Revitalize Open Data Nepal Portal

Nikesh Balami

Funding Area: Critical shared infrastructure / Infraestructura compartida critica

Problem Statement: The proposed work aims to address critical problems and needs within Nepal's information landscape. Currently, data accessibility is limited, as datasets are scattered across various sources, making it challenging for researchers, policymakers, and the public to access comprehensive information. Moreover, the lack of data quality assurance raises concerns about the reliability of available data. The proposed revamp of the Open Data Nepal portal which is community maintained open data portal to foster data culture will consolidate datasets, ensuring easy and reliable access. Additionally, robust data validation mechanisms will be implemented to enhance data credibility. The work will promote data utilization, empowering stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions and develop innovative solutions. By fostering community engagement, the portal will become a comprehensive repository that reflects the needs of various users. This inclusivity aims to democratize data access and promote an open data culture. Regular data updates will ensure the portal's relevance, and advocacy efforts will cultivate a data-driven society. The benefits of the project extend to researchers, policymakers, journalists, NGOs, and the general public, empowering them with valuable insights for informed decision-making and fostering a culture of collaboration within Nepal's data ecosystem. It is to be noted that Open Data Nepal portal already in existence is in need of needs revamp and enhancement.

Proposed Activities: Most of the activities will be focused on the technical revamp & enhancement of the existing data portal to accommodate the mechanism of community maintained quality-assured data portal. Community engagement activities for capacity building will be conducted in the form of datathons & webinars. The rough timeline of the activities intended to be completed within 8 months of the project is as: (Months 1-2) User Research and Needs Assessment, Data Inventory, and Gap Analysis: Conduct a thorough user & community research study to identify the needs & preferences of data users, existing data gaps & issues regarding the system goverance and maintainance. Collaborate with data providers to explore opportunities for new datasets and dataset sources after a comprehensive inventory of existing datasets and gaps identification in data coverage. (Months 2-4) Technical Infrastructure Preparation, Data Quality Assurance Mechanisms and System Development: Upgrade the portal's technical infrastructure to handle new enhancements, increased data volumes, and user traffic. Establish robust data validation processes to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data. Develop and deploy core enhancement modules in the system. (Months 4-5) User friendly UI/UX redesign: Collaborate with UI/UX experts for portals enhanced user experience. Implement user-friendly data visualizations and navigation features making it responsive and accessible. (Months 5-6) Security and Privacy Enhancements, Governance Framework: Implement robust security measures to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access. Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations. Activities like testing the security features, functionalities of the system will be done. Also, transparent governance mechanisms to handle data submissions & review board for portal enhancements will be established. (Months 6-7) Data Updates and Maintenance Plan, Sustainability, and Funding Strategy: Develop data update schedule and automated ingestion process to ensure consistent data updates. Plan update and maintenance of portal along with exploration of funding options and potential partnership for long-term support. (Months 1-8) Community Engagement Initiatives, Impact Measurement and Reporting: Organize datathons to engage the community and encourage contribution and feedback. About 4 datathons will be organized in the course of 8 months. Implement performance metrics to measure the portal's impact on data utilization and decision-making. Prepare regular reports to assess the success of the revamp. Expertise and Resources: The successful execution of the proposed activities will require a multidisciplinary team, including; Community manager to engage the open data community in reviatilizing process and develop community goverance; Software Developer and Frontend developer to work in critical shared infrastructure by research, redesign, develop & deploy system; Data Wrangler to assist in clean, update data portal.

Openness: The project is centered around openness and transparency aiming to create a robust infrastructure that fosters collaboration, accessibility, and inclusivity for a broader community of adapt users, researchers, policymakers, and the general public; Open Data Access and Sharing: We closely work with diverse data providers, to ensure data are openly shared and regularly updated. The portal will offer a preview & download of data in multiple formats; Collaborative Data Contributions: We will implement an open data submission system for submission, review & potential inclusion in the portal to engage the broader community in curating and expanding the available datasets; Engaging a broader community: Datathons will be organized inviting developers, researchers, and data enthusiasts to explore the portal's data resources and develop innovative applications that benefit society; Open Source Technology: The infrastructure supporting the revamped portal will be built on open-source technologies. We will leverage widely adopted frameworks and tools, ensuring that the codebase is publicly accessible; Transparent Governance and Decision Making: Regular progress reports, open meetings, and consultations with stakeholders will be conducted to gather feedback and suggestions; Open Project Outputs: All project outputs, including documentation, technical specifications, and data processing methodologies, will be shared openly.

