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Open Data for Social
Accountability
Social Development Sector Day,World Bank
February 23rd, 2012
Jennifer ShkabaturHarvard University
Open data portals have become abundant. But who uses them?
1. The goals of open data
2. Challenges of open data
Overview
Improved Improved governancegovernanceImproved Improved
governancegovernance
Improved Improved service service deliverydelivery
Improved Improved service service deliverydelivery
Getting the right Getting the right datadata
Getting the right Getting the right datadata
Effectively using the Effectively using the datadata
Effectively using the Effectively using the datadata
Supply ≠ Supply ≠ DemandDemandSupply ≠ Supply ≠ DemandDemand
SolutionsSolutionsSolutionsSolutions
Citizen actionCitizen actionCitizen actionCitizen actionIntermediarieIntermediariess
IntermediarieIntermediariess
Why open data?
Service Delivery
Good Governance
1. Having the right data
2. Effectively using the data
Two challenges
Demand ≢ Supply
The data does not necessarily fit the needs of
civil society
Government is reluctant to
release potentially
sensitive data
Having the right data
The demand cycle for open dataDemand is often driven by
technologists (e.g., Google, Ushahidi, OKFN)
Civil society on the ground is disconnected
Lack of sustainable
interest in the data
Demand for open data
Lack of sustainable civil society interest in the open data portal in Kenya
International
Organizations
+Intermediarie
s: CSOs,Journalists,
Opinion leaders
+ Technologists
Bridging supply and demand
Effectively using the data
Public Public SphereSpherePublic Public SphereSphere
Citizen Citizen Action?Action?Citizen Citizen Action?Action?
Improved Improved ServicesServicesImproved Improved ServicesServices
GovernmentGovernmentGovernmentGovernment Open DataOpen DataOpen DataOpen Data
Improved Improved GovernanceGovernance
Improved Improved GovernanceGovernance
ApplicationApplicationss
ApplicationApplicationss
Effectively using the data
Public Public SphereSpherePublic Public SphereSphere
Intermediaries Intermediaries (+ Citizen (+ Citizen
action)action)
Intermediaries Intermediaries (+ Citizen (+ Citizen
action)action)
Improved Improved ServicesServicesImproved Improved ServicesServices
GovernmentGovernmentGovernmentGovernment Open DataOpen DataOpen DataOpen Data
Improved Improved GovernanceGovernance
Improved Improved GovernanceGovernance
ApplicationApplicationss
ApplicationApplicationss
The role of intermediaries
Intermediaries bridge the gap between open data and citizens
Raising Raising awareness to awareness to
open data open data opportunitiesopportunities
Raising Raising awareness to awareness to
open data open data opportunitiesopportunities
Educating Educating communities communities
Educating Educating communities communities
Implementing Implementing open data open data
applicationsapplications
Implementing Implementing open data open data
applicationsapplications
1. Professionals and organizations are the most likely audience and users
Open data for good governance
2. Open data applications do not displace, but supplement mainstream
media3. Open data applications do not
undermine traditional CSOs, but amplify their strategies
Mexico: Subsidios al Campo
• Problem: wide spread corruption in the allocation of agricultural subsidies in Mexico
• Fundar (Mexican CSO) obtains information from Ministry of Agriculture and creates an online database
• Fundar then works with journalists and academics, using the database to expose corruption
Online public database with data on the allocation of farm subsidies
India: Mumbai Votes
• Problem: voters lack accurate information about politicians.
• Mumbai Votes (Indian CSO) recruits volunteers to collect from public sources personal information on elected politicians. It creates an online database with this information.
• Mumbai votes then works with journalists who to use the database for their political news coverage.
Online public database with information on politicians, including criminal records
Russia: “Rospil”
• Problem: wide spread corruption in the governmental procurement system.
• Rospil (Russian civil society initiative) uses a law that mandates to publicize all procurement tenders and contracts.
• Rospil encourages citizens to scrutinize the tenders and identify arguable and potentially illegal ones.
• Rospil then works with public interest lawyers who file complaints about the tenders and contracts and challenge them in court. All information about the proceedings is available on the Rospil website.
Online public database with information on arguable procurement contracts and tenders
1. The goals of open data
2. Challenges of open data
Summary
Improved Improved governancegovernanceImproved Improved
governancegovernance
Improved Improved service service deliverydelivery
Improved Improved service service deliverydelivery
Getting the right Getting the right datadata
Getting the right Getting the right datadata
Effectively using the Effectively using the datadata
Effectively using the Effectively using the datadata
Supply ≠ Supply ≠ DemandDemandSupply ≠ Supply ≠ DemandDemand
SolutionsSolutionsSolutionsSolutions
Citizen actionCitizen actionCitizen actionCitizen actionIntermediarieIntermediariess
IntermediarieIntermediariess
