Yesterday at the World Bank in Washington DC, I had the pleasure to spend lunch hour reflecting with colleagues there about the progress that Kenya is making with bringing government closer to citizens – especially using devolution. In my reflections, I also discussed not just the practical gaps that exist in making devolution work, but…
Read articleHaving been involved in promoting the Open Government Partnership over the past couple of years in Africa, I have had a couple of experiences that have introduced a nagging worry at the back of my head that has continued to grow. Today, in conversation with colleagues at OpentheGovernment.org, where I am spending my days, the nagging worry codified…
Read articleOpen Institute, in collaboration with FEMNET, is holding a two-day workshop on August 20th & 21st for civil society organizations in Kenya on using data for advocacy and accountability. Designed to demystify data and equip participants with skills for collection, analysis and communication of insights from data, the workshop will be a highly practical hands-on…
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The African continent through the African Union’s Common African Position (CAP) on Post 2015 Development Agenda expressed its desire to approach the Post 2015 Development agenda on a unified front in order to avoid the pitfalls experienced in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). There were consultation gaps in the initial preparation and…
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This week, our team went to Lodwar, Turkana County in Nothern Kenya, to conduct a workshop as part of our SDI Data Support Program. We worked with 8 participants from the Centre for Advocacy, Relief and Development (CARD) and TUBAE – African Development Trust, both local civil society organizations based in Lodwar. The following slides…
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In March last year Kenyans took to the polls and elected a new government. With this, we saw the devolution and formation of 47 county governments under the new Constitution. This shift has brought about opportunities by bringing communities closer to their governments and allowing marginalized communities to get their voices heard in their own…
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Anne Muigai (OI Knowledge Lead) and Simeon Oriko (OI Community Lead) are in Berlin for this year’s Open Knowledge Festival (#OKFest2014). Anne will be speaking at the following sessions: Open Government Data Updates from around the world on Wednesday, July 16 • 12:00 – 13:00 (more info: http://sched.co/T1ngi4) and Money, Politics and Transparency on Thursday, July 17 •…
Read articleEarlier this year, I published my thoughts on the general direction in which a partnership for development data could take in Africa. While we acknowledge the possibility of a loose flotilla of efforts in the early days of such an effort I believe two critical factors should be kept front-of-mind. We cannot wait for a finalised…
Read articleIn their paper The Benefits of a Big Tent: Opening Up Government in Developing Countries, J Goldstein and J Weinstein argue for a “big tent”; one term under which open data and open government communities can pursue a common goal. I believe the term is fitting for the post-2015 processes and the unprecedented opportunity they present stakeholders…
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This is cross-posted from Al Kags’ personal blog, alkags.me. I have just started the six-week academic sessions of the Washington Fellowship at the Arizona State University. During this time, I shall spend my time learning and considering many aspects of civic leadership and most of all, I shall be considering an essential question, which is the…
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