How can open development improve the effectiveness of aid?: leveraging open data, open standards, and web 2.0 interactivity for better development outcomes

Abstract

Following decades of disappointing results, the international community has moved towards a more systematic, coherent, and strategic approach to aid delivery. This paper demonstrates the vital role of information in advancing the principles of aid effectiveness that are guiding these efforts, suggesting much scope for the application of information and communication technologies (ICT). Accordingly, the author explores the emerging toolset of the "Open Development" movement---namely, open data, open standards, and web 2.0 interactivity---and evaluates the extent to which they have---and can---contribute to the aid effectiveness agenda. The author concludes that the Open Development toolbox has made significant contributions, but that much of its potential remains unexplored. In particular, the author finds that the use of ICT remains largely focused on supporting reporting functions, overlooking the wide opportunity to employ ICT to improve the effectiveness of strategic planning and aid management.