IGF 2023 Networking Session #86 Opening and Sustaining Government Data

    Time
    Monday, 9th October, 2023 (00:00 UTC) - Monday, 9th October, 2023 (01:00 UTC)
    Room
    WS 11 – Room J
    Subtheme

    Data Governance & Trust
    Data Localization, Data Residency, and Data Sovereignty

    Open Data Collaboratives
    Jeanne Holm - Deputy Mayor and Chief Technologist, Los Angeles
    Kat Townsend - World Wide Web Foundation
    Florence Toffa- Ghana Mobile Web
    Yeama Thompson- Sierra Leone

    Speakers

    Kat Townsend - World Wide Web Foundation
    Florence Toffa- Ghana Mobile Web
     Kait Holm- Open Data Collaboratives 

    Onsite Moderator

    Katherine Townsend

    Online Moderator

    Kait Holm

    Rapporteur

    Katherine Townsend

    SDGs

    9.1
    10.3
    17.17

    Targets: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships Data, monitoring and accountability

    Format

    Gathering of a workshop

    Duration (minutes)
    60
    Language
    English
    Description

    The conversation of Open Data looks like it is fading away, but in reality this is a discussion that we needs to be kept alive especially in Africa even as digitization of our Governments is taking center stage. How do we ensure that Open Data plays a key role to ensure the citizenry is able to keep Government on accountability toes. We will look at the impact of Open Data in the light of Government and how it ensures good governance is core.

    We will ensure that we share the link for our session through our social media handles and other tools available to ensure both participation of onsite and online for the session.

    Key Takeaways (* deadline at the end of the session day)

    Open data platforms are vital, but they are not well supported as hype and donors are excited about AI but not about the underlying data.

    CSOs cannot rely on FOIA laws as the driver of open government data policies; we need god local examples of the application of data to drive positive stories and catalyze interest and support.

    Call to Action (* deadline at the end of the session day)

    IGF and all technology events should include sessions and speakers on the importance of good data governance and data transparency in any session on artificial intelligence.

    Advocates for open data should develop case studies in the format of if this then that, if this data were made open, then this is the impact that will be made by specific actors.

    Session Report (* deadline 9 January) - click on the ? symbol for instructions

    Participants from government and Ghana, Togo, Kuwait, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the US joined to learn from case studies and resources shared in the slide deck here: bit.ly/GovOpenDataIGF2023
     and engaged in a networking event to share their own questions and work in their context and what their next steps could be.  

    Key Takeaways:

    - Open data platforms are vital, but they are not well supported as hype and donors are excited about AI but not about the underlying data. 

    - CSOs cannot rely on FOIA laws as the driver of open government data policies; we need god local examples of the application of data to drive positive stories and catalyze interest and support.

    Call to Action:
    IGF and all technology events should include sessions and speakers on the importance of good data governance and data transparency in any session on artificial intelligence. 
    - Advocates for open data should develop case studies in the format of if this then that, if this data were made open, then this is the impact that will be made by specific actors.