Open Data Is Not Enough

Extracted 25JUL2011 from http://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/open-data-is-not-enough-0?cid=EXT_...

(see also http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/business/global/03world.html?pagewanted=1&a...)

Without placing equal emphasis on collecting data that is timely, consistent, and of high quality, few benefits can be reaped from the release of data to the public.  A treasure trove of data that is rife with bias and plagued by inaccuracies is of little use to any researcher, statistician or village health care worker, regardless of whether they operate within or outside of the Bank.  Indeed, inaccuracies and biases in data can result in significant harm, inasmuch as the data is used to inform the policies of developing countries...

Fortunately, the 7,000+ datasets that have been released to the public under the Open Data initiative represent some of the highest quality data currently available in a number of sectors.  In some sectors, however, data quality lags severely behind...

There are a number of ongoing efforts to improve data quality and coverage in the developing world.  One such initiative is the Global Strategy to Improve Agriculture and Rural Statistics, a multi-institution initiative endorsed at the 41st Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission.  The Strategy assigns a pivotal role to methodological research in order to improve the quality and policy relevance of the available information specific to the agricultural sector.