HOW DO WE WORK?

We start by identifying a pressing social problem that open data could help to solve. Then, we team up with partners and work from the bottom-up to develop, test, and refine possible solutions. We draw on years of experience, deep research, and bring practical lessons into play. We’re interested in tailored approaches rooted in local realities, not cut and paste solutions imported from elsewhere.

Our goal is to empower our partners to run their own sustainable open data initiatives that lead to social benefit. To enhance impact, we also share our learnings and methods openly – through the production of how-to-guides, lessons learned papers, and training manuals – and encourage others to use them in their work.

We also know that individual open data initiatives can only thrive in the right political, legal, and social climate. So, we invest time in fresh research – building evidence around how open data can solve complex challenges that benefit citizens. Then, we use this evidence to advocate for greater openness. Our regular workshops and events provide safe environments to facilitate dialogue among different stakeholder groups, encouraging partners to learn from each other.

The Labs’ work is focused on four key pillars: Research, Incubation, Training, and Engagement. These four pillars make sure our work creates practical models and a solid base of knowledgeable talent locally.

WHERE DO WE WORK?

The first Open Data Lab of the Web Foundation was launched in 2014 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Since then, we’ve continued and expanded our projects across Indonesia from Jakarta to Banda Aceh, Yogyakarta and Banyuwangi, and also regionally to the Philippines, Malaysia and Nepal.

We’ve also organised and held three regional events convening over 60 people from over 15 countries in the Asia Pacific, to discuss, shape and put into action a viable and sustainable open data agenda for the region. We’re vocal advocates of the benefits of open data, so you’ll often find us participating and reinvigorating discussions on regulations promoting proactive disclosure from Mongolia to Berlin, and many more places through conferences, workshops and various events.

WHO FUNDS US?

The Jakarta Lab is primarily financially supported by the Ford Foundation. We also have a wide array of individual project funders and partners. Check out our project pages to learn more.