Two people meeting over a laptop

Living inventory of AI-enabled digital evidence-synthesis tools

Overview

Evidence synthesis gives us rigour in learning from scientific studies, from UN and multilateral development bank (MDB) evaluations, and from other sources using systematic and transparent approaches.

Artificial intelligence (AI) gives us speed.

AI-enabled living evidence syntheses are the way to deliver localized, actionable insights with both rigour and speed.

However, there is a large and growing number of AI-enabled digital evidence-synthesis tools (AI-DESTs) available. Some may help with discrete tasks in an evidence-synthesis workflow (e.g., study selection). Others purport to help with many or all tasks. It can be hard to know how any given tool performs in the tasks for which it was designed.

In July or August 2026 we will be launching a procurement process for a living inventory of AI-DESTs. Our goal is to support those undertaking developing and maintaining AI-enabled living evidence syntheses to:

  • make informed choices about which AI-DESTs to use in which tasks
  • improve reporting about which tools were used, for which tasks, in a given synthesis and why.

In the meantime, we encourage people to make use of key interim resources.

Building on all of this, the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UN Partnerships) and ESIC announced a partnership to launch AI Commons—a global, open-source repository showcasing AI applications for sustainable development. Leveraging our expertise in evidence hubs and open data systems, AI Commons will provide freely accessible case studies illustrating how AI is utilized by a wide range of development stakeholders. Each case study will profile any available data about the AI application’s performance and evidence about whether the application is addressing an approach that the evidence has found supports SDG achievement. The platform will also include collaboration tools designed for developers, researchers and policymakers, ensuring that the benefits of AI advancements reach everyone, everywhere, simultaneously. Subject to decisions about year-2 foundational investments, we are also exploring the procurement of AI Commons.