Recent developments in information and communications technologies are offering new ways for content to be published, connected, discovered and used. New standards are being developed, and the flow of data is being managed through sharing of content in machine-readable formats.
These emerging standards and technologies are becoming widely adopted at the global level, and in larger, better resourced organisations. However, less attention is being given to the impact on smaller and more specialised information providers, and users, especially those based in the global South.
The move towards an open data environment has been led by access to financial aid, statistical data and government datasets. This has sometimes been coupled with the assumption that access to data alone will provide answers and solutions, and that intermediaries are no longer required.
There is a risk that:
The Open Knowledge Hub aims to address these issues by:
Equally important is the need to re-think how information is gathered and processed in ways which meet needs for relevant information at local levels, and supports local information providers, whilst at the same time contributing to regional and global information resources.