11 December 2014: The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced it will launch an open data portal on development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in the first quarter of 2015. ‘Numbers for Development,’ a free and open data portal focused on development indicators for the region, will enable users to access and use IDB data on a range of issues, download datasets and create their own data visualizations.

The portal will include comprehensive data on macroeconomics, social inclusion and global integration in 26 LAC countries. An IDB infographic provides information on the relationship between education level and social development in LAC, illustrates how the data can be visualized and shared to improve lives and livelihoods, and shows how the portal will support ‘smart policymaking’ and analysis. Federico Basañes, IDB, stressed the importance of allowing everyone to share, connect and visualize the region’s economic and social data.

The portal is geared towards researchers, students, policy makers, analysts, web developers and others working in development issues and public policy. The IDB is currently seeking feedback on the portal’s beta version for those interested in gaining early access to the data and contributing to the project. [IDB Press Release] [Infographic on Education and Social Development]