly for social impact’

This article is the first one out of the ‘Jointly for social impact’ series: every article will highlight another social impact project done through ORTEC’s and ABW’s collaborations and partnerships. What’s more to come includes for instance: 510/Red Cross improving humanitarian aid through data, the Ocean Cleanup deploying advanced technology to rid the oceans of plastic and collecting data and using analytics to minimize the costs of cleaning up, and Amref creating lasting health change in Africa thanks to data.

Join the movement and make an impact

For more information on Analytics for a Better World, visit their website, follow them on LinkedIn, or send an email to hello@analyticsbetterworld.org

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Insights

Solving humanitarian and societal challenges | Analytics for a Better World (ABW)

June 2023

This month marks the official first anniversary of Analytics of a Better world, also shortened as ABW. As one of the founders, ORTEC is happy to support in pursuing ABW’s special mission: applying analytics together with non-profit organizations, researchers and companies to make an impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Two important ingredients to make this a success: bringing the brightest minds together, and lots of data.

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Jointly for social impact

This article is the first one out of the ‘Jointly for social impact’ series: every article will highlight another social impact project done through ORTEC’s and ABW’s collaborations and partnerships.

DateJun 27, 2023
ABW - ORTEC - Analytics for a Better World