How to better measure the use of data for good

This post is written by Silvana Fumega, Director of Global Data Barometer.

• The problem: Public data has been more accessible in the last decade but we don’t know how well it is deployed as a resource for tackling social challenges, enabling collaboration, driving innovation, and improving accountability.
• Why it matters: Without new benchmarks, we are losing track on key data agenda-related issues that affect policy making and innovations.
• The solution: The new Global Data Barometer aims to better track the extent to which data is governed, shared, and used for the public good.

During the last decade, aspects that were not in the foreground at the beginning of the development of the Open Data agenda began to gain importance.

The issues of privacy and care of data, protection of human rights in the development of technological interventions, development of techniques and tools for machine learning (AI), digital security, inclusion in the production of data and algorithms, and data governance structures, all can no longer be ignored. Those issues complicate the initial agenda whose principal, and almost exclusive, concern was to increase the accessibility of public data. This broadening and increased complexity of the agenda is, at best, only partially reflected in measurements.

• Want to write for us? Take a look at Apolitical’s guide for contributors

That is why after almost a decade since the launch of the Open Data Barometer (ODB), this year the new Global Data Barometer (GBD) is launching its pilot edition, which aims to include this broadening of the agenda in its methodology. From governance to inclusion, there are many elements that are key to understanding this new era of global data. The GDB has been designed to respond to these issues and to fill critical knowledge gaps on how data policy and practice are unfolding in different sectors, regions, and countries around the world. Thus, at the end of 2021 we will be sharing the results of this first edition and hoping that they will serve to think about future data strategies for more than 100 countries around the world.

Building a new benchmark

Building on the previous work of the Open Data Barometer, the GDB will establish a new global benchmark that tracks the extent to which data is governed, shared, and used for the public good. This first pilot edition is currently led by ILDA, and with support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and additional organisations that provided support to the core team and the hubs such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), among others.

The GDB combines three approaches to better understand data practices and policies around the world:

• Investigate core data governance and data capabilities.
• Conduct a deep dive into a larger data ecosystem at the intersection of money, property, and power.
• Explore areas of urgent global concern where data practices are increasingly under pressure — including climate action and health.

The GDB will examine money, property, and power through five different thematic modules that have been developed collaboratively with expert partners:

• Political Integrity: in partnership with the Open Government Partnership and Transparency International
• Public Procurement: in partnership with Open Contracting
• Company Information: in partnership with Open Ownership
• Public Finance: in partnership with Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency
• Land: in partnership with the Land Portal

While each of these modules have their own data particularities, they also intersect with regard to anti-corruption, integrity, and accountability, and we will seek to analyse the current state of data around the four pillars of the Barometer — governance, availability, capability, and use.

An innovative network of partners

One of the key broader questions GDB is looking to answer is how well data practices align across different sectors or themes. Another goal is to compare how governance frameworks for specific kinds of data (for example, data related to beneficial ownership) differ or are tailored to meet specific objectives. We also hope to gather specific use cases to identify bright spots and identify where making data available actually leads to use and benefits. Also, to augment the results of the expert survey and support a greater depth of analysis, we are also conducting a complementary government survey.

GDB innovations include the establishment of a network of regional hubs to collect data from more than 100 countries around the world and partnerships with thematic partners, such as Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT), Open Government Partnership (OGP), Transparency International (TI), Open Contracting Partnership (OCP), Open Ownership (OO), and the Land Portal.

As this is a pilot edition, we are looking forward to getting into the analysis and reporting of results, and eventually expanding and adapting as we move forward to future editions. We will make sure there are many opportunities for participation along the way. We invite you to share your expertise and knowledge and to build with us toward the future editions. — Silvana Fumega

We want to hear what you think about this article. Pitch an article to us or send your comments to discussion@apolitical.co

(Picture credit: Unsplash)