Open Development Cambodia

When Open Development Cambodia (ODC) launched in 2011 it was the first independent open data website in Southeast Asia. The open data movement is based on the simple premise that data collected for public interest should be publicly available without restrictions. Information or data in the public domain should be freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish.

The mission of ODC is to make data and objective, politically-neutral information accessible to all people, in both English and the Khmer language – it is critical that data is provided in the local language. We identify topics where the availability of information is more limited and work to bridge those gaps by gathering and collating data from a wide range of sources. All our content is freely available on ODC’s secure online platform in order to enhance the informed decisions of citizens and other stakeholders. The information on the ODC platform covers a number of different topics, ranging from social and environmental issues to public services and economic matters. ODC strives to present data through user-friendly and interactive formats, such as digital maps, which allow users to compare multiple map layers of interest to them. The platform has an average of over 60,000 unique monthly visitors. In addition to maintaining its website, ODC regularly conducts outreach activities – workshops, hackathons, and visits to rural areas – in order to show people how to access and use the data. ODC registered with the Ministry of Interior in Cambodia as a local non-governmental organization in 2015. ODC has grown to become an important resource in Cambodia’s civic tech ecosystem. It is a great model for other developing countries to consider as a way of sharing knowledge with all citizens. Support for ODC initiatives has resulted in a considerable amount of new data and knowledge become available, evidence that many individuals and organizations can use to support their development strategies, planning, and programs in Cambodia.