NAIROBI, Kenya- In a major step toward solving global energy issues, IBM and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have teamed up to launch interactive models on energy, integrated into the UNDP’s global GeoHub platform.
Powered by IBM’s watsonx AI and data platform, these tools promise to bring data-driven insights to some of the most pressing energy challenges worldwide.
UNDP’s GeoHub platform, part of the Data Futures Exchange (DFx), is designed to be a central ecosystem for geospatial data and services.
It allows users to upload, visualize, and analyze vast datasets, combining satellite imagery with geographic and time-sensitive data.
By supporting this type of granular analysis, the platform enables more localized, evidence-based solutions for global development challenges, especially in energy.
At the heart of this initiative is the Electricity Access Forecasting AI model, powered by IBM’s watsonx AI.
This model taps into a wealth of data, from population growth and infrastructure to satellite and land use information provided by IBM Environmental Intelligence.
This project aims to forecast electricity access through 2030 across 102 countries in the Global South, including regions in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East.
But that’s not all. IBM and UNDP, in collaboration with Stony Brook University, have also rolled out the Clean Energy Equity Index.
This tool combines geospatial data with a variety of environmental, economic, and social factors, allowing users to assess and customize which factors most impact clean energy access.
The idea is to empower decision-makers with a more nuanced view of energy equity, which could help drive policies aimed at reducing inequalities in energy access worldwide.
GeoHub users can customize and analyze individual factors through the platform, providing a powerful, user-driven experience that goes beyond typical energy assessments.
By making this dashboard publicly available, IBM and UNDP are equipping communities, governments, and organizations with the insights needed for smarter, data-backed decisions.
Speaking at the launch, IBM’s Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, Justina Nixon-Saintil, highlighted the potential of this collaboration: “Bringing together UNDP’s global leadership in sustainable development with IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI and hybrid cloud, we are proud to unveil solutions that demonstrate the power of technology to make a lasting, positive impact on our environment and communities.”
On UNDP’s side, Laurel Patterson, Head of the SDG Integration Team, reinforced the importance of this collaboration: “The solutions we’ve co-created provide a credible evidence base to help countries make meaningful and practical progress towards a just energy transition.”
By integrating tech and development, IBM and UNDP hope to accelerate net-zero investments and people-centered strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
