In 2013, Development Initiatives-Africa Hub, Open Institute and Development Research, and Training, Uganda carried out a study tracing the evolution of the open data movement in Kenya and Uganda. It aimed at assessing the role that this movement plays in accountability and the equitable allocation of financial resources for the eradication poverty. The study was carried out as part of the Open Data in Developing Countries (ODDC) initiative, which seeks to explore the emerging impacts of open data in developing countries. It is centred on a number of case studies across the world. Muchiri Nyaggah highlights the key findings from the Kenyan case study.

1. The Potential
of Open Data Understanding the impact of
open data on resource
allocation for poverty
eradication in Kenya & Uganda
Muchiri Nyaggah
@muchiri
Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
June 19th 2014

2. OPEN INSTITUTE
We work every day towards an
open society managed by
informed fact driven citizens

3. Exploring the emerging impacts of Open
Data in Developing Countries is a multi-
country, multi-year study led by the World
Wide Web Foundation to understand how
open data is being put to use in
different countries and contexts across
the developing world.
THE STUDY

4. “Data is not information & neither
is it knowledge. ”
Daudi Were, Ushahidi.

5. OPEN DATA DEFINED
“A piece of data or content is open if
anyone is free to use, reuse, and
redistribute it — subject only, at most,
to the requirement to attribute and/or
share-alike.”
opendefinition.org
Image source: Flickr user @bobloo17

6. ANTI-MALARIA DRUG POLICY
Andy Langager / flickr
Drivers of
open data

7. DRIVERS OF OPEN DATA
1. Legislative drivers: include laws, policies, and
other legal frameworks,
2. Political drivers: include the political will
rooted in the understanding of the concept of
open data,
3. Technical drivers: include availability of
internet and other virtual spaces, technical
capacity, and
4. Public demand drivers from data users such as
government departments, think tanks,
academic institutions, CSOs etc

8. BARRIERS TO OPEN DATA
Barriers to
open data
Image source: Flickr user @tearsandrain

9. SUPPLY – SIDE BARRIERS TO OPEN
DATA
1. Political barriers: risk of exposure
2. Financial barriers: lack of investment in
resources for preparing & publishing
3. Legislative barriers: Such as the Official
Secrets Act & lack of an Access to Information
Act
4. Technological barriers such as simple tools for
curating, visualization & analysis of data

10. DEMAND-SIDE BARRIERS TO OPEN
DATA
1. Inadequate quality of data: potential users
put off by current quality
2. Lack of capacity / interest: likely due to poor
awareness
3. The digital divide: The technology asymmetry
alienates users with poor access to
technology.

11. What is the impact of open data on
resource allocation?

12. There exists
great
Potential
GREAT POTENTIAL
Image source: Flickr user @londondesigner

13. Promoting
citizen
engagement
THE POTENTIAL FOR…
Image source @muchiri

14. Influencing
the practices of
duty bearers
THE POTENTIAL FOR…
Image source @muchiri

15. Negative impact
due to the
digital divide
THE POTENTIAL FOR…
Image source: Flickr user @wandering_angel

16. Negative impact
due to gender
inequality
THE POTENTIAL FOR…
Image source @muchiri

17. Image source @muchiri

18. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Promote sector and cross sector specific
initiatives.
2. Develop and champion the capacity to
drive transformation across government.
3. Formulate policies, regulations and laws to
support use of ICT to transform service
delivery.
4. Closer collaboration between CSOs,
Government and other actors to increase
investments in technologies and services that
promote access to data and
information.

19. www.opendataresearch.org/emerging
impacts

20. Thank you
Muchiri Nyaggah
@muchiri
www.openinstitute.com
@open_institute
Facebook.com/theopeninstitute