Journey to innovating a life changing “NoAppForThis Project” in Africa

When seeking care at health centres in the recent past, patients were bound to physical pamphlets or cards. The landscape, however, is changing rapidly, with electronic health records (EHR) ushering in a new era of healthcare accessibility.  Even though technology has unquestionably transformed society, not all African nations have completely embraced this digital transition. There…

Towards Africa’s GDPR?

Africa, with its tapestry of cultures and a history as old as time itself, is now amid a digital awakening. Stepping into the data era with purpose, it’s time we asked ourselves, “How do we take control of our digital narrative?” Multinational corporations are setting up the data rules—much like someone else dictating how we…

The Impact of Citizen-Generated Data

While data generated by National Statistical Organisations (NSOs) and corporations has long been the focus of attention, there’s a growing recognition of the significance of Citizen Generated Data (CGD). CGD is data produced at the grassroots level by individuals, often through their daily activities and interactions. Through CGD citizens are not just data subjects but…

Citizen-Generated Data puts power in the citizens’ hands 

Traditionally, data collection initiatives have often been top-down, with external organizations setting the agenda and citizens responding reactively. In the traditional model, institutions play a central role in defining what data is collected and how it is collected. Citizens are seen as respondents, participating in data collection exercises initiated by others. While this approach is…

The Power of Data: Unlocking the Data Dividend for Development

We are excited to have signed a letter to world leaders, calling on them to harness the power of data and unlock the data dividend, which we firmly believe is pivotal in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The letter will be highlighted in the High Impact Initiative ‘Power of Data: Unlocking the Data Dividend…

Driving inclusive decision-making with citizen-generated data

We are proud to work with KNBS as they lead the Technical Working Group on Citizen-Generated Data. The Open Institute is proud to have played a role in Kenya’s progress in institutionalizing Citizen-Generated Data as part of the National Statistical System (NSS). Since 2015, the Open Institute has worked with communities in Nakuru North sub-county,…