Photo Credit: Sarah Orton-Vipond Philippines
What We Do: Build

Technology that Fills Data Gaps

Designed together with end-users, our technical solutions meet the needs of governments and institutions supporting increased transparency and accountability. We focus on getting usable information in front of people who need it, when they need it, and in the most understandable format.

Agile Methodology with a User-Centered Approach

We build thoughtful digital tools through an agile, user-centered process, and deliver stable, powerful systems to inform decisions. All our systems are built using open-source, modular components — making them easy to adopt, maintain, and scale.

Developing Tools for Data Use

Seamless Data Use through Intuitive Design

The DG team implements scalable technologies that intuitively aggregate data and make information accessible. Our builds are based on the DG Toolkit, OC Explorer, or are custom-built. With additional training and hands-on learning, DG creates modern, user-friendly interfaces that ensure system-wide usage.

Beyond Technology for Lasting Change

DG’s open-source data portals are built on an effective foundation. By providing services beyond technology building alone, we address innovation challenges, improve system integration, knowledge sharing, and decision-making outcomes.

Experts in Data Visualization

We work with users to identify the most meaningful way to display complex information – making it more accessible and easier to understand. Our platforms also follow best practices for interactive, responsive, mobile-friendly design.

Advanced Data Analytics

Our systems use high powered analytics and global research to identify corruption profiles, help citizens “follow the money,” and monitor fluctuations in risk. These tools assist governments, citizens, and civil society organizations flag activities for in-depth auditing.

AMP Workshop

Case Studies: Build

DG Toolkit
DG Toolkit

The DG Toolkit, developed internally and continually tested and improved across various projects, is remarkably flexible – both easily customizable and ready-to-launch. Using the DG Toolkit as a customizable ‘base’ from which we will build a system that meets the identified needs and requirements provides a cost-effective, quick way to design a customized system without the cost.

2012 - Present Build
Visualizing Insights on Fertilizer for African Agriculture (VIFAA)
Visualizing Insights on Fertilizer for African Agriculture (VIFAA)

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the lowest fertilizer usage in the world – insufficient to replace soil nutrients lost every year to crop production. To maintain agricultural productivity and sustain farmers, both the government and the private sector in Africa need to better collect, analyze, and use relevant data to encourage fertilizer use. Through the VIFAA Program, we are working with partners on dashboards and tools to improve, manage, and visualize fertilizer data in Africa. VIFAA is a six-year program led by DG in partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Wallace & Associates, and with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

2017 - Present
Aid Management Platform: Uganda
Aid Management Platform: Uganda

We developed an AMP for Uganda in 2014, as an official online database of aid-funded projects and programs. It also acts as a centralized data access point and virtual workspace for the government to manage its resources.

2015 - 2020 Build
Open Contracting Explorer
Open Contracting Explorer

Open contracting aims to publish procurement information in ways that are transparent and accessible. DG’s Open Contracting Explorer is our customizable, streamlined way to do just that –  it’s an open source tool for storing, disclosing, and analyzing procurement data.

2015 - Present Build
Aid Management Program: Côte d’Ivoire
Aid Management Program: Côte d’Ivoire

In January 2014, we began our partnership with Côte d’Ivoire to implement their Aid Management Platform (AMP) supported data use in the country. From the initial implementation, the partnership has grown to have a global impact.

2014 - 2019 Build
Aid Flows Information System: Jordan
Aid Flows Information System: Jordan

DG collaborated with UNDP to implement AMP, referred to in Jordan as the Aid Flows Information System (AFIS), for the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC) of the Kingdom of Jordan.

2017 - 2018 Build

What We Do: Research

Our research provides context and background needed to lay the groundwork for successful projects or to identify where an investment in data could have the greatest impact.

What We Do: Advise

Our understanding of effective data use is informed by years of implementations and provides context and insights that guide global data policy.