Open Data for Development Phase II Operational PAD

Open Data for Development (OD4D) is a global partnership hosted at IDRC. OD4D works with developing countries to harness open data to enhance accountability, create new solutions for the delivery of public services, and create new economic opportunities around the world.

The vision of the OD4D partnership is to harness open data to empower women and men to achieve their own development goals, and to actively participate in decisions affecting their lives. Although OD4D has made strides in supporting open data capacities and solutions in Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and eastern and southern Africa, opportunities for open data to make a difference in Francophone Africa remain scarce.

The new phase of the program aims to extend OD4D’s efforts into Francophone Africa, through institutional and individual capacity building, networking, policy support, research, and innovation seeding. It will also expand the collaboration with the Open Government Partnership, building on Canadian co-chairmanship and focusing on a feminist open government initiative.

As part of the agreement with the Hewlett Foundation, IDRC will provide additional support to the initial phase of an open data regional hub and work with the OD4D network to harness open data to positively impact the lives of marginalized populations, notably focusing on women and girls.