Burkina Faso launches open data initiative [video]
The initiative heralds the launch of Burkina Fasos new, pilot, open data platform: data.gov.bf. The platform is already home to over 50 government datasets that can be accessed and reused by anyone. Datasets on the platform include those from the Ministry of Health on the number of beds in public and private hospitals; the number of malaria deaths and vaccination coverage in Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso is the first African francophone country to take this step into open data. The platform aims to boost the reputation of the country, encourage foreign investments and economic development, create new jobs in the ICT sector and increase participation from the private sector.
Furthermore a new open data community project called ‘Our Schools, Our Data’ (Nos Ecoles, Nos Donnees) will be showcased at the launch event, where a 10-hour ‘visualisation sprint’ will take place. The project has received mentoring from the ODI as part of its support of the Burkina Open Data Initiative and involves gathering government teams, programmers, local tech communities and data-journalists around Burkina Faso’s education-related datasets. A new web app has been built for the project that displays data in a user-friendly way (see video below).
The goal is for local startup companies and entrepreneurs to use this open data to develop innovative new services which will benefit all Burkina citizens.
Liz Carolan, International Development Manager at the Open Data Institute said:
With leadership from the very top, and a successful track record of ICT innovation, the Burkina government has shown characteristic ambition and determination to get this initiative off the ground. In doing so they have been able to get officials and citizens in Burkina Faso taking notice of open data. The Open Data Institute and the World Bank have endeavoured to be as light touch as possible – offering advice, bringing together the right people, freeing up funds. The result is an initiative which can potentially bring significant social, economic and environmental benefits to the people of Burkina Faso.
