Establishment of Open Data Policy (CV0004)

What is the issue addressed by the commitment? Both public and private institutions have a large amount of data that is not readily available to the public. Even with new commitments to facilitate greater transparency, a persistent lack of user - friendly data recovery technologies poses significant barr iers to accessibility. Furthermore, the absence of a common data platform excludes self - service and requires that each request be treated as an ad hoc occurrence that can only be met with a cumbersome and inherently inefficient response.

What is the commitment? Establishing and approving the open data policy and develop the Open Data Portal

How will the commitment help solve the issue identified? • Will expand access to data, producing considerable benefits to private citizens, businesses and public managers. • Will increase transparency and efficiency, creating the opportunity for self-service data recovery • Will improve access to open data and decision-making, expand public knowledge and stimulate innovation

Why is the commitment relevant to OGP values? This commitment facilitates the data sharing expectations expressed by many public institutions, while encouraging civic interest and participation. In addition, an open data platform will allow more qualified observers (e.g., journalists, academics, etc.) to study relevant data patterns, inform citizens and shape public policy and action.

Additional information The portal is currently under development

Description of expected outcomes Improving governance, in particular transparency and quality and access to data for sector decision-making; Having all the conditions to publish, locate and exploit data in an open manner.

Macro Activities (Starting date - Completion date)

Prepare law to establish open data policy (January, 2023 - January, 2024)

Develop the Open Data Portal (January, 2023 - January, 2025)

Action Plan Review

Commitment 1. Open data portal

Commitments 1 and 2: Open data and statistics

Implementing agencies: Ministry of State Modernization and Public Administration, Organizational Nucleus for the Information Society (NOSi), National Institute of Statistics (INE), National Statistics Council, National Committee for Personal Data Protection, Multisector Regulatory Agency for the Economy, Ministry of Education, National Association of Municipalities of Cabo Verde

Commitments 1 and 2:Open data and statistics: This cluster promises to increase public access to government-held data and statistics through the establishment of an open data policy and portal.

For a complete description of the commitments included in this cluster, see Commitments 1 and 2 in Cabo Verde’s 2023–2025 action plan: https://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cabo-Verde_Action-Plan_2023–2025_EN.pdf.

Context and objectives:

Commitment 1 continues efforts in the first action plan to establish an open data portal and open data policy. With support from the World Bank, Commitment 2 introduces the aim to expand collection and publication of statistical information. These commitments are assessed together as a cluster due to their similar objectives to open data across policy areas in support of economic innovation, informed public policymaking, and increased access to information. According to the State Modernization Department, there is strong interest from the private sector [1] because greater access to data and statistics could promote the digital economy and foster the creation of new applications.

Potential for results: Modest

In recent years, the Government of Cabo Verde has initiated reforms to strengthen access to information and advance public sector transparency. The Digital Governance Strategy, [2] aimed at modernizing the state and public services as well as strengthen the economy, calls for the development of an open data policy. Currently, open data is available but dispersed across government websites and not frequently updated. An exception is the availability of budget information from the Ministry of Finance who gathers updated data of budget execution and expenses on their website. [3]

Commitment 1 builds on the open data portal launch in the previous action plan cycle which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The IT public company NOSi made some technical advances, but their priorities were diverted during the pandemic before the portal was made public. [4] The Ministry of State Modernization and Public Administration has taken on the lead responsibility for this commitment from NOSi as it is best placed to develop an open data policy and relevant legislation to govern data publication. [5]

The commitment foresees launching the open data platform, passing an open data policy, and carrying out activities to encourage the use of open data, such as through an annual hackathon. According to the National Director of State Modernization, the open data policy draft was discussed with government agencies and will be shared and discussed with civil society during the implementation period. [6] Under the Digital Governance Plan, the government aims to publish at least one set of data from each government entity by 2025. [7] The commitment also aims to ensure that data will be continuously updated and more easily located—reflecting a common demand from civil society. [8]

Commitment 2 builds on a World Bank project running from 2020 to 2025 to strengthen Cabo Verde’s capacity to collect, analyze, and publish statistical information. The government aims to increase the geographic coverage of statistical data, starting with the use of administrative records and provision of more disaggregated data. [9] The commitment lacks concrete details, such as when and how preliminary outcomes will be published. However, the World Bank’s project indicators include to what extent Cabo Verde publishes (1) core economic and social statistics indicators; (2) at least two analytical reports using survey, macro, or administrative data; (3) core economic and social statistics datasets; and (4) statistical products produced and published by the INE in line with international standards and a predetermined release calendar. [10]

It is not clear whether the statistical data published under Commitment 2 will be housed in the open data portal under Commitment 1. Implementers are encouraged to use the inclusion of this project in the OGP action plan to expand on the open government elements of this reform. For example, the INE could use the OGP platform to bring civil society into the process through consultations on what statistics and analysis to prioritize for publication and in what formats. The INE can also collaborate with civil society to bring findings into the public discourse, particularly to inform public participation in government decision making.

