Why policy and investment in Open Data

is essential

Presented by Ivo Njosa

I.Njosa@AfDB.org

What is the Africa Information Highway?

As part of the AIH initiative each country/site:

Data Portal(DP) and Open Data Portal(ODP)

To access a country’s ODP

Togo.opendataforafrica.org

SouthAfrica.opendataforafrica.org

Algeria.opendataforafrica.org

Objective is to facilitate country’s access to local Open

Data to improve Governance.

African Information Highway (AIH)

Economic benefits in Europe/US

Economic benefits/Studies in Europe/US/Australia

AfDB working on its own study/report

Direct economic benefits hard to measure but….

Google/Yahoo/GPS/Weather/Real estate/Transport

How can Africa replicate this?

Achieving economic benefits more complex than putting

up ODPs

Current investments by countries low/zero.

Development partners/kick-start but……. need for

institutionalization

Governments/Citizens must invest in OD ecosystem

through National policies/staffing/budgets/education

Challenges

Internet infrastructure

Data quality/access schedules

Literacy levels/interpretation of the data

Statistical systems

Overcoming resistance from public officials

Thanks

Questions?