[okfn-za] Open Data Initiatives in southern Africa?

Mon Nov 21 18:37:11 UTC 2011

Hi Justin

Thanks for your response. An introduction to the Open Democracy Advice
Center would be fantastic. I would be interested in learning what they
are working on here in the Western Cape. We are running a project
which monitors stock levels of essential medicines at local health
facilities. The project is currently being deployed in 8 SADC
countries but we are already active in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The
information will be used to help inform communities about the
performance of their local clinics and provide them with the tools to
demand better service delivery. Depending on what the ODAC is doing,
there may be some overlap in activities.

Adi

On 21 November 2011 16:10, Justin Arenstein <justinarenstein at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Adi,
> Apologies for the delay in replying. I've been on the road, so am only
> working through my inbox now. There is a very active OD community in Kenya,
> which is doing active outreach to activists in Uganda, Tanzania & Rwanda.

> We are also busy building an OD community in South Africa, leveraging the
> open access and open government communities. Your nearest point of contact,
> in Cape Town, would be the Open Democracy Advice Center. They've just
> getting their 1st open data projects off the ground, focusing on grassroots
> services for shantytown communities in the Western Cape. Shout if you'd like
> me to connect you to the appropriate people there.
> The folk at FrontlineSMS Medic are also very active in the region, and would
> probably be keen to share insights / synergies with you.
> Cheers,
> Justin
>
> On 20 November 2011 18:54, Adi Eyal <adi at burgercom.co.za> wrote:
>>
>> Hi All
>>
>> I stumbled across this mailing list and read the initial thread that
>> started it off. I'm involved in regional DFID-funded programme on
>> improving access to medicines in Southern Africa. One of the important
>> components of this programme  is the making available of information
>> on medicine prices, registration lists, tenders etc, in a public forum
>> so as to encourage co-operation between SADC member states and to
>> lower prices and improve availability of essential medicines.
>>
>> Rather than starting from scratch - I was hoping that there were
>> others in the region who were working in the open data arena - I'd
>> certainly hope to benefit from others' experience but perhaps also
>> take part in a larger initiative.
>>
>> Anyone out there?
>>
>> Regards
>> Adi
>>
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>
>