AfDB launches initiative to revolutionize data compilation in Ghana, other African countries
The African Development Bank (AfDB) today March 14, 2013 launched the Open Data Platforms for Ghana and other 19 African countries.
The initiative is believed to significantly revolutionize data management and dissemination in Africa, and reposition the continent for more effective participation in the global information economy.
The Open Data Platform programme is part of the Bank’s recently launched Africa Information Highway initiative which is aimed at significantly improving data management and dissemination in Africa.
It is a user-friendly tool for extracting data, creating and sharing own customized reports, and visualizing data across themes, sectors and countries in tables, charts and maps.
Through the Open Data Platform, the AfDB says users can access a wide range of development data on African countries from multiple international and national official sources.
The platform also facilitates the collection, analysis and sharing of data among countries and with international development partners.
Once implemented, the AfDB says, the Open Data Platform will be used by African countries for all data submission flows to the AfDB and possibly other international development partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), EU Commission, World Health Organization (WHO), UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), African Union Commission (AUC) and UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Apart from Ghana, countries logged onto the platform are Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The AfDB says “work is on course to complete platforms for the rest of African countries by July 2013.”
By Ekow Quandzie