The editors would like to thank the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for its support of the State of Open Data project from inception to conclusion, without which this publication would not have been possible.
We wish to also acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the Open Data for Development (OD4D) network to help create open data ecosystems around the world in order to spur social change, increase government transparency, support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and for its ongoing commitment to promoting and understanding the impact of open data, resulting in the publication of this volume. OD4D has received support from IDRC, the World Bank, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Global Affairs Canada.
The State of Open Data project is the result of a collaboration, drawing on input from over 200 individuals. Authors have benefitted from independent reviews by members of the Editorial Board and invited reviewers, as well as the input of many more contributors during the early online “Environment Scan” stage of the project. We have endeavoured to credit all non-anonymous contributions, but know there will have been input and suggestions offered at workshops or in conversations that are not recorded below. If you were a contributor to the State of Open Data project in any way, we thank you.
The State of Open Data project owes its greatest debt to all of the authors who have come together to contribute chapters to this volume, bringing to the project an unprecedented level of expertise and knowledge, as well as a diversity of invaluable experience. We have included more specific information on every author in each chapter.
We would like to recognise and thank all the members of The State of Open Data’s dedicated Editorial Board, our extremely knowledgeable team of peer reviewers, and all those who have provided additional assistance to the authors through their contribution to the environmental scans or to the development of the chapters in this volume.
Ania Calderon, Craig Hammer, Fiona Smith, Joel Gurin, Katelyn Rogers, Lejla Sadiku, Maurice McNaughton, Muchiri Nyaggah, Nancy Salem, Nnenna Nwakanma, Shaida Badiee, Stefaan Verhulst, and Teg-wende Idriss (Tinto).
Abed Khooli, Ali Rebaie, Amanda Smith, Amy Guy, Anca Matioc, Ania Calderon, Caleb Rudow, Claire Schouten, Claudia Schwegmann, David McNair, Eric Swanson, Francesca De Chiara, Giuseppe Sollazzo, Hatem Ben Yacoub, Jacqueline Klopp, Jean-Noé Landry, Jenna Slotin, Joshua Powell, Julian Tait, Keitha Booth, Krishna Sapkota, Krzysztof Izdebski, Leigh Dodds, Maya Forstater, Mollie Hanley, Omenogo Mejabi, Oscar Montiel, Paul Walsh, Paulina Bustos Arellano, Pyrou Chung, Raed M. Sharif, Rafael García Aceves, Riyadh Al-Balushi, Rob Kitchin, Rosario Pavese, Satyarupa Shekhar, Tom Orrell, Willow Brugh, and Yan Naung Oak.
Carlos Iglesias, Enrique Zapata, Arjan El Fassed, Stefanie Felsberger, Alan Hudson, Kshitiz Khanal, Michal Kubáň, Carla Bonina, Devangana Khokhar, James McKinney, Khairil Yusof, Pierre Chrzanowski, Adrián Pino, Ana Brandusescu, Andrea Borruso, Anne-Marie Heemskerk, Bart Hanssens, Ben Parker, Christian Medina-Ramirez, Eduard Martin-Borregon, Elise Dufief, Eva Constantaras, Francois van Schalkwyk, Joshua Tauberer, Lindsay Read, Manuel Acevedo, Marina Godoy Crotto, Martin Noblecourt, Martín Szyszlican, Matteo Brunati, Paige Kirby, Rachel Rank, Rupert Simons, Aaron Wytze, Adam Kariv, Alannah Hilt, Alla Morrison, Andi Pawelke, Andrea Ayres Deets, Andrew Nicklin, Andrew Therriault, Andrew Young, Anna Alberts, Anna Fleming, Anna Powell-Smith, Anton Ruehling, Antonio Jesús Sánchez Padial, Arturo Muente-Kunigami, Audrey Ariss, Bierta Thaci, Carole Excell, Chang Liu, Chipo Msengezi, Chris Taggart, Daniel Carranza, Darko Brkan, David Moore, David Rae, David Sasaki, David Selassie Opoku, David Wasylciw, Denice Ross, Dhanaraj Thakur, Dheeraj Ravindranath, Diego Cuesy, Duncan Edwards, Edafe Onerhime, Edward Saperia, Eliza Niewiadomska, Fabrizio Scrollini, Felipe Amaya Salazar, Feng Gao, Gabe Sawhney, Gabriel Mercado, Gabriela Rodriguez, Gaurav Godhwani, Georges Labreche, German Stalker, Gerry Tychon, Gwen Phillips, Hari Subhash, Hossein Maleknejad, Jason Lally, Jason M. Hare, Jay Daley, Jeff Geipel, Joel Natividad, Jonathan van Geuns, Jorge Florez, Jorge Umaña, Jose M. Alonso, Joshua Powell, Juan Ortiz Freuler, Juan Pablo Marin Diaz, Kate Vang, Katie Clancy, Krystina Shveda, Krzysztof Madejski, Kyle Copas, Laura Meggiolaro, Lisa Walmsley, Liz Dodds, Liz McGrath, Maciej Możejewski, Madeleine Ngeunga, Maggie Walter, Manuel Acevedo, Marnie Webb, Martin Bader, Martin Noblecourt, Matthew McNaughton, Michael Schnuerle, Mike Davies, Mikhail Parfentiev, Miles Litvinoff, Momi Peralta Ramos, Mor Rubinstein, Nadiia Babynsky Virna, Nancy Salem, Natalia Mazotte, Nikesh Balami, Nikhil VJ, Nino Macharashvili, Noémie Girard, Nora Lester Murad, Owen Boswarva, Pablo Cruz Casas, Paloma Baytelman, Paola Mosso, Paul Bradshaw, Paul Hindriks, Paul Stone, Paulina Bustos, Pedro Manrique, Philip Horgan, Pınar Dağ, Rachel Murray, Ruba Ishak, Scott McQuarrie, Selene Yang, Sidi Zakari Ibrahim, Stefaan Verhulst, Steven Adler, Sym Roe, Tara Susman-Peña, Thomas Lassourd, Tina Appiah, Tyler Kleykamp, Valentina Delgado, Virginia Brussa, Walter Palmetshofer, Will Skora, Yacine Khelladi, Yanina Bellini Saibene, Yohanna Loucheur, and Zukiswa Kota.
The editors also wish to thank and acknowledge Jean-Noé Landry and the team at OpenNorth for their invaluable support of the project’s administrative processes.
Special thanks are due to the entire African Minds production team: Simon Chislett, Leith Davis, and Tessa Botha, as well as African Minds Director, François van Schalkwyk, for his partnership in the publishing process. Finally, the project also owes a great debt to Nola Haddadian, the Publisher at IDRC, for her tireless support and patience throughout the publishing and editorial review process without which the project would not have been realised.