A collection of case studies on how open data is impacting the world–improving government, empowering citizens, creating opportunity and solving public problems.

“This research, commissioned by a consortium of funders and NGOs (including the Information Program) under the umbrella of the Transparency and Accountability Initiative, seeks to explore the feasibility of applying this approach to open data in relevant middle income and developing countries. Its aim is to identify the strategies used in the U.S. and U.K. contexts with a view to building a set of criteria to guide the selection of pilot countries, which in turn suggests a template strategy to open government data.”

” It shows the variations in usage of civic tech across four core countries (US, UK, Kenya and South Africa), and records the attitudes of users towards the platforms they are using. The report identifies a number of areas for further research based on the data collected, and concludes with a discussion on the implications of the findings that should provide much food for thought to civic technologists, governments and philanthropic organisations.”

“This book is offered as a first attempt to understand what responsible data means in the context of international development programming.

“This handbook discusses the legal, social and technical aspects of open data. It can be used by anyone but is especially designed for those seeking to open up data. It discusses the why, what and how of open data – why to go open, what open is, and the how to ‘open’ data.”

“Open data impacts everybody. Through it we can improve how we access healthcare services, discover cures for diseases more efficiently, understand our governments better and, of course, travel to places more easily.”

“A well-functioning central public procurement platform should contribute to achieving value for money in public procurement as well as increase integrity throughout the public sector.”

” Addressing this gap is what the EU-funded, large-scale project DIGIWHIST does. This policy paper presents key data challenges in public procurement and proposes recommendations to improve the state of data and data use for better outcomes.”

“There are many ways to get started with open contracting. From committing to more disclosure, to publishing, using, and analyzing government contracts, to monitoring implementation of the approach.”

“The Open Contracting Global Principles gather norms and best practices for disclosure and participation in public procurement. They serve as a guide to advance open contracting around the world.”

“Every year, governments spend huge sums of money through contracts, on everything from pencils and paper to building major infrastructure projects such as airports. Open contracting is the bricks and mortar of public benefit, where taxpayers’ money gets converted into schools, roads and hospitals, into things that ordinary people really care about.”

The key to achieve universal energy access is diverse partnerships. We need all sectors of society – public, private and civil society – to do their part and work together. This report demonstrates specifically the role of Civil society organisations in ensuring energy access for all.