The goal of OPAL (for “Open Algorithms”) is to unlock the potential of data collected by private organisations to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around the globe, through safe, open and fair technological and governance systems. 

Currently, the use of big data --collected by private companies-- for research and policy purposes is hampered by legitimate ethical and commercial sensitivities. The idea behind OPAL came out of the need to develop a new paradigm for using private data for social good, towards a vision where data is at the heart of fairer and more efficient 21st century social contracts and systems.

The OPAL concept aims to combine a state-of-the-art privacy-preserving technology and a participatory governance system as well as capacity strengthening activities. It has been envisioned as a framework that enables public-private data collaborations where data can be fostered to provide an accurate picture of human reality to official statisticians, policymakers, businesses, and citizens, with governance, ethics and privacy as the essence of the work.