Governments, civil society organisations and companies across the world are actively engaging with open data: publishing and using datasets to promote innovation, development and democratic change.
The Open Data Research network has been established to connect researchers from across the world working to explore the implementation and impact of open data initiatives. It is a joint project of IDRC and the Web Foundation, and is seeking to develop wider partnerships over the coming year.
The network currently hosts the 'Exploring the Emerging Impacts of Open Data in Development Countries (ODDC)' programme.
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Latest News
Press release: Open Data Barometer
Wed 30 Oct 2013
Berners-Lee tells world leaders: deliver transparency by backing open data policies with action
ODDC at the Open Government Partnership Summit
Wed 30 Oct 2013
The Exploring the Emerging Impacts of Open Data in Developing Countries (ODDC) project was born at the Open Government Partnership Summit in Brazil in 2012. A day before that summit, researchers from across the world met together to set out an agenda for 'Fostering Critical Development Perspectives on Open Government Data'.
Increased Clamour for FOI Bill as Open LGU Research Project gains momentum
Sun 08 Sep 2013
Several stakeholders from both public and the private sector increased their lobbying and advocacy work for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill by the 16th Philippine Congress. The FOI Bill has been proposed for more than 10 years but has not been given sufficient attention by lawmakers.
Going beyond the ‘Open Definition’ in the Uganda case study
Mon 02 Sep 2013
By Bernard Sabiti
The Uganda/Kenya ODDC case study seeks to answer two major research questions namely;
1. How open data initiatives in the two countries are contributing to poverty reduction through impacts on resource mobilization
2. How the contribution of open data initiatives to poverty reduction resources allocations could be strengthened in the future?
Research Notes from the Asian Regional Meeting of ODDC Network, New Delhi, 16-18 July 2013
Wed 21 Aug 2013
In the study plan reformulation brief, we have already discussed why we decided to shift away from a sectoral focus (that on organisations engaging with issues of urban development) to a more wider perspective of data/information intermediary organisations. In the South and South-East Asian Regional Meeting of the ODDC network held in New Delhi, 16-18 July 2013, we had the opportunity to further discuss the various implications of and methodological challenges generated by this shift of focus.
Early insight 1: The flow of data in the South African public university system
Sat 17 Aug 2013
To examine the use and possible impact of open data in South African higher education, the project is currently conducting interviews with university planners, higher education studies researchers, the Department of Higher Education and Training, and other stakeholders.
Open Data & Privacy - discussion notes
Sun 04 Aug 2013
On 1st August two IDRC research networks came together for a web meeting to explore Open Data and Privacy. The Privacy in the Developing World network, and the Open Data in Developing Countries network set out to explore whether open data and protecting privacy are inherently in tension, or whether the two can be complementary, and to identify particular issues that might come up around privacy and open data in the developing world.
ODDC Web Meetings: Ethical issues in open data: privacy - August 1st
Tue 09 Jul 2013
As we’ve been getting the ODDC project up and running we’ve been hosting a series of web meetings with project partners to get to know each other, and to talk about research issues. In coming months we’re planning to hold thematic web meetings, focussing on different issues relevant to open data research, and that fit into our evolving research framework.
We’ll be exploring how to open up these meetings beyond the ODDC network alone, so if you are interested in taking part in any of the upcoming web meetings, please do get in touch.
Publication: Researching the emerging impacts of open data - ODDC conceptual framework
Mon 08 Jul 2013
We've been working on developing the Exploring the Emerging Impacts of Open Data in Developing Countries project since April 2012. In that process we looked across existing literatures on open data, transparency and accountability, the economic re-use of data, and inclusion and empowerment to identify key issues that our research should address. The result is written up in the first ODDC working paper, setting out the conceptual framework guiding our work.
Invite: panel on policy, practice and impacts of open data - 16th July - New Delhi, India
Tue 02 Jul 2013
ODDC parters in South Asia are hosting a public panel on the 16th July at New Delhi, India. Participation is open to all and free. Full details and information on how to secure a place are below.