Challenges: Challanges we anticipate; Data Quality Assurance: Ensuring accuracy and reliability of public-sourced or contributed data poses a significant challenge; Governance of the Revitalized Platform: As the portal expands with more contributors and users, transparent and efficient governance mechanisms become critical for handling data submissions, resolving disputes, and making decisions about enhancements; Consistent Data Updates: Keeping the portal relevant requires up-to-date datasets from various providers, which can be challenging due to different update frequencies; Maintaining Community Engagement: Sustaining community interest demands continuous outreach, interactive events, and recognizing valuable contributions; Data Privacy & Security: Ensuring data privacy for sensitive datasets and implementing robust security measures to prevent breaches are crucial challenges; Technical Compatibility: Addressing compatibility issues across diverse devices and platforms requires extensive testing and optimization; Limited Resources & Funding: Securing long-term funding for a non-profit organization is essential for ongoing development and maintenance; Data Standardization: Integrating data from multiple sources necessitates meticulous data harmonization efforts through collaboration with providers; Resistance to Open Data Culture: Encouraging data providers and governmental agencies to embrace open data culture & share datasets openly requires effective communication and advocacies.

Neglectedness: No, because we haven’t applied for any funding previously because the project was initiated as a volunteer-led crowdsourced initiative by the open data enthusiast of Nepal. And the requirement of the revitalization of the initiative was not needed because the portal had a limited dataset and data sources. Currently, as the data demand increase from diverse users and data production from multiple sources also increase, the revitalizing of the portal arise. This is the first time we are applying for funding to support our work to improve the infrastructure of the portal and Community governance among the open data enthusiast of Nepal.

Success: The proposed data portal's success will be determined by concrete metrics; Data Accessibility: Increasing the volume of accessible datasets and reducing access barriers for users; Data Contribution: Quantity and quality of user-submitted datasets, showcasing community engagement; User Engagement: Active users, time spent on the portal, and return visits indicating usefulness; Feedback and Reviews: Positive feedback and constructive suggestions from users and stakeholders; Community Participation: Active involvement in data submissions, hackathons, and events; Data Utilization: Extent of data use in research, decision-making, and third-party applications; Data Accuracy and Updates: Regular data quality audits and timely updates demonstrating reliability; Sustainability and Continuity: Long-term viability through funding, infrastructure maintenance, and community engagement; Meeting these metrics will ensure the portal's effectiveness in fostering data-driven decision-making and inclusivity within Nepal's information landscape.

Total Budget: $16,500

Affiliations: Open Knowledge Nepal

LMIE Carveout: Yes, our project fits within the criteria of being led by individuals and organizations working in Low and Middle Income Economies (LMIEs). Our team and organization are based in Nepal, which is a Lower-Middle-Income Country. The Open Data Nepal portal serves as a widely adopted service within the LMIE context. By revamping this platform, we aim to further empower users and stakeholders in Nepal to access and utilize data for evidence-based decision-making and societal progress. The project's community, comprising users, contributors, and maintainers, primarily operates within Nepal, aligning with the focus on LMIEs.

Team Skills: Our team consists of experienced experts in open data and open technologies, proficient in developing data tools and systems. Open Data Nepal, a renowned project in Nepal's open data landscape, showcases our credible history in the field. With a diverse range of experts, including project management, software development, data engineering, data analysis, front-end development, and UI/UX, we are well-equipped to deliver top-notch solutions. Additionally, we are proud members of Open Knowledge Nepal, a not-for-profit organization engaged in community engagement and open data and tech advocacy. Our strong partnerships with various communities, government agencies, and NGOs have enabled impactful projects like the Integrated Data Management System for Local Governments, Climate Data Portal, and Covid Response using Data Support. As active contributors to data fellowships and multidisciplinary programs, we excel in technical developments and support. Our collective expertise, commitment to open data principles, and extensive experience position us well to successfully revamp the Open Data Nepal portal. Empowering transparency, accessibility, and informed decision-making, we strive to drive positive societal change in Nepal's data ecosystem. With a solid foundation and unwavering dedication, we envision Open Data Nepal as a prominent catalyst for data-driven progress in the country.

Submission Number: 110