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Submitted by onorinas on Fri, 18/03/2022 - 15:08

Open Data: What does it mean for our Blue Pacific?

The world was in its grip. And it wasn’t long before the COVID-19 pandemic brought countries all over the globe to a crippling halt. Almost immediately, a new way of life emerged as people everywhere turned to the online and internet world to stay informed and updated during the crisis. From work and school to funeral gatherings and shopping for basic needs, the new normal was at our fingertips.

While the pandemic has changed many of our world views including how we work and the way we respond to emergencies, it has also greatly emphasised the importance and value of quality open data, and the need for robust data systems.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, people relied heavily on information supplied by governments by way of updates on traditional media and social media channels - a clear demonstration of how open data can ensure a strategic and effective way of responding to disasters. 

So, what is open data and why should we care? It is valuable information and content that is free and easily accessible to anyone, without limitations or restrictions. Data is open if anyone is free to use, re-use or redistribute it, subject, at most, to measures that preserve provenance and openness (World Bank[1]). Quality open data allows us as citizens to be informed and to be able to monitor government activities while holding our governments accountable.

Open data and good governance

Good governance is an approach that is committed to creating a system founded in justice and peace that protects an individual’s human rights and civil liberties. It is the process of measuring how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources while allowing for monitoring, and guarantees respect for human rights with due regard to the rule of law.

When it comes to good governance, quality open data is critical and can lead to more effective and efficient governments. It is also critical for credible institutional and political processes and the delivery of outcomes necessary to achieve sustainable development.

Good governance has eight characteristics - participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law[2]. These characteristics have guided governments and organisations good governance practices. Quality open data underpins each of these. For instance, integrity in government transactions can only be achieved through transparency and accountability, and the latter will only be realised if citizens and organisations have access to quality government data and information.

Open data brings wide-ranging benefits to governments and many different groups of people, organisations and individuals. It keeps duty bearers or governments alert and responsive to society and responsible for their actions. Similarly, it empowers rights holders or citizens to know what their government is doing and hold them to account. It further empowers citizens to be directly informed and involved in decision-making processes of governance, both in public and political spaces. It allows opportunities for collaboration and helps establish trust and credible relationships between government, organisations, private sector and citizens during emergency situations and the development process.

Notably, in the Pacific, as a good start some governments have developed ministerial websites and information systems that people can access to get information on the government’s activities, budget and policy implementation, including online public services. Samoa’s database – SADATA - on development and human rights recommendations tracking is a relatively successful open data mechanism currently being implemented in the region and globally. These, however, must be well resourced and managed to ensure their reliability and accuracy. Moreover, users – citizens – should be educated on how to read and use open data to make informed decisions and demand responsive governance.

The pandemic and unprecedented weather events have underscored the need for access to quality open data more than ever. It provides an impetus to effective collaboration between all sectors of society to ensure inclusive effective emergency response and to address the wide-reaching effects of the pandemic. These partnerships and inclusive participatory approach build trust during such critical moments and steer concerted efforts to make our societies resilient and build back civil liberty.

Without quality open government data, there is a lack of engagement and collaboration between government and the public, transparency and accountability would be lacklustre, citizens would not be able to carry out public oversight of government conduct, processes and transactions, delivery of public services and corruption prevention.

Promoting good governance is a central priority for Pacific leaders and peoples. These commitments were entrenched in the Biketawa Declaration over 20 years ago, and recently reinforced in the Boe Declaration to allow free, healthy and productive lives for all Pacific people. Despite these commitments, the dearth of data and open data challenges in the Pacific - compounded by the nature of its people, values, culture, faith, politics, geography, resources and history - present a unique governance development challenge. It inhibits the ability of PICs to adequately develop evidence-based policies and implement targeted measures to implement better standards of governance and adhere to rights-based approaches. Hence, this reinforces the call for and underscores the importance of quality open government data as a critical tool for good governance in the Pacific.

Political buy-in and political will are critical for open government data to materialise. Having legal instruments is equally vital and their due enforcement requires resolute action to ensure the benefits of open data materialise. In the Pacific, several countries have enacted laws on the Right to Information or Information Act or formulated relevant policy viz Cook Islands, Palau, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga while the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and the Federated States of Micronesia are work in progress.

A critical gap that continues to undermine efforts to implement sound governance is the limited availability of key data on governance and human rights[3]. Responsive governance exists when government institutions and policies are accessible, accountable and responsive to the people they serve, especially the disadvantaged groups. Sound public governance consists of the formal and informal rules, procedures, practices and interactions within the State, and between the State, non-state institutions and citizens, that frame the exercise of public authority and decision-making in the public interest (OECD).

To build on and complement the work of good governance in the Pacific, the launch of the “Promoting Just, Engaged, Civic-Minded and Transparent (PROJECT) Governance program came at a timely moment for the region, with an overarching goal of achieving a stronger Blue Pacific through the sustainable practice of sound, just and responsive governance. PROJECT Governance is a five-year US Government-funded program administered by its development arm USAID in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC).

The key outcome areas inter alia comprise increasing public sector transparency and accountability through access to government data and networks and strengthening governments’ capacities to prevent corruption and promote integrity within the governance structures. In keeping with the principles of a People-Centred Approach, the project will be implemented with a deep cultural understanding of the region.

SPC, in partnership with USAID, is committed to help Pacific leaders realise their commitments in achieving good governance and sustainable development through PROJECT Governance over the next five years and beyond.

[3] The PDH dashboard re SDG 16 notes that the majority of indicators are not included as part of the 132 indicators in the Pacific SDG indicator subset - https://pacificdata.org/content/sdg-16-peace-justice-and-strong-institutions.

Publish Published
2022