2016 ICT4D Conference

This presentation is related to a pilot initiative that is currently being implemented in Nepal. The action research explores the rationale of adopting open data practices in budgetary process to bridge the information gap between government executive agencies, parliamentarians and citizens This action research seeks to identify the data need of each of these three stakeholders, implement open data solution based on the need and document impact stories of enhanced government accountability and civic engagement.

While the research is focused on demand side, adequate effort have been put into engagement with the supply side as well to see how open data model, developed as part of the research can have sustainable impact in the long run. This research aims to explore how two distinct groups of data users - parliamentarians and local citizen intermediary organizations can use disaggregated data on budget allocation, expenditure and progress for enhanced government accountability and civic participation. At the local level, the research proposes to test innovative models of meeting data need of disconnected communities in an off-line environment.

This research represents an inquiry about open data solutions and its relation to enhanced policy making discourse at the central level and practical civic engagement strategies at the local level.