Caribbean Case Study: Developing International Open Government Policy
London, 27 September 2011
The Caribbean region presents a thought-provoking case study on the development of international policy on the use and re-use of government data. The region is of interest given it includes a number of island nations varying in geographic size, population, GDP and economic development, as well as diversity of cultural and historical influences. A susceptibility to natural disasters places Caribbean data, in particular geospatial data, as vital in the management of such events for the people of the region.
Keisha C Taylor (TechSoup Global) is the author of a just released report on this topic entitled: “A Review of Freedom of Information, Data Protection and Open Data in the Caribbean”.
Ms. Taylor prepared the report as a case study and background information for Workshop 123 discussions taking place at the 6th Internet Governance Forum (Nairobi, Kenya): on ‘Public Sector Information Online: towards a Global policy framework’.
In the introduction to the Caribbean Open Data Report, Ms. Taylor comments:
“As an exploration of the possibilities for a global policy for public sector information for UN Member States continues, an assessment of what is happening in the realm of freedom of information, data privacy and open data in the Caribbean should also be included.”
The Caribbean Report is a current, comprehensive and detailed snapshot of such activities in the in the Caribbean region. It covers (by country and for the region) what the research revealed in terms of the state of play with freedom of information legislation, data privacy and protection legislation and open government data initiatives in the Caribbean. Highlighted is the work of Caribbean stakeholders such as the IDRC, World Wide Web Foundation and HIPCAR who work collaboratively and have held open data events and activities in the region. There are tables summarising Caribbean open data portals and open data challenges.
Ms. Taylor’s research on the Caribbean region raises questions which do lead to multi-faceted considerations including policy frameworks and the importance of examples and drivers of open government data policy applicable to an international context but also capable of supporting development initiatives taking place at regional, national or local levels.
The Wider International Context
In addition to the Caribbean Report, Workshop 123 is taking into consideration reports from other countries and regions (published since 2008) listed in the Workshop’s background paper reading list (see page 15) which includes reports on Chile, India, Finland, Ghana and related documents such as the World Wide Foundation and the Open Data Manual.
Your Thoughts?
Let us know your thoughts. How can international public sector information policy and legislative frameworks work to make open government data policy and practices flourish with meaningful impacts? What would you say if you were writing international open government data policy? Share your ideas with Workshop 123 participants before, during or after the event.
Workshop 123 takes place on the 30th September 2011 (09:00 to 10:30 am local time) with options for in person and remote participation and includes panel members representing NGOs, public and private sectors and academic researchers from Australia, Hong Kong, Europe and India. At the ‘heart’ of the Workshop discussions are the questions: is now the right time for the development of an international policy on government data; and if yes what does it need to cover and how can such a policy be moved forward?
The report is embedded below
Notes
- Keisha C Taylor @GuideStarIntl is a participant in and the remote moderator for Workshop 123
- Follow the documentation on Workshop 123 to be published on the ePSIplatform following the event including transcripts and summary report: Public Sector Information Online: towards a Global policy framework (2011) and on the 6th Internet Governance Forum website.
- Workshop 123 (Public Sector Information online: towards a Global policy framework) on Twitter @MGPSI
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