Media Party and The World Bank launch the Data 360 Global Challenge 2026 to tackle information integrity
Terms and Conditions:
1. Description and Objective
Media Party, in partnership with the World Bank, announces the “Data 360 Global Challenge.” The objective is to develop next-generation verification technologies that strengthen information integrity and combat digital manipulation. Participants are required to create tools that utilize the World Bank’s Data360 API as a foundation of verified data to authenticate information and restore public trust.
2. Strategic Context: Data360 and AI Readiness
This initiative represents a new and dynamic approach to leveraging Data360 usage by a range of technologists, data “power users”, news media, think tanks, and developers from across the world, with an emphasis on data quality, authoritative data sourcing, and AI-readiness — this is likewise an experimental approach, to identify insights and opportunities for World Bank replication, and emphasizes data and information integrity for decision- and policy-making, as AI capabilities continue to grow and where accurate/reliable/trustworthy data discoverability and LLM interpretability rise to the level of mission-critical priorities for the World Bank Group and our country clients, including to advance the new One World Bank Group effort to become a bigger, better ‘knowledge bank’ (as well as an effective, reliable ‘data bank’).
3. Participant Eligibility
- Profile: The call is open to entrepreneurs and civic technologists worldwide.
- Teams: Both open-source projects and commercial ventures are welcome to participate.
- Project Status: Teams may build on existing projects or start from scratch. However, they must demonstrate substantial new development or specific features specifically addressing information integrity using World Bank data. Teams must clearly document which components are pre-existing and which were developed for this challenge.
4. Execution Schedule (Key Dates)
The Challenge will be governed by the following strict timeline:
- Launch and EOI Opening (Expression of Interest): February 15, 2026.
- Submission Deadline (EOI): April 20, 2026 (Midnight).
- Finalist Announcement of Pre-Selected projects: Mid-April 2026
- Prototype Phase (“The Build”): April 15 – May 31, 2026.
- Data360 Usability Workshop: May 8 – 10, 2026 (at Media Party New York). (optional)
- Final Prototype Submission: May 31, 2026.
- Jury Evaluation: June 1 – 3, 2026.
- Winners Announced: June 15, 2026.
5. Thematic Areas (Tracks)
Teams must focus their solutions on at least one of the following areas, utilizing verified official data:
Challenge Focus Areas: Bridging the Gap Between Data and People
We are looking for tools that turn complex technical data into clear, public knowledge. Participants should choose one of the following paths to help strengthen the way the world accesses and trusts information:
- The “Data Dialogue” (Conversational Access): AI-powered tools that allow journalists and citizens to “chat” with World Bank indicators. The goal is to let anyone ask a question in plain English—like “How has female labor participation changed in the last decade?”—and get an instant, accurate answer based on official data.
- Instant Visual Stories (Data Integration): Raw numbers don’t tell stories; visuals do. We are looking for “plug-and-play” tools that help newsrooms transform World Bank data into beautiful, interactive graphics instantly. The challenge is to make high-level economic data as easy to embed in a news story as a YouTube video.
- Shielding the Pipeline (Secure Infrastructure): Trust starts at the source. We are looking for technical “shields” that protect the flow of information from the API to the end-user. This is about building a secure, clean tunnel for data so that it cannot be intercepted or manipulated before it reaches the public.
- A “Digital Passport” for Facts (Cross-Platform Verification): When a chart goes viral on social media, it often loses its source and context. We need systems that act like a “passport” for data, traveling with the information wherever it’s shared. This ensures that a user on any platform can click back and verify the original, official source in one step.
- Permanent Source Seals (Decentralized Provenance): Using technology like blockchain or cryptography to give data an unchangeable “birth certificate.” We want to create a permanent record of what was published and when. This allows readers to confirm that the numbers they see today are exactly what was originally released, with no hidden edits or tampering.
- The Wildcard (Open Innovation): The future of transparency isn’t limited to these categories. If you have a unique idea that uses official development data to make information clearer and more reliable, this is your space to show us what’s possible.
6. Methodology and Phases
The challenge consists of two mandatory phases:
- Phase 1 (Expression of Interest): (Expression of Interest): Teams submit a brief concept proposal (maximum 2000 characters), relevant experience, and development plan.
- Phase 2 (Prototype Development): Only selected teams (“Finalists”) advance to this stage. They will have two months to build and refine solutions, with access to World Bank API credentials, technical mentorship, and support from Media Party advisors.
7. Technical Requirements and Intellectual Property
To guarantee public impact, the following conditions are mandatory:
- Public Access: All solutions must ensure that core verification functionality remains publicly accessible and documented
- Verifiability: Any integration with World Bank Data360 must be documented in a way that enables independent verification.
Licensing Requirements:
– Open-source projects: Must use an OSI-approved license (MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL, or similar)
– Commercial projects: Must provide free access to core verification features for newsrooms and non-profit organizations, with clear documentation of functionality differences between free and paid tiers.
– All projects: Must publish API integration documentation and data provenance methodology under Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0)
– Teams retain full ownership of their intellectual property
Section 8: Evaluation Criteria.
An international jury comprising media leaders, technology experts, and World Bank representatives will evaluate final submissions.
