Making space to play with AI
Despite growing confidence in AI, there’s more appetite than ever to experiment with and learn about it in safe, low-risk ways. Here are three ways we've been intentionally creating space to play with AI.
Turning Banana Waste into a Solution for Yam Loss
Can banana-fibre paper reduce nematode-related losses in white yam production in northern Ghana? Our two discovery reports outline the promises of a novel nature-based solution and the practical steps towards real-world adoption.
AI Early-Warning Systems to detect Forest Fires
What happens when climate-driven forest fires outpace the capacity of existing fire detection and response mechanisms? Our pilot in Pakistan looked at how AI can enable early-warning systems for forest fires. Read the findings here.
DNA Sequencing for a Frontier Approach to Biodiversity Protection
Tackling the illegal wildlife trade is made harder by the limited tools to accurately identify species and determine their origin. Our MinION pilot in Colombia looked at portable DNA sequencing for better wildlife protection.
How AI can detect faults in broken WASH infrastructure
Gaps in WASH asset data mean that broken water points often go undetected, disproportionately affecting remote and marginalised communities. This pilot looked at how AI-assisted validation could strengthen oversight and ensure WASH infrastructure issues are addressed before they escalate.
Finding and supporting those ‘left behind’ in urban public health systems
Rapid digitisation of local health systems risks leaving behind those most in need of services. This report examines how practical digital features can improve visibility of vulnerable patients and support more equitable outreach.
What does AI mean for data analysts in government (and beyond)?
Driven by the rise of AI tools and the explosion of the global datasphere, governments are facing a rapid shift in how data is created and used. This blog examines the new skills and organisational changes needed for governments to use AI for data analysis responsibly and effectively.
Five Failures from the Frontier
The tiny tweaks, big-time losses and moments that lead to better solutions for those who need them most.
Why failure matters
Four years ago, we wrote about failure as something to minimise. Today, we celebrate it as our most valuable asset.
Beyond the Carbon Hype: the real costs and opportunities of carbon markets in the Sahel
Can carbon markets really fund land restoration in the Sahel, or are we chasing unicorns? Our Drylands pilot uncovered the hurdles, opportunities, and tech innovations shaping this critical question.
How Bamboo and Straw Could Transform Sustainable Housing
Concrete and other high-carbon materials dominate construction, driving up emissions and costs. This report explores how bamboo and straw could offer scalable, low-carbon alternatives for sustainable housing in resource-constrained regions.
From London's Lessons to New York's Gaps: the Conversation on Climate
London Climate Action Week doubled in size this year, signalling greater global engagement with climate solutions. But as the conversation heads to New York, many of the voices that matter most may be notably absent.
From scripts to systems: where health chatbots add value
Health chatbots don’t succeed because they’re clever, but because they’re embedded in trusted systems with clear referrals to real people at the right time. Here’s what we’ve learned over six years of pilots.
Closing the Data Gap: Digital Public Infrastructure for Forest Risk Commodities
Emerging due diligence and traceability requirements across forest commodity supply chains risk excluding smallholder farmers and producers. This report looks at the potential for open data tools to demonstrate compliance.
Interpretating nature by sight and satellite
One tech stack and decades of lived experience to locate clandestine graves.
Technological responses to disappearance in Mexico
Insights from a panel at Pembroke College, Oxford: a Pioneer, a technologist, two forensic archaeologists, an artist and a searching sister.
How can AI help us improve aid effectiveness?
AI is poised to transform international development. This is true not just in partner countries and local contexts, but also in how development itself is delivered. This blog introduces our AI-powered tool called DevExplorer, which makes it faster and easier to extract insights from global development data.
Discovery summary: using AI to accelerate access to justice in Malawi
Budgetary constraints and high case backlog pose significant challenges for Malawi’s legal system. Our discovery report contains research findings on how AI can improve efficiency and enhance access to justice within Malawi.
Experiment: AI-based sentiment analysis of news articles about Malaysian politicians
Amid growing voter disillusionment, this pilot explored whether an AI- powered platform could increase political transparency and trust by analyzing media sentiment toward Malaysian politicians. Read on to find out how LLMs could reshape how we engage with democracy.
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: How Malawians Are Championing AI to Revolutionize the Legal Sector
Our AI Legal Assistant pilot aims to incorporate AI as a tool to enhance the Malawian judicial process, reducing case backlog. Read on for the pilot team’s findings from the discovery phase.
