THE ROLE OF DATA FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN

MENA

AHLAN!I am Dr. Rayna Stamboliyska

Founder, Open MENA @OpenMENAopenmena.net

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DATA

◉Open data ≠ open gov◉Formats◉Licensing & copyright

image adapted from J. Gurin's definitions (CC-by-SA 3.0 Unported)

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS AS SEEN FROM OPEN DATA

A streamlined process: public sector data sets move from ’inside the government’ to ’outside in the open’.

The only thing changing through this transfer: where the data set sits and who can use it. Little to no implication on the political salience of such a move.

PRACTICE MEETS COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

A streamlined process does not exist in practice: data sets do not exist alone, for themselves.

Agencies often need to break the silos that divide them, collaborate, produce new data sets in given standards, presenting reshaped and filtered information.

IT IS A DATA ECOSYSTEM

innovation

You track how a given service performs: client base, customer support, new products needed, etc.

Service delivery KPIs

People can choose to pay for the service you deliver: data becomes a primary business asset.

Service monetisation

Integration happens, bottom-up and top-down decisions

feed in the system.

Improvement

Clients can buy ready-to-consume service, thus generating data. They

can also produce new data (reviews, etc.)

Consuming services

MEASURING DATA STATUSThe availability of data is a key component of a data-driven

ecosystem. A number of indices and tools exist to this end. Some of them suffer, however, from significant methodological flaws.

WHAT GETS MEASURED

Short answer: Too many irrelevant things.Long answer:◉ a database out of a country’s context;◉ Western standard defined data sets;◉ normative assessment (e.g., standards);◉ binary answers (‘yes’ vs. ‘no’);◉...

WHAT GETS MEASURED

Short answer: Too many irrelevant things.Long answer:◉ a database out of context;◉ Western standard defined data sets;◉ normative assessment (e.g., standards);

=> attempt for automated appreciation of a govt’s openness springs from a basic model of what govts are and what they ought to be.

WHAT GETS MEASURED (elsewhere)

Short answer: Interesting things.Long answer:◉ a country’s context;◉ impact on facets of human activity;◉ data release sustainability;◉ no binary answers;◉...

WHO IS INTERESTED?

Not many but growing:◉Jordan’s Data Bootcamp;◉Lebanon’s forthcoming data training at AUB;◉Tunisia’s CLibre/Sayada;◉Dataurora in Lebanon & UAE;◉Qatar Computing Center;◉Open MENA;◉you? :-)

NEED FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED CONTENT

The demand for Arabic content outweighs that for English content.

… BUT this demand is not met.

=> The growing number of localised, targeted, and – ideally – measurable content is a key trend to explore regarding digital (data-driven) innovation in MENA.

WHAT ABOUT DATA JOURNALISM?

Little to no awareness and capabilities about involving data in the journalistic and media practice

BUT the demand actually exists.

=> Strengthen and increase data literacy capacity building

WHAT ABOUT DATA ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

A technological, entrepreneurial revolution is ongoing.

BUT different obstacles make it hard for entrepreneurs to harness the full potential of the market.

700 million $Invested in tech start-ups (Oct 2013-Oct 2015)

Shift happensPalestine, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, KSA

26,6 %Of the deals realised in the UAE

WHAT ABOUT THE APP ECONOMY?

◉70% of the time spent on mobile is spent in-app◉In-app and paid-for apps are the two of the top

monetisation channels.

=> an important measurement of the app economy in MENA = the willingness of customers to pay for apps and to realise in-app purchases

Top App Trends Dominating MENA in 2015, ArabNet

Top App Trends Dominating MENA in 2015, ArabNet

WHAT CHALLENGES?

◉Few venture capital funds;◉Obtaining investment, esp. seed;◉Most start-ups do not focus on cloud-supported & big

data services;◉Serious ‘brain drain’;◉Majority of entrepreneurs benefits no mentorship;◉Expand in neighbouring countries;◉Attract and retain talent;◉Generate revenues.

STRATEGY FOR DATATailoring the offer to local demand is ambitious strategy and does not appear to be the preferred one MENA start-ups adopt. This is

especially true for potential data-driven activities as the data is specific to the context it stems from.

THANKS!Any questions?

You can find me at@OpenMENA / ahlan@openmena.net

A QUICK WRAP-UP: OPEN DATA IN MENA

The ODB 2015 found:◉Morocco, Tunisia: emerging & advancing

=> diverse strengths and a high potential to develop innovative approaches to open data, but challenges persist

A QUICK WRAP-UP: OPEN DATA IN MENA

The ODB 2015 found:◉Jordan, Egypt and Yemen: capacity constrained

=> challenges in establishing a sustainable open data initiative

A QUICK WRAP-UP: OPEN DATA IN MENA

The ODB 2015 found:◉UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain: one-sided

=> selected data sets are published irregularly; no civil society and private sector involvement.

“Culture and ecosystem, however, mean everything, and these entrepreneurs face real headwinds. There are disappointingly few Middle Eastern governments

and educational institutions seriously tackling the difficult decisions required to change downward trajectories in infrastructure at scale and speed.

"Startup Rising", M. Andreessen (preface)