APRU Social Impact Data Science Accelerator (SIDSA)
APRU Social Impact Data Science Accelerator (SIDSA)
Leveraging AI and Data for Inclusive Growth
Period: July 2025 – May 2026
Application Deadline: June 30, 2025
While cutting-edge companies and well-resourced governments are increasingly adopting data science to enhance their services, many social impact organizations (SIOs) in less developed regions still lack the tools and talent to fully harness the power of data.
The APRU Social Impact Data Science Accelerator (SIDSA) is set up as part of data.org’s APAC Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN) to empower SIOs in Southeast Asia (SEA) to leverage data science by connecting them with academic-led student teams from leading universities. Together, they co-develop practical, data-driven solutions tailored to real-world challenges as set out in the project’s use cases.
The SIDSA aims to improve decision-making, amplify impact, and build long-term data capabilities within SIOs. The initiative focuses on advancing financial inclusion and economic resilience through solutions that are ethical, feasible, and grounded in operational realities. Participating SIOs in SEA have been selected through a combination of self-nomination and referrals.
For this SIDSA, we are seeking teams to collaborate with selected Southeast Asian SIOs in the main implementation period from July to December 2025.
Teams will consist of a lead academic, a core group of at least 3 undergraduate or graduate students, and may additionally include research assistants and postdoctoral fellows (see the “How to Apply” section for details).
Application Deadline: June 30, 2025
Objectives
Teams will work closely with SIOs to develop data science solutions that address one or more of the following key challenge areas:
1. Strengthening Inclusive Financial and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Develop data-driven tools that enable personalized engagement, enhance financial literacy, and support long-term impact tracking for rural entrepreneurs.
2. Advancing Data-Driven Decision-Making for Community Impact
Create integrated data systems and real-time monitoring tools to support evidence-based planning in food security and livelihood programs.
3. Enhancing Equity and Accountability in Sustainable Value Chains
Use data to assess progress toward inclusion, transparency, and sustainability in certification or supply chain systems—improving how support, pricing, and commitments are tracked and communicated.
4. Supporting Business Model Transitions in Social Impact Systems
Design data schemas, digital tools, and reporting workflows that help mission-driven enterprises shift from informal, manual processes to legally recognized, app-based operations.
*All of the workshops and meetings will be conducted online.
For more information: https://www.apru.org/event/apru-social-impact-data-science-accelerator-sidsa/
