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The GovLab Releases Groundbreaking Report Detailing Why and How Open Data Matters for Developing EconomiesNEW YORK, July 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, The Governance Lab at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering has launched a first-of-its-kind report that assesses and explores ways open data can be used in developing economies. The GovLab's new report, "Open Data in Developing Economies: Toward Building an Evidence Base on What Works and How," (1) provides an evidence-based tool governments, NGOs, donors, and others can use to assess the impacts resulting from the use of open data in developing economies; (2) outlines four key impact areas gleaned from 12 case studies that feature real-world examples from 12 countries, ranging from Colombia to Nepal; and (3) identifies 27 critical factors that help to determine the success (or failure) of open data uses in developing economies, organized into a newly-created Periodic Table of Open Data, along with recommendations for both practitioners and decision-makers, including donor agencies. The new report and case studies complement existing findings The GovLab has published on its open data website, ODimpact.org, a multi-faceted platform of information about how open data can improve peoples' lives. The "Open Data in Developing Economies" report is also the result of a months-long collaboration between The GovLab and several partners, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, FHI 360, and the World Wide Web Foundation. "We're very excited to share key lessons and takeaways from this project," said Stefaan G. Verhulst, co-founder and chief research and development officer at The GovLab. "Together with our partners, we set out to learn if and how a broader use of open data could improve lives and spur opportunity in developing economies. Our findings show that open data provides unique opportunities for developing economies to become more data-driven; and the framework and insights provided in the report allow the development community to become more evidence-based in how to leverage open data for good." HOW TO CAPTURE EVIDENCE? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE FELD?
For example, in Colombia, The GovLab case study showed how the Colombian government is using open data to better understand and address the way climate is affecting the country's potential to grow its own food — a particularly serious challenge for small farmers, who represent the majority of crop growers in the country. WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE? Providing a set of actionable recommendations for practitioners as well as decision-makers was another important element of the report. Recommendations for practitioners included articulating the issue to be addressed with as much granularity as possible, and clearly defining why the use of data for addressing a given problem matters. For decision-makers, recommendations included developing and integrating regular exercises that identify how open data can help to address problems. "Our work at The GovLab is ultimately meant to help us get smarter about what works in practice," said Andrew Young, knowledge director at The GovLab. "We believe 'Open Data in Developing Economies' provides tools that practitioners, governments, donors, and several others in the development community can use to unlock the power of open data to benefit people in developing economies around the world." The full report, "Open Data in Developing Economies: Toward Building an Evidence Base on What Works and How," along with the 12 new case studies, is available at ODimpact.org, and thegovlab.org. About The Governance Lab About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/thegovlab/, @TheGovLab, www.facebook.com/nyutandon, @NYUTandon View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-govlab-releases-groundbreaking-report-detailing-why-and-how-open-data-matters-for-developing-economies-300490399.html SOURCE NYU Tandon School of Engineering |