The Design of Open Data Systems: Analyzed Through Case Studies in Nairobi and Lahore

Abstract

Open data initiatives such as those involving government data sharing, crowdsourced crisis management and the monitoring of public service delivery are often unable to maintain relevance as solutions to the social problems they aim to solve. Drawing on fieldwork in Nairobi and Lahore, this study presents a framework for understanding the underlying network of open data systems. It argues that sustainable open data systems are defined by strong links between data providers, software owners, and action agents. These links can be strengthened through the development of technology and policy that aims to augment existing human infrastructure. This is illustrated through the development of toolkits to aid Voter Registration procedures in Kenya and Pakistan. The design methodology used in this development can be extended to other cases and locations to achieve sustainability in open data systems.