I presented the results of my research for Open MENA, supported by the IDRC, at the Data-driven Innovation in MENA event in Cairo (Egypt) in February 2016.

1. THE ROLE OF DATA FOR
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN
MENA

2. AHLAN!
I am Dr. Rayna Stamboliyska
Founder, Open MENA
@OpenMENA
openmena.net

3. THE DIFFERENT TYPES
OF DATA
◉Open data ≠ open gov
◉Formats
◉Licensing & copyright
image adapted from J. Gurin's definitions (CC-by-SA 3.0 Unported)

4. COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS AS SEEN FROM OPEN DATA
A streamlined
process: public
sector data sets
move from ’inside
the government’
to ’outside in the
open’.
The only thing changing through
this transfer: where the data set
sits and who can use it. Little to
no implication on the political
salience of such a move.

5. PRACTICE MEETS COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
A streamlined
process does not
exist in practice:
data sets do not
exist alone, for
themselves.
Agencies often need to
break the silos that divide
them, collaborate, produce
new data sets in given
standards, presenting
reshaped and filtered
information.

6. IT IS A DATA ECOSYSTEM
innovation
You track how a given service
performs: client base, customer
support, new products needed, etc.
Service delivery KPIs
People can choose to pay for the
service you deliver: data becomes a
primary business asset.
Service monetisation
Integration happens, bottom-
up and top-down decisions
feed in the system.
Improvement
Clients can buy ready-to-consume
service, thus generating data. They
can also produce new data (reviews,
etc.)
Consuming services

7. MEASURING DATA STATUS
The availability of data is a key component of a data-driven
ecosystem. A number of indices and tools exist to this end. Some of
them suffer, however, from significant methodological flaws.

8. WHAT GETS MEASURED
Short answer: Too many irrelevant things.
Long answer:
◉ a database out of a country’s context;
◉ Western standard defined data sets;
◉ normative assessment (e.g., standards);
◉ binary answers (‘yes’ vs. ‘no’);
◉...

9. WHAT GETS MEASURED
Short answer: Too many irrelevant things.
Long answer:
◉ a database out of context;
◉ Western standard defined data sets;
◉ normative assessment (e.g., standards);
=> attempt for automated appreciation of a govt’s
openness springs from a basic model of what govts are
and what they ought to be.

10. WHAT GETS MEASURED (elsewhere)
Short answer: Interesting things.
Long answer:
◉ a country’s context;
◉ impact on facets of human activity;
◉ data release sustainability;
◉ no binary answers;
◉...

11. WHO IS INTERESTED?
Not many but growing:
◉Jordan’s Data Bootcamp;
◉Lebanon’s forthcoming data training at AUB;
◉Tunisia’s CLibre/Sayada;
◉Dataurora in Lebanon & UAE;
◉Qatar Computing Center;
◉Open MENA;
◉you? :-)

12. NEED FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED CONTENT
The demand for Arabic content outweighs that for English
content.
… BUT this demand is not met.
=> The growing number of localised, targeted, and – ideally
– measurable content is a key trend to explore regarding
digital (data-driven) innovation in MENA.

13. WHAT ABOUT DATA JOURNALISM?
Little to no awareness and capabilities about involving data
in the journalistic and media practice
BUT the demand actually exists.
=> Strengthen and increase data literacy capacity building

14. WHAT ABOUT DATA ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
A technological, entrepreneurial revolution is ongoing.
BUT different obstacles make it hard for entrepreneurs to
harness the full potential of the market.

15. 700 million $
Invested in tech start-ups (Oct 2013-Oct 2015)
Shift happens
Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, KSA
26,6 %
Of the deals realised in the UAE

16. WHAT ABOUT THE APP ECONOMY?
◉70% of the time spent on mobile is spent in-app
◉In-app and paid-for apps are the two of the top
monetisation channels.
=> an important measurement of the app economy in
MENA = the willingness of customers to pay for apps and to
realise in-app purchases

17. Top App Trends Dominating MENA in 2015, ArabNet

18. Top App Trends Dominating MENA in 2015, ArabNet

19. WHAT CHALLENGES?
◉Few venture capital funds;
◉Obtaining investment, esp. seed;
◉Most start-ups do not focus on cloud-supported & big
data services;
◉Serious ‘brain drain’;
◉Majority of entrepreneurs benefits no mentorship;
◉Expand in neighbouring countries;
◉Attract and retain talent;
◉Generate revenues.

20. STRATEGY FOR DATA
Tailoring the offer to local demand is ambitious strategy and does
not appear to be the preferred one MENA start-ups adopt. This is
especially true for potential data-driven activities as the data is
specific to the context it stems from.

21. THANKS!
Any questions?
You can find me at
@OpenMENA / ahlan@openmena.net

22. A QUICK WRAP-UP: OPEN DATA IN MENA
The ODB 2015 found:
◉Morocco, Tunisia: emerging & advancing
=> diverse strengths and a high potential to develop
innovative approaches to open data, but challenges
persist

23. A QUICK WRAP-UP: OPEN DATA IN MENA
The ODB 2015 found:
◉Jordan, Egypt and Yemen: capacity constrained
=> challenges in establishing a sustainable open data
initiative

24. A QUICK WRAP-UP: OPEN DATA IN MENA
The ODB 2015 found:
◉UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain: one-sided
=> selected data sets are published irregularly; no civil
society and private sector involvement.

25. “Culture and ecosystem, however, mean everything,
and these entrepreneurs face real headwinds. There
are disappointingly few Middle Eastern governments
and educational institutions seriously tackling the
difficult decisions required to change downward
trajectories in infrastructure at scale and speed.
"Startup Rising", M. Andreessen (preface)