Welcome to GeoPov
🌍 We are a group of development economists and geospatial enthusiasts working at the intersection of poverty, place, and policy. At GeoPov, we believe that where people live matters just as much as how they live — and we’re here to make sure that spatial realities are part of the poverty dialogue.
🎯 Our Goal
To develop a global agenda that:
- Empowers economists by integrating geospatial data and spatial analysis into country-level diagnostics and policy engagement.
- Contributes to global knowledge that helps design local solutions grounded in data and spatial context.
Latest News
Feb 2026: Seminar on AI-Assisted Data Analysis workflow with Positron and Copilot—materials and slides now available in seminars/seminar-2026-02.
November 2025: GeoPov team seminar on Geocoding GMD.
🧭 What We Do
Our work is organized around three main pillars:
Pillar 1: Spatial Analysis
We apply a geographic lens to pressing policy questions on poverty and inequality. Whether it’s identifying where jobs are (and aren’t) for the poor, mapping urban deprivation, or analyzing rural income dynamics, we use spatially disaggregated data to generate actionable insights. This includes household surveys, censuses, administrative records, private sector data, and satellite-based remote sensing — covering everything from climate and land use to infrastructure and conflict. We also develop and share open, reproducible code and tools that can be adapted across countries and topics.
Pillar 2: Knowledge and Data Center
We bring clarity to the what, why, and how of using geospatial data in poverty analysis. This pillar focuses on:
- Building a curated repository of geospatial data sources and methods, with clear guidance on how they can (and can’t) be used in applied work.
- Showcasing examples of microeconomic analyses that successfully integrate geospatial data to answer real-world policy questions.
Pillar 3: Capacity Building
We help demystify geospatial data for microeconomists. Through hands-on trainings and peer-learning events, we build core skills for microeconomists to use geospatial methods with confidence. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your toolkit, we’re here to support you through our growing Community of Practice.
👥 Meet the Team
We’re a global multi-disciplinary team in the Distributional Impact of Policy under the Prosperity Vice Presidency. We combine expertise in microeconomic analysis, spatial economics, and data engineering.
Who we are:
- Curious minds who ask “where”, “who”, “what” and “why” together
- Passionate about open data, open code, and inclusive analytics
- Believers in the power of maps and evidence to drive better policy
🤝 Get Involved
- Browse our seminars for recordings and materials
- Reach out to our team
- Report issues or suggest improvements to our code and materials on GitHub issues