IDRC - International Development Research Centre

Published purpose

Open data – information from governments and other institutions made accessible to all - is becoming a major driver for social change, innovation and development, contributing to increasing trust in institutions, more transparent and accountable governance, more innovative economies, more effective service delivery and more engaged citizens. Through the Open Data for Development (OD4D) Program, Canada seeks to scale innovative approaches to help realize the full potential of open data to transform governments, civil society and business, to empower women and girls, and to ensure benefits for citizens in developing countries. OD4D supports a coordinated network of initiatives and institutions around the world whose activities include providing training for civil society and government officials; evaluating the impact of open data; creating regional peer networks; and supporting governments to plan and implement open data policies. This second phase of OD4D will bring a particular focus to women empowerment and to capacity building in francophone Africa, the region most lagging in terms of open data access and use.