United Republic of Tanzania Open Data Initiatives in Tanzania September, 2016 www.ega.go.tz

Agenda Challenges Open Data Initiative Future Plan Open Data Background Open Data Initiatives in Tanzania Planned Activities according to OGP Action Plans Progress Made Open data working group and taskforce Open Data Guideline Approved Data sets Open data portal Open data policy draft Challenges Open Data Initiative Future Plan Conclusion

Background The United Republic of Tanzania joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in September 2011. The country’s first OGP Action Plan 2012/13 focused on enhancing transparency, citizen participation, accountability and integrity and the use of technology and innovation in service delivery sectors of health, water and education.

Background Tanzania’s Second OGP Action Plan 2014 - 2016 focuses on five priority areas, selected for their cross-cutting importance. These areas are: Freedom of Information Act Open Budgets Open Data Land Transparency Extractive Industries Transparency

Background OGP Action Plan III 2016/17 – 2017/18 Tanzania’s Third OGP Action Plan focuses on seven priority areas. Five of these were partially implemented in the Second Action Plan and two have been added. On-going Commitments: Access to Information Open Budgets Open Data Land Transparency Extractive Industries Transparency : Additional Commitments Medical and Health Service Transparency Performance Management Systems

Open Data Initiatives OGP Action Plan I 2012-13 Open Data Commitment Study global good practice on data disclosure for establishment of www.data.go.tz website that reflects high global standards to contain asubstantial number of Government held data sets by December 2013 OGP Action Plan II 2014/16 Open Data Commitment Establish strong open data system by December 2016 Priority Sectors Health Education Water

Open Data Initiatives in Tanzania Planned activities according to OGP Action Plan I & II Open data readiness Assessment Prepare guidelines on data management Formulate Open Data Policy Establishment of Open Data Portal Publish data set on open data portal

Open Data Readiness Assessment (ODRA) In 2013 the Government of Tanzania conducted the Open Data Readiness Assessment (ODRA) to scan the situation and set the baseline for the implementation of Open Data initiative in the country. The assessment based on the ‘Eco-system’ criteria considered essential for an Open Data initiative

Open Data Working Group The government of Tanzania has established a working group under the Ministry of Finance to oversee the implementation of open data initiatives in the country. The working group include four(4) public institutions namely: National bureau of statistics(NBS), e-Government Agency(eGA), Records and Archive Management Department Tanzania Information Services(MAELEZO)

Open Data Working Group…....... e-Government Agency (eGA) is a semi-autonomous institution established under the Executive Agencies Act, No.30 Cap. 245 of 1997, with the mandate of coordination, oversight and promotion of e-government initiatives. eGA Responsibilities on open data initiatives include: Developing and maintaining the Open Data portal Providing technical support (ITC) to public institutions implementing open data initiatives. prepare specialised training programmes to public institutions implementing Open Data initiatives

Open Data Management Circular Open data management circular were drafted and approved in January 2015 Data sets from the three priority sectors ( Health, Water and Education were identified, vetted and uploaded on the portal

Open Data Policy The Open Data policy draft aims to provide directives, guidelines, and uniformity in implementing Open Data initiatives in Tanzania. Stakeholders have been consulted in order to make sure that this open data policy will improve public services delivery. The comments have been incorporated The draft Policy is ready for for submission to the Cabinet

Open Data Portal Open Data Portal (www.opendata.go.tz) is one stop center established to provide data in a machine readable format to be used and re-used The data provided are commissioned by priotised sectors of Education, Water, Health and is not related to data on individuals. The Open Data Portal is managed by the open data working group 100 data sets were uploaded on the portal Education 65 Water 11 Health 10 NBS 14

Open Data Portal It has 12,967 users 131 countries are visiting the portal including Tanzania is leading , followed by Kenya, United States, Sudan, United Kingdom, Netherlands, India, South Africa, Brazil, German, Italy and United Arab Emirates. 61,380 content drill down Education data sets are leading in Content drilldown used especially examination results

© e-Government Agency 2015

Challenges Lack of awareness and knowledge on open data among data usage producers and users Lack of fund to implement the open data initiatives Lack of internet connectivity in remote areas Unaffordable internet connectivity Lack of applications that make easy understanding and usage of open data in Tanzania

Open Data Initiative Future Plan Most of the future plans focus Formulate the open data legal framework that includes policy, Act and license Improve and maintain open data portal (developing user generated content application Ensure a continued supply of clean, uploaded and updated approved data sets Build the capacity for open data providers and users Develop open data communication strategy §

Conclusion Open data is part of the broader Tanzania Government commitment to open government partnership (OGP). When data is made available freely for use, re use and other innovations it unlocks opportunities in social and economic benefits. Open data has the potential to empower Citizens with informed decisions, advance research and enable improved investment decisions in the country So All stakeholders must work together to achieve the desired open data goals goals

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