The World Bank is launching a competition inviting developers to create apps using its Data Catalog.  Unveiled by the World Bank last April, the Open Data Initiative offers key data sets that are free. This includes the World Development Indicators, Africa Development Indicators, Global Finance Indicators, and Doing Business Indicators.

The competition challenges developers to create software applications, tools, data visualizations or mash-ups – whether web-based, mobile, through SMS, smart phone, desktop, or tablet using the World Bank Data Catalog. Their solutions must address one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be eligible to compete.

The challenge sets out to find an app that will help a community in some way, utilizing the data made available through the Open Data Initiative. It integrates ideas from both the developer and developing communities to come up with new tools and applications. It aims “to reduce global poverty by putting important data into the hands of those who can make a difference in developing countries.”

It’s a good move for the World Bank, encouraging a global take on the benefits of the technology that’s being so heavily created right now.  It also gives the World Bank a chance to gain some recognition for the work it’s able to do, putting its data to use.  In related news, Qualcomm is holding a developer challenge for Android apps utilizing its augmented reality technology.

See here for more details on the competition, and below for a video intro.