"How does data visibility affect vulnerable communities that face uncertainty over occupational rights? Or in other words, can data justice be realized in settings of acute resource injustice? These are the overarching questions that our case study interrogates by opening up the black box of the com
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munity in the volatile and fast-transforming context of occupation rights on the peri-urban frontier. We examine the unfolding of data and information processes through the lens of enumeration and community mapping exercises conducted in a low-income neighbourhood or basti located in the fast-transforming peri-urban fringe of Hyderabad, India. We argue that the realization of data justice is mediated by ‘information politics’, i.e., the ways in which informational resources, as well as the risks and rewards associated with them, are distributed across individual actors and identity groups within the community. In so doing, our case study underlines the importance of a structural understanding of data justice and also suggests directions for embedding justice in data processes." (Abstract)
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"This report provides background context on how big data can be used to facilitate and assess progress towards the SDGs, and focuses in particular on SDG 5 – “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”. It examines successes and challenges in the use of big data to improve the li
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ves of women and girls, and identifies concrete data innovation projects from across the development sector that have considered the gender dimension. This report is the result of a literature review focused on big data and gender, interviews with colleagues from UN Women and UN Global Pulse, interviews with individuals and organizations working in the field of big data (LIRNEAsia, IDRC, World Wide Web Foundation, and the University of Southern California), and answers to a short questionnaire posed to six UN Women country offices." (About this Report, page 2)
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"Recent years have witnessed considerable speculation about the potential of open data to bring about wide-scale transformation. The bulk of existing evidence about the impact of open data, however, focuses on high-income countries. Much less is known about open data’s role and value in low- and m
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iddle-income countries, and more generally about its possible contributions to economic and social development. Open Data for Developing Economies features in-depth case studies on how open data is having an impact across the developing world-from an agriculture initiative in Colombia to data-driven healthcare projects in Uganda and South Africa to crisis response in Nepal. The analysis built on these case studies aims to create actionable intelligence regarding: (a) the conditions under which open data is most (and least) effective in development, presented in the form of a Periodic Table of Open Data; (b) strategies to maximize the positive contributions of open data to development; and (c) the means for limiting open data’s harms on developing countries." (Publisher description)
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"On 15 May 2017, as a precursor to the annual General Assembly, VOICE hosted an event entitled “Data collection and social media - innovation or challenge for humanitarian aid?”. The event brought together VOICE members, leading practitioners, and academics. The three panellists were Massimo Mar
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elli, Head of the Data Protection Office at the International Committee of the Red Cross, Kristin Bergtora Sandvik, a Research Professor in Humanitarian Studies at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, and Tanya Penny, Communications Director in Disaster Management at World Vision. The panel was chaired by Mags Bird, Strategy Advisor for VOICE member Mission East. The subject of the debate – data and the use of new technologies and social media in humanitarian action – is extremely topical. The panel discussion and the Q&A with the audience that followed it demonstrated that data, social media, and new technologies undoubtedly present many opportunities for data collection and innovation in the humanitarian sector. However, the event also highlighted the many challenges and questions presented by the rise of new technologies that need to be addressed. Challenges/questions arising include potentially upsetting donors or putting communities and staff in danger through misuse of information available through social media tools, issues surrounding data privacy, and the risks communities may put themselves at when using social media." (Summary)
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"We assume you know how to do human rights research but wish to expand on your knowledge of how to use digital data and online media for documentation purposes. This is a broad introduction that will set you on the right path to asking your own questions and seeking your own solutions. We aim to ins
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pire critical thinking, rather than be prescriptive about what specific software, devices, or platforms should be used, since these evolve constantly. We have vetted resources and collected further reading on the areas tackled in this report, which you can find online at https://engn.it/datnav. We imagine you are a human rights researcher, journalist, student, policymaker or philanthropist who wants to: boost traditional research and documentation (interviews, surveys, and spreadsheets) by learning to incorporate digital data; build knowledge and expertise in advance of the next emergency to avoid the reactionary collection of data while an event or violation is in full swing; understand the opportunities, limits, and risks of digital data, as well as when and how to seek expert advice to help you achieve your goals; overcome fear of digital data and technology, which is already in heavy use by your counterparts. With better tools, you know you can be more efficient." (Page 9)
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"The overflow of information generated during disasters can be as paralyzing to humanitarian response as the lack of information. This flash flood of information'social media, satellite imagery and more is often referred to as Big Data. Making sense of this data deluge during disasters is proving an
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impossible challenge for traditional humanitarian." (Publisher description)
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"Movements towards open data involve the publication of datasets (from metadata on publications, to research, to operational project statistics) online in standard formats and without restrictions on reuse. A number of open datasets are published as linked data, creating a web of connected datasets.
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Governments, companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across the world are increasingly exploring how the publication and use of open and linked data can have impacts on governance, economic growth and the delivery of services. This article outlines the historical, social and technical trajectories that have led to current interest in, and practices around, open data. Drawing on three example cases of working with open and linked data it takes a critical look at issues that development sector knowledge intermediaries may need to engage with to ensure the socio-technical innovations of open and linked data work in the interests of greater diversity and better development practice." (Abstract)
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