Research notes contain key findings of our research, the methodologies we applied, and recommendations.
Open Government Data Readiness Assessment – Indonesia
In our assessment of Indonesia’s open data landscape, we found that while the nation has been a pioneer in seeking to achieve better governance by providing better access to information, increasing government transparency, and strengthening public participation, this commitment has not trickled down into the daily parlance of government officials. This is mirrored by a low demand for government data across universities, research institutions, and civil society. In this study conducted in 2013, we recommend that one way to address this lack of understanding and demand is to focus on local level initiatives and build national level awareness using given examples.
Can the Philippines Implement the Open Contracting Data Standard?
This research explored the opportunities for the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) to be used as a mechanism for more open and transparent procurement practices in the country. To promote greater transparency in public contracting, stakeholders from government, civil society, and international organisations have created the Open Contracting Partnership (OCP). As part of this effort and with financial support from Omidyar Network and the World Bank, the Web Foundation has developed the OCDS for the OCP to help governments publish procurement data in a format that addresses the needs of a broad range of user groups, including civil society organisations and private companies.
In Indonesia, the procurement of goods and services on behalf of government agencies accounts for approximately 30% of the country’s national budget. Yet, the public procurement system in Indonesia is often marred with inefficiencies and lack of accountability and transparency, resulting in an estimated loss of $15 billion annually. Through improved, standardised disclosure of data, the publication of data in Open Contracting Data Standard format can contribute to a fairer system of government contracting, delivering better value for money and more competitive procurement processes, whilst also supporting scrutiny of procurement to strengthen government transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.