Ukraine’s Open Data Road Map is its strategic plan to make data available for anyone to access, use, and share. Open Data helps government improve public services, drives innovation and economic growth, and promotes trust and transparency between government and citizens.
To support Ukraine’s Open Data Roadmap 2017, the USAID- and UK-funded Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services project convened a wide circle of open data experts and civil society representatives on December 22, 2016 for an open discussion, “Open by Default: current state and priorities of open data development in Ukraine.” This event was open to the public.
One of the primary goals of the meeting was not only to finalize the achievements of Ukraine’s Open Data Roadmap 2016, but also to discuss its’ shortcomings and challenges. Diana Zubko, the Democratic Governance expert at U.N. Development Program Ukraine, presented an evaluation of Ukraine’s open data capacity and engagement of experts and civil society, which resulted in the decision to create a definite development plan, “Ukraine’s Open Data Roadmap”.
Oleksii Vyskub, Deputy Head of State Agency for E-Governance in Ukraine—the main governmental body responsible for open data in Ukraine—pointed out the importance of the Open Data Roadmap and the participation of civil society in the discussion. In 2015, the State Agency understood the importance of developing an Open Data Roadmap, engaging citizens, and improving open data methodologies, said Mr. Vyskub. During the last year, he pointed out, the State Agency implemented international best practices in the open data sector, including auditing governmental agencies and joining the International Open Data Charter. Mr. Vyskub stated that in within one year, the State Agency for E-Governance gathered the necessary experience to continue developing the Open Data Roadmap, but the lack of collaboration among public institutions and engagement from citizens and experts remains the biggest challenge. In addition, “We realize that that data which is currently published on a portal [data.gov.ua] is of low quality and can not be called completely open, so in 2017 we plan to focus on the quality of the data, rather than the quantity,” said Mr. Vyskub
“WE REALIZE THAT THAT DATA WHICH IS CURRENTLY PUBLISHED ON A PORTAL [DATA.GOV.UA] IS OF LOW QUALITY AND CAN NOT BE CALLED COMPLETELY OPEN, SO IN 2017 WE PLAN TO FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF THE DATA, RATHER THAN THE QUANTITY.”
Data Journalism Agency Texty.org.ua analyst Andrii Gazin discussed his analysis of the implementation of Ukraine’s Open Data Roadmap by state institutions, described the challenges in completing the tasks of the Roadmap, and recommended solutions, such as improving the data.gov.ua portal, strengthening the “data publishing culture,” and updating the Roadmap. There are particular problems with the functionality and general architecture of the data.gov.ua portal, as well as delays in downloading and deleting the data. Finally, he advocated the importance of aligning the Open Data Decree with other legislative acts and continuing to invest in improving the Roadmap methodology.
“THE MAIN ADVANTAGE OF JOINING THE INTERNATIONAL CHARTER IS THE ACCESS TO THE BEST INTERNATIONAL OPEN DATA PRACTICES, WHICH, IN ITS’ TURN, WILL GIVE DIRECTIONS AND LEADING PRINCIPLES FOR OPEN DATA DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE.”
Kateryna Onyiliogwu, team lead of Open Data component of Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services, shared her experience with international open data practices. The leading standard for open data in the world is the International Open Data Charter, which Ukraine has joined first among all post-Soviet countries, and which is a serious step in state’s progress in open data development. “The main advantage of joining the International Charter is the access to the best international open data practices, which, in its’ turn, will give directions and leading principles for open data development in Ukraine,” said Ms. Onyiliogwu
Inclusiveness is the central principle of Open Data, said Nadia Babyns’ka, head of the “Open Data Portal at Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.” Ms. Babyns’ka presented the development plan for Ukraine’s Open Data Roadmap in 2017 carrying over the strongest elements of the previous Roadmap and adding new and improved principles to help Ukraine advance Open Data in 2017.
