Initiatives
Gathering a network of ministers around the continent of Africa, the CollatEd Lab ventures into strengthening the leadership capacities of ministries through instructing on evidence-based, sustainable governance strategies aimed at improving the technical abilities of ministers to accelerate their country’s progress towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The bi-annual program is currently in its development process with its first cohort of 15 ministers; in 2026, CollatEd’s Global Steering Committee will continue to develop a federal-level Long Term Strategic Development Program for its ministerial members.
CollatEd Lab focuses on equipping ministers and government leaders with essential data analysis skills, enabling them to leverage real-time data for evidence-driven policy development. By grouping a team of interdisciplinary leaders—ranging from academics, private sector experts, and NGO leaders to data scientists and policy analysts—CollatEd Lab ensures that ministers receive comprehensive training. This collaborative and unique approach not only empowers policymakers in emerging economies to design and implement data-driven strategies but also addresses gaps in knowledge and identifies discrepancies in data collection. By strengthening data practices and fostering improved data governance, the initiative helps governments craft more accurate, effective policies that address social, economic, and environmental challenges. The data initiative enables African governments to make informed decisions that drive sustainable development, fostering concrete, measurable impacts for national and global progress. This program is currently being prototyped in Rwanda, Libya, Nigeria, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
​CollatEd Lab provides critical tools to identify, address, and prevent public policy issues while fostering high-impact collaborations between the academic, private, and public sectors. With a presence in 111 nations and counting, CollatEd Lab taps into the potential of human-centered policymaking by building viable infrastructure for development in partnership with governments and the UN, aimed at making valuable investments in civil society. CollatEd Lab represents a fundamental advancement in the digital knowledge economy for developing countries, in order to meet modern standards in geopolitical decision-making, sustainability, and social development. The lab’s multi-stakeholder approach overcomes long-standing barriers of distrust between the public and legislators, empowering the academic sector to lead evidence-based policy development. This approach directly addresses infrastructure and development challenges, providing strategic governance recommendations that impact international legislation and reach vulnerable regions where the UN or other large-scale organizations cannot effectively reach.