Technical Assistance from the World Bank
The World Bank provides technical assistance to client country governments in the following areas:
| Engagement, outreach and training | Conducts information sessions for clients and country offices on open government data and how to make the case for opening them |
| Readiness assessments | Conducts short reviews with a country’s key government representatives and data users to assess its current capabilities and develop a plan for action |
| Advice, technical assistance and financing | Offers advice and training on Open Data strategies, technology and policy best practices to support client countries’ open agendas |
| Platforms for innovation | Brings international experts and local talent together to collaborate, motivate and help each other learn new and valuable ways to use data |
| Capabilities development for civil society | Organizes data journalism boot camps, provides training in the treatment and use of budget data and helps to produce foreign aid maps to promote effective, responsible use of Open Data |
- World Bank Support for Open Data (World Bank). This report summarizes the World Bank’s activities to support the Open Data efforts of developing countries during the period 2012-2017.
The World Bank also has several initiatives and programs that use Open Data to address specific challenges:
Open Data for Resilience Initiative (OpenDRI). OpenDRI applies Open Data concepts to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards and the impacts of climate change. OpenDRI supports World Bank Regional Disaster Risk Management Teams to build capacity and long-term ownership of Open Data projects with client countries and partners, tailored to meet stakeholder needs. (more…)
World Bank Group Finances (WBGF). The WBGF program uses open financial data via the web and mobile devices to promote transparency, expand the use of data analytics, support innovation and new businesses and address development challenges. (more…)
Open Transport. The next generation of tools for managing and planning transport systems in resource-constrained environments, Open Transport addresses three principles: Open Data standards; open source software; and support for the development of transit application to achieve significantly greater use of available data. (more…)
BOOST. A comprehensive public spending database established in 57 countries, the BOOST initiative is a Bank-wide collaborative effort to facilitate access to budget data, help build open budgets and improve decision-making processes, transparency and accountability. (more…)
Data on Company Registries (OCR). As part of a long-term partnership, the World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR) in Nepal implemented a new e-Services system that facilitates registration for entrepreneurs and companies. (more…)
Global Agriculture and Food Security Program Map (GAFSP). The GAFSP Coordination Unit and Innovation Labs developed an Open Data Mapping Platform to address the underfunding of agricultural and food security assistance by helping countries scale up their strategic investment plans. (more…)
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). A coalition of governments, companies and civil society, the EITI advocates openness into the way countries manage natural resources, such as oil, gas and metals. Countries implementing the EITI Standard commit to full disclosure of revenue from natural resources. (more…)
Open Parks Network (OPN). OPN serves the global parks community by providing information, tools and solutions to support the stewardship of natural and cultural assets of protected areas. It unites managers, researchers, policymakers and citizens through development of cyber-infrastructure that freely distributes data to facilitate more informed, science-based management decisions. (more…)
World Bank Data Use and Literacy Program. This partnership-driven program provides a range of services to support Data Literacy, including sustained training for government officials, journalists, civil society organizations, academics, civic coders, social media leaders and technologists. Its Data Literacy methodology addresses the deep capacity gaps in target users and beneficiaries of Open Data by growing "pipelines" for capacity development and working with infomediaries to connect open data sources to public discourse and decision-making processes. It also supports existing communities of practice (of government and non-government stakeholders), who are working to improve the environment for free and open information, to help enhance government transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making at all levels.
Open Data for Social Accountability and Citizen Engagement. This program supports opportunities to use Open Data initiatives to move beyond a focus on transparency, and towards the use of such initiatives by citizens in social accountability and citizen engagement approaches. (more…)
Technical Assistance from Other Organizations
Sources of Funding
The World Bank. Provides a range of programs that support Open Data implementation and use Open Data to address specific challenges.
Ford Foundation. Funds capacity building and technical assistance efforts that increase the participation of marginalized communities in building and maintaining democratic, accountable government. (more…)
Gates Foundation. Develops tools for the philanthropic sector that increase its ability to help people worldwide – especially in areas of greatest need – live healthier, more productive lives. (more…)
Open Society Foundations. Works to build societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. It supports efforts that expand and protect press freedoms, increase public access to knowledge and information and include minority voices in the media. (more…)
Knight Foundation. Supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts, primarily within the 26 U.S. communities in which the Knight brothers owned newspapers. (more…)
Hewlett Foundation. Improves government responsiveness to citizen needs by encouraging public agencies and officials to provide greater transparency and broader access to operations and budget data. (more…)