This report reviews current theory and practice behind open data challenges as a mechanism for driving open data improvement, engagement and innovation.
Its main purpose is to equip and enable organisations, governments and community organisers to deliver high-quality open data challenges while helping them to recognise nuances within their local contexts.
The report explores the case for implementation, explains the key attributes of a challenge prize and provides seven recommendations for prize delivery to help others design, deliver and evaluate open data challenge prizes effectively.
- Set clear objectives that reflect the primary interests of all core stakeholders.
- Design a bespoke challenge structure that reflects these primary objectives throughout.
- Commit to open design principles and be prepared to iterate or adjust plans as you go.
- Sustain focus on open data from launch to completion. Support participants to understand, access and use open data.
- Take time to plan, deliver and review each stage of the challenge process.
- Do not stop at one challenge.
- Undertake an impact and process evaluation and share it.
This report was supported by the Open Data for Development (OD4D) programme, a partnership funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the World Bank, The UK Department for International Development (DfID), and Global Affairs Canada (GAC).