Strengthening inclusive open data systems in Africa and Southeast Asia
In Africa and Asia, open data is increasingly regarded as an important tool to address complex development challenges. For example, the urgency and scale of the COVID-19 crisis has led some governments to open and share relevant data to enable evidence-based policy, support accurate reporting around the crisis, and inform inclusive social and economic recovery measures. However, there are still many challenges to realizing the benefits of a data-driven approach, including the need to build capacity among key stakeholders, support effective policies and practices, and learn from data innovations. There is a need to specifically address the lack of inclusive, disaggregated data on issues meaningful to women. This project will explore data infrastructure, governance, and use issues, building on the past research and action from the Open Data for Development Network.
In Africa, specific focus will be on building capacity and model policies with governments, availability of data in Africa, and the potential to explore innovative uses, like fighting against corruption. The project will also examine data innovation at the intersections of gender, education, food security, and climate change, with a focus on action to address the challenges brought by COVID-19 and the African locust swarm. Finally, it will explore the role that increased transparency of political party data might play in women’s political party leadership.
In Asia, the project will explore how collaborative approaches to technology development and machine learning can improve parliamentary transparency and access. The project will explore indigenous data sovereignty and management as well as working with women in local communities to use open data to defend their rights to water access and food sovereignty. The project will also support capacity building and data use for governments and civil society stakeholders and contribute to policy approaches to increase transparency and responsible release of high-quality data.
This project builds on the Open Data for Development (OD4D) program, a global network that uses data to promote social good. OD4D is supported by IDRC, Global Affairs Canada, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Project ID
109518
Project Status
Active
End Date
Duration
24 months
IDRC Officer
Katie Clancy
Total Funding
CA$ 614,288.00
Location
Cambodia
Ethiopia
Indonesia
Kenya
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sierra Leone
Thailand
Viet Nam
Programs
Open Data for Development
Institution
East-West Management Institute
Institution Website
Institution Country
Kenya
Project Leader
Muchiri Nyaggah
Institution
Local Development Research Institute
Institution Website
Institution Country
United States
Project Leader
Pyrou Chung
Institution
East-West Management Institute, Inc.
Institution Website
Outputs
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Mekong women in open data in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam : overall trends, case studies, what next? Brief
The research highlights significant inequalities in the open data landscape and in the development sector where data reflect existing privilege, class and race. In Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam) the means to collect, consolidate, and maintain data collection have been developed within male dominated, bureaucratic, hierarchical systems. Equitable access to meaningful data and information is at the core of the Open Development Initiative mandate. The pervasiveness of lived impacts of gender inequalities requires cross‐cutting changes at a systemic level, from multiple perspectives at once. All four countries face challenges due to poverty and inequality, low accountability, transparency and lack of governance. Author(s): Chung, Mia, Chung, Pyrou Language: English |
Women and rivers storytelling platform : initial findings report : users and features Brief
Women leaders in water governance in the Mekong region include community leaders, activists, and members of civil society. Because networking and discussion spaces (both on- and offline) are typically male-dominated, women face barriers in participating, which results in a gap in the usefulness of digital and technologically-focused tools. As a form of knowledge co-production with elements of participatory action research, the production of this online platform has the potential to empower women and help build their technical and leadership capacity. This project brief traces activities in preparation and production of the platform. Author(s): Delfau, Karen Language: English |
Filling data gaps to support access to civil rights in the Mekong Region Brief
The statistical invisibility of vulnerable populations in Myanmar and the Mekong region limits their access to COVID-19 related relief, and hence their access to civil rights during the pandemic. The paper examines inequalities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and how to address gaps in data that lead to invisibility and further marginalization. Efforts to support marginalized peoples to access their digital rights helps amplify their voices in their advocacy for increased realization of civil rights. Author(s): Open Development Mekong Language: English |
ວຽກງານດ້ ານຂມ ເພດຍງ ໃນພາກພ ບົດລາຍງານບໍລ ິ ຫານຂອງລາວ Brief
Author(s): Open Development Initiative Language: Lao |
Cambodia : Mekong women in open data Brief
Author(s): Open Development Initiative Language: Khmer |
Phụ nữ Mê-kông vàdữ liệu mở báo cáo Việt nam Brief
Author(s): Open Development Initiative Language: Vietnamese |
Open data risk assessment toolkit : version 1.0 - user guide Training Materials
The assessment framework is intended to assist civil society organizations (CSOs) in determining: the data assets contained in a dataset; internal and external benefits to each data user upon possession of the data asset; risk factors and their level of severity; and a mitigation plan to deal with the risks. This user guide provides a step-by-step “how-to” for the open data risk assessment toolkit, along with risk mitigation strategies. Author(s): Language: English |
Indigenous peoples' data during COVID-19 : from external to internal Article
This paper explores the particular issues that COVID-19 has highlighted for Indigenous Peoples, focusing on governance. While Indigenous Peoples need timely, relevant, high-quality data to inform their own pandemic response, the collection and use of such data are not without risk. Global disease trackers quantifying the size, spread, and distribution of COVID-19 illustrate the power of data during the pandemic. There are dual concerns about the availability and suppression of COVID-19 data: due to historic and ongoing racism and exclusion, publicly available data can be both beneficial and harmful. Indigenous Data Sovereignty draws upon the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Author(s): Carroll, Stephanie Russo, Akee, Randall, Chung, Pyrou, Cormack, Donna, Kukutai, Tahu Language: English |
Monitoring the impact of Covid-19 on civil society organizations in data ecosystems across Sub-Saharan Africa : highlights from a survey of CSOs in data ecosystems across Sub-Saharan Africa Brief
Civil society organizations (CSO) within data ecosystems have been affected due to measures put in place to contain/lockdown the COVID-19 pandemic. Data Ecosystems are complex networks, infrastructure, analytics and applications in which various actors interact and collaborate with each other to find, capture, archive, analyze, publish, consume, or reuse data as well as to foster innovation. There have been disruptions in CSO activities and stakeholder engagements, most of which were previously face-to-face, resulting in delays in program implementation, as well as challenges in accessing consistent up to date data on the pandemic and its impacts. The presentation provides details. Author(s): Werimo, Victor Language: English |
Drivers of data for development : exploring the factors that enable availability and utility of open data for development in Africa Brief
This paper provides evidence regarding creating an enabling environment for the implementation of successful, adequately resourced open data for development (OD4D) initiatives in Africa, that can catalyse sustainable development outcomes. It also examines the barriers to OD4D, with examples from country case studies. The World Bank defines development data as the data produced by country vital statistics systems (census, national statistical offices, government ministries and agencies) on a country’s social, economic and environmental issues. Creating an enabling environment for the publication and use of data for development is critical for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development outcomes in Africa. Author(s): Lansana, Amos Simche, Migisha, Claude, Minjire, Dickson, Juma, Linet, Adan, Sulekha, Alemu, Worku Language: English |