From satellite data to development finance: how Earth observation is scaling impact across World Bank operations Umar SerajuddinChris AubrechtFabio CianDavid TavernerDominic PalazzoloGiulia Costella May 08, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/from-satellite-data-to-development-finance--how-earth-observatio “Data collected for one purpose have the potential to generate economic and social value in applications far beyond those originally anticipated.” This idea, highlighted in the World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives, is increasingly shaping how development institutions think about data. Unlocking that value requires more than availability — it requires systems that enable reuse, integration, and equitable access to the benefits data can generate. © 2026 The World Bank Group,