Advancing the research and application of data science tools to improve policymaking in South Africa.

We work alongside policymakers and societal actors to identify high-impact applications of data science tools that could accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa.

The

CHALLENGE

South Africa faces serious and complex developmental challenges. Using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as framework, South Africa’s recent SDG Report provides a snapshot of the scale of the challenges.

  • Approximately 30 million South Africans live below the national poverty line.

  • South Africa faces the double burden of malnutrition – the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition.

  • The burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases is substantial.

  • More than 80% of grade 4 learners are unable to read for meaning.

  • South Africa has one of the world’s highest number of cases of rape.

  • The quality of South Africa’s drinking water is declining - water in 46% of supply systems is not safe to drink.

  • South Africa faces an energy crisis, marked by persistent outages and soaring costs.

  • Economic stagnation contributes to one of the world’s highest official youth unemployment rates.

  • Inadequate investment in research and development is hampering South Africa’s competitiveness.

  • The country continues count among the world’s most unequal countries.

  • South Africa’s urban pollution levels remain high, in many cases more than double the World Health Organization’s annual mean safe limit.

  • South Africa’s material footprint per person remains high and has not notably decreased since 2019.

  • South Africa is a significant contributor to climate change when considering its per capita greenhouse gas emissions.

  • South Africa is experiencing a troubling rise in ocean pollution, as seen in the rise in phosphorus concentration.

  • Terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems are poorly protected, with only 29.7% and 10.7% coverage.

  • South Africa has a very high murder rate.

  • South Africa’s debt and the related debt servicing costs have been rising consistently – it is expected to stabilise at 73.6% of GDP in 2025/26.

Our

CONTRIBUTION

The Policy Innovation Lab explores the ways in which data science tools can improve policymaking in South Africa across all phases of the policymaking cycle. We do this through dialogue with experts at South Africa’s 26 public universities and stakeholders from the private sector and civil society organizations and leveraging data science to enable the identification and analysis of public datasets for more impactful policies.

The Lab uses a range a methods to help understand the underlying causes of policy challenges and solutions:

  • Multistakeholder dialogues identify opportunities for policy innovation that align with South Africa’s SDG priorities and address pressing societal challenges.

  • Data science dialogues explore relevant datasets that align with South Africa’s development priorities and the SDGs and that could assist with enabling policy innovation.

  • Public engagement initiatives collect and share inspirational stories of policy innovation at all levels of society. We do this primarily through hosting the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers South Africa network.

  • Knowledge products, produced in collaboration with expert academics and government partners, capture and disseminate outcomes of the Lab’s work. We also engage in longer-term research projects to investigate the dynamics related to policy innovation in middle-income countries such as South Africa.

  • Capacity building initiatives focus on enhancing data literacy and analytical capabilities, enabling the effective of data science insights for evidence-based policymaking.

Current

projects

The Policy Innovation Lab works with a network of experts from universities in South Africa and globally as well as with non-academic entities. Our partnerships are centred around the topic of policy innovation. Our projects include research, training and initiatives aimed at achieving social impact. Through this multifaceted approach, we want to support policy innovation to ultimately accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in South Africa and beyond.

  • Supporting policymaking through data science and AI

    • Projects: We collaborate with the South African government on projects that unlock the power of data science and AI for better policymaking. We define, design, and execute these projects to generate valuable insights and drive positive change.
    • Research: We contribute to the ARUA-Guild Cluster of Research Excellence on the politics of sustainable development. Specifically, we leverage machine learning to enhance policy coherence for achieving sustainability goals.
    • Training: Upon request, we develop and deliver tailored training programs that equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to use data science and AI effectively in policymaking. These programs range from foundational concepts to advanced technical topics.

  • Accelerating Progress towards the SDGs

    • Goalkeepers Network: We proudly host the South African network of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Goalkeepers initiative. This network focuses on recognising and celebrating the inspiring efforts of SDG champions across the country, showcasing their stories to motivate further action.
    • SDG Reporting: We support the National Planning Commission in drafting South Africa's 2024 Voluntary National Review (VNR), a crucial report presented to the international community that documents the nation's progress towards achieving the SDGs.