Examining the impact of national open data initiatives on human development: A comparative study between Latin America and Africa

In an era where data-driven decision-making is crucial for sustainable development, the role of open data initiatives in shaping potential and strategic outcomes has gained increasing attention. This study investigates the potential impact of National Open Data (NOD) initiatives on human capital development, with specific emphasis on their contribution towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) targets. It explores the relationship between these initiatives and the Human Development Index (HDI) across different countries and regions aiming to ascertain if there is a significant association between open data and human development. The results indicate a strong positive correlation between NOD initiatives and HDI, suggesting that open data can play a crucial role in enhancing human development and meeting SDG3 targets. However, the strength of this relationship varies significantly across regions, with a more pronounced impact observed in Latin America compared to Africa. These findings underscore the potential of open data in propelling human capital development but also highlight the need to contextualize such initiatives based on unique regional dynamics. The study serves as a resource for policymakers in leveraging open data to enhance human development outcomes and progress towards achieving SDGs.