Open Data for Everybody: Using Open Data for Social Good

What if I told you something that could empower our third sector and activists to enhance their capacity? From gathering evidence for funding tenders to campaigning for crucial social issues and much more? It’s called open data, yet many in social action remain unaware of it. Primarily shaped by corporate entities, open data seems tailored only for technologists, alienating the third sector. But in reality, it’s a powerful tool for social change, bolstering civil society, and creating resilient communities.

This book argues a simple point: if open data and the digital aspects that support it aren’t accessible to all, then what is the point of it? In an age where technology should be seen as a fundamental human right, it’s time to rethink outreach. Deeply rooted in grassroots social activism, this book explores a journey that led to collaborations with governments globally, based on real hands-on work, aiming to democratize open data. Through narrative storytelling, we share insights, best practices, procedures, and community-driven approaches. Regardless of your skill set or organization size, from grassroots workers to third-sector professionals and government officers, join us to reshape the perception of open data, fostering change in neighborhoods.

Open Data for Everybody: Using Open Data for Social Good is a love letter to open data’s transformative power. To create solutions, understanding the problem is crucial. This book seeks to return control to the real experts--those living and working within our communities.

Nathan Coyle is a British digital activist, former Director of a leading civic innovation organization and currently leads on Peace Technology for The Austrian Centre for Peace in Vienna. With a wealth of international experience, Nathan has partnered with governments across the globe, both local and central, to enhance their digital outreach efforts, employing innovative strategies like hackathons, toolkit design, civic tech, and human-centred design. He has conducted talks and lectures across Europe on the subject of making open data and smart cities more accessible, including a TEDx talk and has written for various publications such as The Huffington Post, The Guardian and Vice Media. He is also a keen developer and graphic designer, who tried to instill creativity in every aspect of policy design.