Analytics for a Better World

The Amsterdam Business School and analytics and technology company ORTEC have founded the Analytics for a Better World (ABW) Institute in collaboration with Professor Dimitris Bertsimas of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology The institute will work with NGOs, governments and non-profit organisations to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations such as  no poverty, good health and well-being and climate action using data and analytics.

1 June 2022: Launching conference

On 1 June 2022 (from 14:00-17:10 CET) we organised a launching conference to bring together our key partners, researchers and (potential) sponsors. Our aim is to inspire each other, share ABW’s vision and plans and explore opportunities for collaboration. The event was hosted by the University of Amsterdam, in the new Hybrid Learning Theater. As the space in the theatre is limited, the event was organised in a hybrid setting.

Presentations and slides from this conference 

Below you will find a link to a playlist with the presentations and links to the sets of slides.

Downloads for slides:

1. Slides - Analytics for a Better World - Why? How? What?
2. Elianne Anemaat - It Takes Two to Tango - How Tech Companies and Non-Profit Organisations Can Benefit from Each Other in Achieving the SDGs
3. Joris Wagenaar - Optimal Humanitarian Depot Locations
4. Marc van den Homberg - Creating Impact with Data Analytics for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Preparedness
5. Tinka Valentijn - Getting Predictive Analytics Right - Responsible Analytics in a Humanitarian Context
6. Kai Kaiser - Using Geospatial Planning and Budgeting Platform (GPBP)

Programme of the day (timezone CET)

13:30-14:00:      Walk-in with coffee and tea at central M-hall Amsterdam Business School

14:00-14:10:      Opening (start programme) - Chair Marc Salomon (Dean ABS/UvA)

14:10-14:45:      Presentation of the Analytics for a Better World Institute
Dick den Hertog (University of Amsterdam), Dimitris Bertsimas (MIT) and Robert Monné (Analytics for a Better World)

14:45-15:30:      Keynote presentation 
It Takes Two to Tango: How Tech Companies and Non-Profit Organisations Can Benefit from Each Other in achieving the SDGs - Elianne Anemaat (Disrupt Development and  Amsterdam Data Collective)

15:30-16:00:      Break

16:00-17:00:      Parallel sessions I - Chair Robert Monné (Analytics for a Better World)
•    Optimal Humanitarian Depot Locations - Joris Wagenaar (Zero Hunger Lab)
•    Creating Impact with Data Analytics for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Preparedness - Marc van den Homberg (510 - Red Cross)

16:00-17:00:      Parallel sessions II - Chair Parvathy Krishnan (Analytics for a Better World)
•    Getting Predictive Analytics in a Humanitarian Context: Responsible Analytics in a Humanitarian Context - Tinka Valentijn - Data Scientist (UN OCHA Centre for Humanitarian Data)
•    Geospatial Platforms to Optimize Health Care Access - Kai Kaiser (World Bank) 

17:00-17:10:      Wrap up

17:10:                Closing drinks

Who joined?

-    People from the non-profit, public and NGO sector who want to start creating value with analytics (but don’t know where to start), or have trouble with scaling impact of their analytics initiatives. Thus, NGOs who have the drive, believe, commitment, and willingness to create impact with Analytics on the SDGs;
-    Companies and sponsors who want to join our mission and deliver support through (financial or in-kind) skills, knowledge, technology, licenses, services, funding, or support in any form;
-    Researchers and students who strongly care about our mission and who want to create an impact with their research.

Why should you have joined?

-    To get inspired from impactful stories on using Analytics for a Better World;
-    To learn how to collaborate with ABW and join our mission to apply analytics to contribute to the SDGs;
-    To understand the opportunities of using Analytics for solving critical problems relevant to achievement of SDGs.

Press releases

Please read more about the goals of the Analytics for a Better World Institute at