New £1.25m ODI partnership seeks to bring benefits of open data to developing countries
The Open Data Institute has partnered with the World Bank and the Open Knowledge Foundation to help developing countries understand and exploit the benefits of open data.
Launched at the Open Knowledge Conference in Geneva, the three-year project aims to:
- support developing countries to plan, execute and run open data initiatives
- increase the use of open data in developing countries
- grow the evidence-base on the impact of open data for development
The project has an initial budget of $1.25m in year one.
Amparo Ballivian, Lead Economist at the World Bank said: “Open data has already brought extraordinary benefits to people in rich countries. This project will take the benefits of open data to the developing world.”
Tech City News covered the ODI’s quiet growth towards an open data revolution back in May.
Driving positive change
The project will involve assessing the readiness of countries to open up and use their data, training policymakers and civil society, and undertaking research and producing guidelines on the best use of open data.
Laura James, CEO of the Open Knowledge Foundation: “Making government, scientific and other data accessible and usable drives positive change across the spectrum: from health to transport, education to entrepreneurship, culture to community.”
At this stage all developing countries have an equal chance of participating.
Gavin Starks, CEO of the ODI [pictured right] said: “Our partnership with the World Bank and the Open Knowledge Foundation opens up almost limitless possibilities: to share, collaborate and generate value from open data at a global scale.”
Team players
The three founding organisations are looking for other partners to join them on the project.
Interested parties should contact the ODI or Open Knowledge Foundation to find out more.