Bixal and Athena Infonomics Form Aṭala Joint Venture to Transform Global Development Through Data-Driven Solutions

Bixal, a leader in human-centered solutions, and Athena Infonomics, a leader in global development consultancy, have announced the formation of Aṭala, a strategic joint venture that combines decades of expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and facilitating adaptive management with cutting-edge digital solutions including AI, knowledge management, data engineering, and programming. Aṭala is positioned to transform how development organizations like USAID leverage data to facilitate adaptive management and help advance global change.

Aṭala, derived from a Sanskrit word embodying integrity, intellectual honesty, and objectivity, brings together Athena's deep-rooted experience in best-in-class research, data, and technology solutions in the Global South with Bixal's global leadership and expertise as a digital innovation and advanced data solutions provider. This combination allows Aṭala to provide customized, culturally specific approaches that ensure the success of USAID programs across diverse global contexts. Carla Briceno, CEO of Bixal, stated that Aṭala represents the best of both organizations, offering a compelling blend of data-driven insights and contextually aware solutions to help USAID and other global partners achieve meaningful, sustainable impact.

The joint venture's core services focus on monitoring, evaluation, collaboration, learning, and adapting (MECLA), ensuring that USAID and other development partners have access to actionable insights spanning real-time and rigorous solutions designed to guide program design and management. Aṭala's team utilizes user-centered design to incorporate cutting-edge technologies such as mobile data collection and AI-guided modeling alongside time-tested techniques including adult-centered learning approaches and utilization-focused evaluation. Michael Minkoff, director of business development at Athena Infonomics, emphasized that Aṭala combines global expertise with local solutions to help USAID and other partners adapt to emerging challenges while making data-driven decisions.

Aṭala's specialized MECLA services align with USAID's mission of promoting global stability, good governance, and improved quality of life for communities worldwide. The venture designs data systems grounded in human-centered design that focus on the decision-making needs of end users, delivers high-quality evaluations that meet USAID's rigorous standards, fosters collaboration across all stakeholders from USAID to local communities, facilitates continuous knowledge sharing and adaptive management techniques, and develops tailored digital tools and data systems using advanced analytics. Aṭala's unique strengths lie in its uncompromising integrity, strong collaborative approach, and deep understanding of the Global South, ensuring solutions are not only effective but also culturally relevant and sustainable.

The formation of this joint venture matters significantly as it represents a strategic response to the increasing complexity of global development challenges, where data-driven decision-making and adaptive management have become critical for achieving sustainable impact. By combining established MEL expertise with cutting-edge digital capabilities, Aṭala addresses the growing need for development organizations to leverage technology while maintaining cultural sensitivity and local relevance. This partnership could potentially set new standards for how international development agencies approach program monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation, particularly in the Global South where context-specific solutions are essential for success.