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Rwanda looks to open data to spur job creation

Xinhua, June 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Rwanda is set to introduce open data strategy to stimulate job opportunities for the young people.

Open data is information made available by governments, businesses and other groups for anyone to read, use and share.

"In an information and knowledge-based economy that Rwanda is increasingly turning into, Open Data is a precious national resource and a strategic asset of the country," Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Rwanda minister of youth and ICT told reporters shortly after closing two-day open data forum on Sunday.

The retreat brought together experts from various institutions that will champion the policy, data-holding/producing institutions and agencies that stand to benefit from an Open Data initiative.

He noted that open data initiative seeks to increase transparency, accountability, equity, and the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of governance.

"With the process young people can bank on it and be innovative in ways that promote citizen/public engagement and the allocation of resources."

"As we think about open data policy we should also think on demand side, as data to be discovered, on demand side, think on the big miners who are youth," Nsengimana noted.

Rwanda commits to move from an agrarian society and economy to one that is based on information and knowledge by 2020, according to the ministry of youth and ICT.

"Information and communication technologies particularly Open Data, has got enormous potential to spur innovation and creativity, increase the proliferation of high skilled jobs, contribute to economic growth, and create a more accountable, efficient, responsive, and effective government," the minister explained.

"There's a lot of great data from the government that can help people create jobs and services."

Easy access to data allows individuals and organizations to develop new insights and innovations that can improve the lives of others and help to improve the flow of information.

According to 2012 Rwanda Population and Housing Census, total unemployment rate in the country stands at 3.4 percent and about 67 percent of all unemployed people are youth aged 16-34 years. Endi