In 2022, the Government of Cabo Verde passed the Law on System of Access and Reuse of Documents and Administrative Information, which establishes the procedures and form for requesting access to documents, as well as the documents that can be accessed. [11] Thus, the country now has an established procedure, with deadlines, on citizen requests for government-held information. The new law is expected to be a steppingstone for the open data policy framework [12] and the open data portal, which will enhance proactive transparency. Making data proactively available in open format can reduce the need for information requests, which usually require lengthy procedure.

Positively, the financial resources for the development of the portals are secured. The open data portal is foreseen in the current budget [13] and the statistical data repository is financed by the World Bank under the Master Data project. [14] The Ministry of State Modernization and Public Administration is currently considering options for the long-term maintenance of the open data portal and weighing between government funding or a public-private partnership format. [15]

This cluster is evaluated to have a modest potential to increase public access to data and statistics. The development of an open data policy and portal promise to increase accessibility and scope of data available to the public. Increased public access to statistical information can also strengthen informed public participation in policy discussions. As written, this reform is of modest ambition as the establishment of the open data portal and policy were started prior to implementation. Moreover, it is not clear from the current action plan text how Commitment 2 adds value to the existing World Bank project. This reform could prove to have greater open government results in the longer term if implementation establishes channels for public participation in data governance. Opportunities for public participation range from enabling citizens to request datasets through an online platform to establishing mechanisms for multistakeholder data governance.

Opportunities, challenges, and recommendations during implementation

The two implementing bodies—the Ministry of State Modernization and Public Administration and the National Institute of Statistics—are encouraged to seek opportunities to collaborate. Implementers could convene a working group that includes an equal number of government and civil society partners to monitor implementation progress and address obstacles as they arise. The working group could develop an implementation roadmap that identifies intermediary steps and opportunities to engage civil society in implementation. In the longer term, implementers could undertake activities to encourage public use of the data and statistics. For example, dissemination of fisheries or justice sector data could support informed public participation in other reforms foreseen in the action plan.

In addition, the IRM recommends that implementers consider the following:

• Civil society organization Lantuna Association recommends the creation of spaces thatallow quick communication between government and civil society to facilitate information requests. Breaking down complex data and information into an accessible format for the public could also be useful. [16] Morocco, for example, developed a citizens’ guide on submitting access to information requests and an online portal where requests are submitted, referred to the relevant government body, and publicly tracked. [17]
• Increase state capacity on open data. Following validation of the open data policy, implementers could develop a manual and train civil servants on collecting, processing, disseminating, and updating data. [18] For example, Kenya’s School of Government has introduced an Access to Information course that has informed public servants on their obligations under the Access to Information Act. [19]
• Greater public participation in open data reforms presents an opportunity to expand on existing open data projects. Open data champions can use the OGP platform to bring civil society and the private sector into implementation. This can be achieved through several ways, for example:
  • Consult and publicly respond to civil society feedback on the open data policy, relevant legislation, and guidelines. In Ireland, the OGP process convened representatives from government bodies, private sector, civil society, and researchers before drafting an open data policy. [20] The government shared the draft for public comments and publicly responded and incorporated suggestions into the draft. [21]
  • Consult civil society and the private sector on the content, scope, and format of data that most meet their needs. In the Basque Country, the government consulted and mapped data demands from civil society to determine which datasets to prioritize for publication. [22]
  • Partner with civil society to test the usability of the portal and conduct public outreach to increase public awareness and use of the portal.
  • Consider permanent bodies for multistakeholder data governance. Tunisia established a consultative committee with civil society and private sector members to oversee implementation of open data action plans. [23] Morocco created and Open Data Steering Committee to manage open data efforts through a multistakeholder approach. [24]