Opportunities and Challenges of Big Data and Predictive Analytics for Achieving the UN’s SDGs

The concept of Big Data and related analytics technologies such as predictive analytics are comparatively new, even more so in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and there is a lack of literature that addresses the efficient and effective use of Big Data to achieve the SDGs. In this paper, a SLR on the opportunities and challenges of Big Data and predictive analytics for achieving the SDGs is presented. Individual opportunities and challenges are systematized to thematic areas and assigned to the SDGs. This allows to identify areas of sustainable development where Big Data and predictive analytics techniques contribute and where they are neglected. This paper contributes to research by developing an overview of existing applications and areas of Big Data and predictive analytics systematized in opportunities and challenges for achieving the SDGs. Furthermore an agenda for action for holistically addressing the SDGs in their entirety is provided