Open Data Watch is an international, non-profit organization. Through research, advice, and advocacy, we work to improve statistical systems, increasing the value and use of data worldwide.
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The Power of Open Data:Our Work to Harness its Potential
Monitoring the state of open data around the world
The Open Data Inventory (ODIN), ODW’s flagship product, provides an objective measure of the progress countries have made to build and strengthen their national statistical systems. It helps countries identify the next steps to provide open data for policymakers, journalists, academics, and the public. In its sixth edition, the 2022/23 Open Data Inventory includes 192 countries, a net increase of five countries from the previous addition. The forthcoming Open Gender Data Monitor expands the current analysis of gender data in ODIN with the aim to strengthen the essential parts of an enabling environment for better policies for gender equality.
Read: odin.opendatawatch.com
Partnering with countries to build statistical capacity
ODW provides countries with technical assistance to improve their open data offerings. Since 2015, ODW has expanded its program to include direct engagement with national statistical offices to transform ODIN assessment results into practical policy and technical advice on data quality, sharing, and other best practices. Through these engagements, countries work directly with ODW experts to gain additional insight on how to best use their ODIN results and implement changes that not only result in improved open data systems, but also close the gap between data production and use. As a result, most countries also see an increase in their ODIN score after implementing such improvements.
Generating knowledge and advocating on the global stage
ODW is a leading voice for policy initiatives in the data for development field through involvement in several UN data-related working groups on open data and data governance. ODW was a member of the United Nations Statistical Commission’s Working Group on Open Data and co-chaired the Open by Default workstream within the group. Since 2019, we have formally been shepherding the concept of open data through official UN processes and the open by default principle was endorsed at the 53rd United Nations Statistical Commission. Through numerous research reports, events, and close collaboration with partners, we are also working to build effective open data governance processes that can translate into stronger statistical systems.
Explore: bit.ly/OpenDataResourceGuide
Assessing open data: Five findings from ODIN
Countries have marginally improved data openness while data coverage has declined since COVID-19 began.
Improvements in social and economic statistics are offset by decreases in environmental statistics.
Gender data are less available than other data, though there is little difference in their accessibility.
Low- and middle-income countries have fallen further behind than high-income countries.
South America, Central America, and South-Eastern Asia are the only regions to improve both coverage and openness scores.
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