[open-development] OECD Development Assistance Committee Open Data?

Wed Feb 2 12:13:38 UTC 2011

Hello Brian, Karin

Many thanks. I've managed to get the list of what the codes are from IATI
Standard (and out of the free-text in IATI files themselves to build
on-demand code-lists).

In an ideal world I was hoping there might be somewhere with a nice URL for
each code, and details of the supporting documentation of how that code is
to be applied - but I'm guessing we're a fair way off that at the moment...

That said - if the code lists were available in a standard form (and under
open license), it might be something Data Incubator (
http://dataincubator.org/) could be used to host in the short-term, if
hosting directly on OECD site etc. was tricky - given (I've just discovered
on checking it...) it's already hosting a copy of the OECD Statistical
Glossary (which alas doesn't seem to include DAC codes...)

All the best

Tim

On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 11:31 AM, Brian Hammond <
brian.w.hammond at btinternet.com> wrote:

> Tim,
>
>
>
> You are right that the DAC codes lists are in a mix of formats. I am not
> sure what their plans are for open format publishing of such lists and their
> history.
>
>
>
> However, for IATI purposes, you would do best to visit
> http://iatistandard.org/ where we have pulled in links to all the current
> versions of the DAC (and other) codes that are in the IATI standard. I think
> this is a probably a better source than AidData, who also have to get their
> lists second-hand from the DAC (but Jess can correct me if necessary).
>
>
>
> Working on the history of the lists is less easy, as revisions tend to be
> made by the relevant DAC working party and published in PDF. The exception
> is the DAC Aid recipients list, for which there is a complete history on the
> DAC website (www.oecd.org/dac/stats) which also provides access to their
> online data.
>
>
>
> I will be seeing DAC colleagues next week and will ask about any plans for
> a more accessible update and history of codes. This is something that I have
> also been discussing with them on behalf of AidData. So please include me on
> the list for further exchanges on this topic.
>
>
>
> Regards, Brian
>
>
>
> *From:* Karin Christiansen [mailto:
> karin.christiansen at publishwhatyoufund.org]
> *Sent:* 02 February 2011 11:08
> *To:* Tim Davies; open-development at lists.okfn.org; Jessica Sloan;
> brian.w.hammond at btinternet.com
> *Subject:* RE: [open-development] OECD Development Assistance Committee
> Open Data?
>
>
>
> Hi Tim, OCED are struggling a bit on open data licensing I think (but there
> might be others on this list more up to date).
>
>
>
> Am copying in Brian Hammond just in case he isn’t on this list.
>
>
>
> However in terms of the code lists, Jessica Sloan, from AidData, basically
> have all lists from their work and will surely be able to help.
>
>
>
> Karin
>
>
>
> *From:* open-development-bounces at lists.okfn.org [mailto:
> open-development-bounces at lists.okfn.org] *On Behalf Of *Tim Davies
> *Sent:* 02 February 2011 9:10 AM
> *To:* open-development at lists.okfn.org
> *Subject:* [open-development] OECD Development Assistance Committee Open
> Data?
>
>
>
> Hey all
>
>
>
> I'm working on a demonstrator tool to explore some of the recently released
> DFID IATI (International Aid Transparency Initiative) data - and the IATI
> data makes a lot of use of code lists, particularly from OECD's Development
> Assistance Committee (http://oecd.org/dac/).
>
>
>
> As far as I can tell (and from asking others who have been working to
> create the DFID data), the code lists (for Rio Markers; Sector Codes etc.)
> are not published by OECD in any easily open form - instead being scattered
> across spreadsheets, word documents and PDFs, with somewhat confusing
> revision histories (hard to work out if you're working with the most recent
> version).
>
>
>
> OECD also have a significant library of aid data.
>
>
>
> Is anyone aware of initiatives in OECD / DAC on open data? Or at least
> exposing data in more consistent and structured ways?
>
>
>
> It strikes me that for open development data initiatives - having a stable
> maintained place for DAC code lists etc - could be pretty useful...
>
>
>
> Tim
>

-- 

http://www.timdavies.org.uk
07834 856 303.
@timdavies

Co-director of Practical Participation:
http://www.practicalparticipation.co.uk
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