Drivers of Data for Development in Africa Report

The importance of data in informing sustainable and inclusive development in Africa cannot be understated. The use of data for development has long been framed as providing a foundation for meaningful policy making and implementation, efficient resource allocation, (public) service delivery, inclusive interventions and an effective means of implementation for development frameworks and strategies. With multiple national, sub-national and sector-specific (open) data for development initiatives currently being implemented across the African continent, it is important to understand the opportunities these initiatives present and how existing bottlenecks can be addressed for more effective implementation

As part of our work with the Africa Open Data Network under the inaugural Africa Open Data Fellowship, the network conducted a study on the drivers for success for data for development (D4D) initiatives in Africa.  The report explores the data for development ecosystem and aims to surface evidence on what it takes to create an enabling environment for the implementation of successful, adequately resourced data for development initiatives. Initiatives that catalyse evidence based, inclusive and sustainable development outcomes in Africa.

To address these, it maps out the data for development ecosystem in Africa (stakeholders, legislative environment, perceived and actual benefits and constraints).  It further provides recommendations for human capital, financing, enabling environment and infrastructure needs that need to be addressed for sustainable and mainstreamed data for development initiatives.

The report also features case studies from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Sierra Leone that provide an in-depth understanding of the use of data for development within the four countries.

The full report will be available on 6th June 2020

UPDATE 7th JULY: The full report can be downloaded here.