What we did
The project
The OLAS Data Platform, initiated by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in collaboration with several international partners, stands as a transformative force in the water and sanitation sector across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Born from the collective commitment at the Latin American Conference on Sanitation (LATINOSAN), OLAS’s goal is to reshape how regional stakeholders access and use data to drive sustainable water management and sanitation improvements aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Commitment to sustainable water and sanitation
OLAS was conceived to address critical gaps in the availability and standardization of water and sanitation data across the region. The platform’s creation was propelled by the San José Declaration, which called for tools and methodologies to enhance the sector’s management; it consolidates disparate data sources into a unified platform to empower policymakers, researchers, and local governments with accurate, actionable insights.
Building a comprehensive data ecosystem
The strategic foundation of OLAS involved developing a technology platform and strategy to standardize data collection, enhance stakeholder coordination, and foster a vibrant research community. The platform streamlines methodologies across countries to ensure comparability and reliability of data, promoting a collaborative environment that aligns sector information with real-world conditions.
The initiative also established the Research and Development Network (RID) which aims to stimulate regional research initiatives that inform policy-making, supported by financial incentives for sectoral studies. To support these goals, our team developed the brand identity based on an established logomark that would form the basis for growing OLAS in the future.
Integrating technology with regional expertise
We developed a digital infrastructure to handle diverse data types and make them easy to consume by experts and non-experts alike. This included advanced visualization, data cleaning, and workflow components to streamline and systematize the management of data and resources.
Collaborative efforts with agencies like UNICEF, AECID, COSUDE, and SWA were crucial in leveraging expertise and securing broad-based support. The launch of RID also marked a significant step towards building a community that promotes continuous research and data-driven decision-making.
Creating regional impact in water and sanitation
The platform has facilitated access to standardized, real-time data, enabling more effective policy formulations and significant improvements in public health and environmental sustainability. Moreover, OLAS has cultivated a spirit of regional cooperation, allowing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to share solutions and collectively advance towards achieving the SDGs.
Since we signed off on the project, OLAS has expanded its reach and built on its analytical abilities; it continues to be a leading resource, driving continual improvements in water and sanitation management across the region.
