International Development Grant
Open Data for Development (OD4D)
Project Number: CA-3-D001918001
Status: Closed
Country/Region: Unknown
Regional Focus:
Maximum Contribution: $1,000,000.00
Start Date: March 27, 2015
End Date: May 31, 2017
Duration: 2.2 years
Project Description
The project aims to harness the potential of open data initiatives to achieve development outcomes such as enhanced transparency and accountability better public service delivery and greater citizen participation. By funding the Open Data for Development (OD4D) Program in partnership with the World Bank and the UK Canada seeks to scale innovative proven approaches and strengthen coordination amongst open data initiatives to help realize the full potential of open data to transform governments civil society and business and ensure benefits for citizens in developing countries. OD4D supports a coordinated network of initiatives and institutions around the world whose activities include providing training for civil society and government officials; commissioning evaluations on the impact of open data; creating regional peer networks; and supporting governments to plan and implement open data policies. Open data - information from governments and other institutions made accessible to all – can be used to create economic value foster civic engagement and enhance transparency and accountability within governments. The culture and systems that support the release of information as well as the ability and awareness of governments civil society and business to use it are often collectively referred to as an open data ecosystem.
Expected Results
The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) new policies and processes in developing countries that strengthen their open data ecosystems; (2) integrated regional and global action plans to guide future efforts from donors governments civil society and private sector; (3) robust cross-country benchmarking on open data to assess future efforts; and (4) increased evidence of the impact of open data initiatives on development.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved by Open Data for Development (OD4D) as of March 2017 included: (1) 14 developing country governments had received support to improve the quality and ambition of their open data plans; (2) 844 public servants and 1 031 civil society participants had taken part in training and capacity-building activities; (3) 115 developing countries were assessed in the Open Data Barometer and 94 in the Open Data Index; and (4) 23 evaluations of open data initiatives were conducted; and contributions were made to 8 open data sectorial efforts (e.g. agriculture cities) and 5 open data standards (e.g. open contracting). The independent evaluation of OD4D concluded that the program had made critical contributions to advancing open data for development. The program made substantial contributions to global regional and national initiatives including research networks tools standards and policies. It helped raise awareness for policy-makers which led to political commitment and is reflected in new laws and regulations open data portals and evolving standards for transparency and accountability. The evaluation also concluded that more support and research was needed on turning policies into practice to obtain development impact. Evidence was also limited on how open data contributes to gender equity and women’s empowerment an important area for future work.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
IDRC - International Development Research Centre
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
RFM Strategy Policy and Public Affairs
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated