The African Development Bank (AfDB), as the premier developmental organization in the continent, supports its 54 regional member countries to reduce levels of poverty and boost economic and social progress. Reliable and timely data are vital not only for formulating the AfDB’s own strategies, and for monitoring the outcomes of its programs and projects, but also for all those who wish to ensure the continent’s future positive growth trajectory. This includes key policymakers in African countries, central banks and non-governmental organizations, subregional and regional organizations, UN agencies, multinational organizations, as well as external donors and investors.
Key Distinguishing Features of the Africa Information Highway’s Open Data Platform (ODP) and Data Portal (DP) Systems
June 2014
The Africa Information Highway (AIH) is a one-stop center for development data on African countries. It responds to the request made by African Heads of State at the July 2012 Summit for pan African institutions (AfDB, AUC, and ECA) to support countries to improve data collection, management, and dissemination systems. The AIH also responds to the G8 summit’s call in June 2013 to scale up open data systems as a way of enhancing transparency, good governance, and accountability, as well as monitoring development effectiveness and tracking progress.
The Africa Information Highway comprises two main components: the Country Data Portal (DP) system and the Open Data Platform (ODP), which have different functionalities.
Country Data Portals contain official data provided by countries’ official sources (e.g. line ministries and central banks). Although data from the portals can easily be accessed, downloaded, and analyzed by any user, only the official data source has the right to upload and change the data on the DP.
Open Data Platforms (ODP), on the other hand, contain data from multiple sources, including official data from countries, data from various international organizations, as well as from individual users who choose to share their content. Unlike the Data Portal, the ODP allows users to upload their own datasets, develop their own dashboards, and share with others on the ODP if they wish. The system also allows for the sharing of ODP-created content via social media such as Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc.
The table below presents the principal distinguishing functionalities of the Data Portal system and the Open Data Platform.
Key Features of the Data Portal and Open Data Platform
|
Key Functionalities |
Data Portal (DP) |
Open Data Platform (ODP) |
|
Data Sources |
Data derive from official national statistics sources only. |
Data derive from multiple sources, including official sources (national and international) as well as non-official ones. Users are free to upload their own content to share with others. |
|
Ease of Access |
Data are accessible to all users via a computer or similar device (e.g. tablet or smartphone). |
Data are accessible to all users via a computer or similar device (e.g. tablet or smartphone). |
|
Read/Write Capability |
Read only. Users can download but cannot upload data. |
Read/Write. Users can both download and upload data. |
|
Cost |
Data are free. |
Data are free. |
|
Restrictions |
No restrictions on the use and/or redistribution of the data. |
No restrictions on the use and/or redistribution of the data. |
|
Compatibility with Social Media |
Not directly linked to social media tools except via the Dashboard page. Content can be shared with others only via the Dashboard page. |
Directly linked to social media tools. Users can directly share content with others via Facebook, Twitter, blogging etc. |
