bond.org.uk

Introduction to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI)Bond and Development Initiatives, 2014

bond.org.uk 2

Who are we?

Bond:Sarah Johns Transparency Adviser sjohns@bond.org.uk

Development Initiatives (IATI Secretariat) :Wendy RogersIATI Analyst wendy.rogers@devinit.org

bond.org.uk 3

3 things you need to know about IATI

bond.org.uk

1. IATI is a data standard for sharing information about development assistance

bond.org.uk

It uses XML to structure the information

bond.org.uk

So that we move from this…

bond.org.uk

Common Standard Format

… to this.

bond.org.uk

2. Using the IATI data standard has benefits for your organisation

8

Get buy-in

Collect information

Share information

Collaboration

Information systems mapping

Communication

bond.org.uk 9

and provides insight data you can use

devtracker.dfid.gov.uk

bond.org.uk 10

openaidsearch.org

bond.org.uk 11

3. Sharing information has the potential to catalyse change

Play video

bond.org.uk

Preparing Your Organisation For IATI PublishingWendy Rogers, Development Initiatives

bond.org.uk

Becoming a Transparent Organisation

In preparation for IATI publishing it is a good idea to:

• Establish the business case for your organisation

• Assess the organisational risks

• Get Senior Management buy-in

• Get key external stakeholder buy-in

• Create your project team and IATI champion

• Develop reusable IATI publishing business processes

• Prepare a post publication communications plan

bond.org.uk

The IATI Standard and Other AnimalsWendy Rogers, Development Initiatives

What to Publish

• Project Number, Title, Description, Sector

What

• Funding, Accountable, Implementing

Who

• Start Date, End Date

When

• Country/Region

Where

• Incoming Funds, Disbursements, Expenditures, Budgets

How much?

bond.org.uk

The IATI Standard

• Defines a consistent format for how data is published:

• Published data is held in two different types of file

• Organisation file

• Activity Files

bond.org.uk

DFID Minimum Requirements

• The information to publish will cover the DFID minimum requirements.

bond.org.uk

Your Organisation

Describes Your Organisation. Includes:

• Reporting Org

• Organisation Identifier

• Organisational Contacts

• Budgets (agency, country)

bond.org.uk

Your Work

Described in ‘Units of Aid’ or ‘Activities’. Usually projects.

• Unique activity identifier

• Title

• Description

• Other Activity Identifiers

• Activity Status: code and description

• Activity Dates: start /end planned or actual

bond.org.uk

Who Is Involved?

Described as Participating Organisations’.

• Organisation name

• Role: Funder, Extending, Implementing, Accountable

• Ref: Type of organisation (code and description)

bond.org.uk

Where In The World?

Where do your activities take place or impact

• Region or Country

• Lat / Long Coordinates

• Local Areas

bond.org.uk

Financial Transactions

Used to understand the flow of monies

• Amount

• Date

• Type: Commitment, Incoming Funds, Disbursement, Expenditure etc.

• Who from / to

• Transaction description

bond.org.uk

Results

Was the activity successful. Did it achieve its aims?

• Type of result

• Textual description

bond.org.uk

Activity Classifications

Helps to describe the type of activity’.

• Aid type

• Sector

• Policy

• Flow Type

• Finance Type

• Collaboration Type

NB:Some categories can be defined as an activity default.

bond.org.uk

Supplementary Activity Information

Extra information about activities

• Activity contact details

• Web sites

• Online documentation

Get started, publish what you can

.

Exclusions

QualityAvailable

bond.org.uk

Task or Opportunity?

For your organisation it can provide

• An opportunity to tell your stories

• Trust (to supporters, general public, other organisations)

• ‘On the ground’ intelligence to support the need for intervention

For others it can

• Enable citizens to hold their Governments to account

• Provide governments with information they need to make decisions

• Provide the transparency that aid is reaching those genuinely in need

bond.org.uk 28

Discussion (15 mins)

How will you (or do you) define an ‘activity’ in your organisation?

1 activity = 1 programme? 1 activity = 1 country? 1 activity = 1 funded project?

• Think about:

• How are your information systems currently set up to report on your programme finances and results?

• How much information your organisation will be sharing using IATI – just your grants, or more?

bond.org.uk 29

Break

bond.org.uk

Publishing Your IATI-XML Files

Wendy Rogers, Development Initiatives

bond.org.uk

Publishing IATI-XML Files

• IATI-XML files should be physically located on a publishers own web site

• The IATI Registry holds a URL link that ‘points’ to wherever your files are located online

bond.org.uk

Registry accounts

• A 2 step process that requires setting up:

1. A user account

• This enables you to log in but not publish any data

2. A publisher account

• This enables you to register as a publisher and

publish data

bond.org.uk

IATI Registry http://www.iatiregistry.org/

bond.org.uk

IATI Registry: User account

bond.org.uk

IATI Registry: Publisher account

bond.org.uk

IATI Registry: Publisher account

bond.org.uk

Much of the information required when setting up an account comes from the publishing information tab in your Implementation Schedule.

bond.org.uk

Publishing Tools

bond.org.uk

Tools For Creating IATI-XML Files

There are currently three different types of tool that can be used to publish data in IATI-XML format

• Aidstream

• CSV Converter

• Bespoke systems

bond.org.uk 40

Tool Web Sites

Aidstream:http://www.aidstream.org

CSV Converter:http://csv2iati.iatstandard.org

Development Initiatives:

bond.org.uk 41

Practical Session-

AidStream

bond.org.uk 42

Lunch

bond.org.uk

The Implementation Schedule

Wendy Rogers, Development Initiatives

bond.org.uk 44

The implementation schedule

http://support.iatistandard.org/entries/23287146-The-Implementation-Schedule

bond.org.uk 45

The Implementation Schedule

This is made up of four tabs

1. Cover page / instruction sheet

2. Publishing information

• The narrative here can also be used for your publisher profile when setting up an account on the Registry

3. Organisation data

• Captures information about your organisation

4. Activity data

• Covers information about your projects

bond.org.uk 46

Practical Session & Discussion

bond.org.uk

Support & Other Resources

bond.org.uk 48

Information & Support

IATI Support: support@iatistandard.org

IATI website: www.iatistandard.org

Bond website : www.bond.org.uk/transparency

bond.org.uk 49

Twitter Accounts

@IATI_aid – official IATI account

@bondngo – official bond account

@geogrr – Sarah Johns (personal)

@whrogers – Wendy Rogers (personal)

bond.org.uk 50

Other Resources

IATI Technical Advisory Group e-newsletterhttp://www.aidtransparency.net/governance/tag

Linked In Aid Transparency Grouphttp://www.linkedin.com/groups/Aid-Transparency-3145916