In an era of rapid change and increasing mistrust in institutions, open data and the surrounding communities that use it, are working to shift norms and culture to create dialogue and collaboration between governments, civil society and the private sector. Open data – that is freely accessible, standardized, and easily readable data –– can help to increase transparency and accountability for governments, build new business opportunities and support technologies such as artificial intelligence, and also improve services for citizens and increase participation and evidence in addressing key development challenges. The Open Data for Development network of hubs and global initiatives help ensure the release of meaningful data, support the creation of effective policies around data use, and support local innovations that use data in ways that lead to better development in spaces like health, cities, agriculture and education. As the community and the work they are leading has matured, there are new opportunities and entry points to use the open data in meaningful ways to advance development outcomes and the Sustainable Development Goals. New opportunities to advance gender equality using open data are also emerging, such as mapping out how women and girls use government services in order to design more responsive services, and exploring how releasing better data on femicides can be a catalyst for developing new interventions to combat violence against women.
Building on the successful first phase of OD4D (2015-2017), a new phase of the program will leverage this leading global network to address sector specific demands and benefit the most marginalized in the Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. OD4D’s regional hubs will continue to provide technical support for governments, will support the development of relevant open data interventions, and support research into balanced policies, data standards and best practices. Building on a contribution of Global Affairs Canada to the program, the new phase of work will prioritize gender equality in support to Canada`s leadership in the Open Government Partnership, and support scaling of activities in least developed regions.
