African Development Bank joins the data revolution | ONE.org

"Earlier this month, the African Development Bank (AfDB) took an instrumental step in revolutionizing data management and dissemination in Africa by completing work on its continent-wide Open Data for Africa platform. The initiative was launched in November 2012 as part of the global Busan Action Plan for Statistics, which is aimed at strengthening statistical capacity. Through Open Data for Africa, users can access a broad array of statistical data for all 54 African countries from multiple international and national sources. Similar to the World Bank’s Open Data portal, AfDB’s catalogue includes economic and social statistics as well as data on important development issues such as food security, infrastructure, climate change and gender equality. Open Data for Africa has several goals, including boosting data collection, quality, management and analysis, and facilitatating wider public access to official statistics. It also intends to support improved, evidence-based policy formulation and bolster transparent and accountable monitoring of development outcomes. Through this tool, users can access time series development indicators, perform comprehensive analysis at country and regional levels, use presentation-ready graphics or create their own and collaborate with others. Open Data for Africa presents AfDB with a unique opportunity to take the lead in tackling the crippling effects of inadequate data. The platform will also serve as a central hub for data sharing by creating live links between the AfDB, national statistical offices, central banks and line ministries in all African countries on one hand, and sub-regional organizations, international development institutions and users from around the world on the other. Additionally, it will markedly reduce the reporting burden of African countries since data will only need to be uploaded once into the platform, which can then be shared with various development partners. In a recently released report, the United Nations called for a data revolution to enhance the quality of development data, and AfDB has responded. But more work needs to be done. ONE continues to be a vocal proponent for improving the availability and accessibility of reliable, timely data on Africa. With better data and upgraded statistical systems – alongside investments in the capacity of citizens’ organizations and accountability institutions to use that data – people will be able to follow the money trail, monitor effectiveness of service delivery across sectors and ultimately hold governments to account for the use of public resources."