Evaluation Process:
– Each submission will be evaluated independently by at least 3 jury members
– Jury decisions are based on the criteria outlined above but are final and not subject to appeal
– Teams may request general feedback after winners are announced
– Jury members will recuse themselves from evaluating projects where conflicts of interest exist
The scoring will be based on the following six core dimensions:
- Innovation & AI Readiness
- Does the solution propose a novel approach to information integrity, or is it merely a derivative of existing tools?
- Substantial new development includes:
- Novel algorithms or verification methodologies
- New user interfaces or workflow integrations
- Significant architectural changes to support Data360 integration
- Teams building on existing projects must submit a technical addendum documenting the distinction between pre-existing and challenge-specific work.
- Evaluators will look for “substantial new development” rather than minor tweaks to pre-existing projects.
- High scores will be given to projects that demonstrate advanced “AI-readiness,” specifically in how they address LLM interpretability and the discoverability of trustworthy data in an AI-driven landscape.
- Effective Use of World Bank Data360
- Mandatory Integration: The solution must utilize the Data360 API as a core component of its verification or storytelling engine.
- Depth of Integration: The jury will assess whether the API is used merely as a static reference or if it is dynamically integrated to authenticate information, sanitise inputs, or ground AI outputs in authoritative data.
- Verifiability: The integration must be documented in a way that allows independent verification of the data provenance.
- Potential Impact on Information Integrity
- Does the tool effectively address the crisis of trust or the proliferation of digital manipulation?
- The project should demonstrate a clear theory of change: how it restores public confidence, validates facts, or combats specific threats like “AI hallucinations” and “flawed synthetic data” in decision-making processes.
- Real-World Applicability
- Is the solution practical for immediate use by its target audience (journalists, newsrooms, think tanks, or policymakers)?
- The jury will evaluate the user experience (UX) and whether the tool solves a specific, urgent workflow problem (e.g., “deadline pressure” for newsrooms) rather than being a theoretical exercise.
- Feasibility & Technical Robustness
- Is the prototype technically sound? Does it have a functioning architecture that handles data securely?
- For the “Secure Data Infrastructure” track, specific attention will be paid to API security layers and input sanitization.
- The timeline for moving from prototype to a “production-ready” state will be evaluated.
- Reusability & Scalability (Public Good)
- Replication Potential: Can this solution be replicated in other regions or sectors? The World Bank views this challenge as an “experimental approach” to identify insights for global replication.
Open Access: To serve as a “global public good,” the core verification functionality must remain publicly accessible.
9: Recognition and Support Package
The selected solution will receive a comprehensive support package and a small initial subsidy (from USD 5,000) designed to maximize impact and accelerate development.
World Bank Strategic Partnership Opportunity: Finalist solutions will undergo strategic review by World Bank technical teams to assess potential for:
- Integration into Bank operations or country programs
- Scaling and replication in other regions
- Pilot implementation partnerships
- Technical collaboration and co-development
Premium Technical Access:
- Extended Data360 API access
- Direct technical support from World Bank data teams
- Priority consideration for future API beta features
Global Platform and Visibility:
- Showcase opportunity at Media Party events (New York, Barcelona, Buenos Aires) reaching 20,000+ media professionals, investors, and technology leaders
- Featured coverage in Media Party publications and partner networks
- Presentation slots at related World Bank and partner convenings
Strategic Network Access:
- Exclusive pitch sessions with potential implementation partners, including newsrooms, think tanks, and development organizations
- Introduction to Media Party’s investor and technology partner network
- Ongoing mentorship from media innovation and civic tech leaders
Innovation Ecosystem Membership:
- Permanent inclusion in Media Party’s information integrity innovation network
- Access to collaborative opportunities with other finalists and alumni
- Priority consideration for future Media Party initiatives and funding opportunities
Additional Opportunities (Subject to Partner Confirmation):
- Cloud infrastructure credits from technology partners
- Legal and business development support
- Potential follow-on implementation contracts with participating organizations
Note: Specific grant amounts and additional partner benefits will be communicated to finalists as they are confirmed. All core benefits listed above are guaranteed for winning teams.
10: Submission Requirements
Teams must submit:
- Working prototype (code repository with installation instructions)
- 5-minute demonstration video
- Technical documentation including:
– Architecture overview
– Data360 API integration methodology
– Security and data handling protocols
– Development timeline showing challenge-specific work
- User guide or documentation for target audience
- Brief sustainability/maintenance plan
Submissions must be in English. User-facing tools may support multiple languages.
11. General Provisions
– Teams may include 1-10 members
– One team member must be designated as primary contact
– By submitting, teams agree to have their projects showcased by Media Party and World Bank (with attribution)
– Teams retain all intellectual property rights to their work
– Organizers reserve the right to disqualify submissions that violate terms or engage in unethical practices
– Winners will be selected by jury decision, which is final
– Organizers may adjust timeline by up to 2 weeks if necessary, with notice to participants
Media Party is an NGO that promotes media innovation through the application and creation of digital tools, and fosters a global community that generates solutions for an information ecosystem with journalistic criteria that is sustainable and trustworthy.
We build capacity, develop talent, accelerate projects and influence public policy trough events, education and incubation.
