Open data is heralded as a game-changer for transparency and government accountability. Several civic tech organisations in Africa are using open data to allow citizens to hold governments accountable, and thereby drive better service delivery. The session explored how a few organisations in Africa are driving accountability and service delivery using open data technologies.

Two major research insights that emerged from the session:

(I) How to get the government to understand why citizens would want data

(II) How COVID-19 is driving innovation and has been good for the civic tech community

1. Open Cities Lab: People-centered informed decision making for participatory democracy

2. Les Villageois: Young people take ownership of digital technology

3. BudgIT: Illustrating the use of open data to drive transparency and accountability in Nigeria

4. Open Up: Civic Tech vs Gender inequality

5. Mobile Web:  Illustrating the use of open data to drive transparency and accountability in Ghana

1. Adi Eyal, Founder and Director of Open Up 
2. Richard Grevers of Founder Open Cities Lab 
3. Florence Toffa Founder and CEO of Mobile Web Ghana
4. Sally Bilaly SOW Founder of Les Villageois
5. Iyanuoluwa Bolarinwa Manager at Budgit & Civic Hive
6. Adrian Kearns Project Manager at Open Up