When that forward-thinking group of governments, companies and non-governmental organizations joined forces to form the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data two years ago, they were looking toward a world where the opportunities of the data revolution are available to and for all of humanity, as a force for improving life for all people, everywhere.

It was then, and it is now, a collective endeavor, and the value of the partnership is found within the work that our 280+ partners are doing every day, all around the world, using data to drive progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

The members of this community cover almost every sector and represent governments, businesses, civil society, and beyond. Together, we are leading the data revolution and we are all acutely aware of the important role data can and should play in sustainable development.

But we’re also aware that the message about the importance of data is not the easiest to communicate, and its potential for positive impact is not always blatantly obvious.

Additionally, a slight irony in our technology-forward community is that many of our most important conversations are happening offline, in meeting rooms, and in sector-specific partnerships. This puts us at risk of remaining siloed, excluding groups unable to attend every conference, and potentially wasting time doing work that has already been done.

The challenges may be great, but we also know, after two years of the Global Partnership, that there is huge will and determination to connect and to communicate, and to develop the strong collaborations that will shape the future of the global data ecosystem.

So – with these challenges and opportunities in mind, we’re excited to launch the Global Partnership’s new website.

This website exists for our community to continue sharing knowledge, strengthening links and partnerships, and providing each other with new opportunities for engagement and cooperation. It will bring visibility to our partners and their work, and share the full range of this network’s news, insights, and successes. Together, we will be able to tell the stories that illustrate the tangible impact of the data revolution, and how data innovations are touching lives in the communities where we all work.

The website launch is just the beginning. This site is built for scale – to encompass the breadth of a multitude of projects – and we look forward to capturing the dynamism of this amazing data ecosystem.

It’s vital that each partner page reflects your mission and effectively communicates your projects and your impact. We'll be in touch with each of you over the next few months to work with you to make sure that the website showcases your work in the way you want.

We hope you’ll join us in looking ahead to the Data for Development Festival in March 2018. Between now and the #DataforDevFest, where we'll all meet in person, we can use the new site to hone the stories we want to tell and to get to know our fellow data champions. Then, when we land in Bristol next year, we’ll have all the background information we need to dive straight into the exciting, impact-driven, and collaborative exchange of ideas. We’ll have opportunities to share, learn, play, plan, and analyze, and we’re confident we will emerge from the event with new partnerships and a clear way forward.

So don’t be shy. Let us know what you think and tell us what you’re working on. Share your projects while they’re in progress, so others in the community can pitch in, engage, and share lessons from similar efforts. Don’t wait until something is finished and wrapped up with a bow to talk about it, and don’t hesitate to reach beyond your sector for insight or ideas.

Check back on this space soon – we’re anticipating many exciting updates in the coming months. And of course, as with any new site, we know there may be the odd glitch in these early phases. If you encounter any issue, please tip us off via info[at]data4sdgs.org.