We approach our work through a methodology grounded in COLLABORATION, ACTION, KNOWLEDGE, AND EDUCATION. CODE works to improve the open data ecosystem in three ways: hosting interactive OPEN DATA ROUNDTABLES in the U.S. and internationally, conducting RESEARCH, and developing RESOURCES for greater application of publicly available data.

CODE's METHODOLOGY

Through nearly a decade of work on applying data for public good, CODE has developed a methodology that leverages the virtuous circle of Collaboration, Action, Knowledge, and Education. Unlike purely technical organizations that focus on improving datasets, conducting data analysis, or building analytic tools, we take a unique approach that focuses on how data can be used. Our work is designed to combine technology, policy, and practical application to solve important public problems. We have successfully applied our methodology to help organizations put their data to better use across a wide range of areas and applications.

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ROUNDTABLES

CODE has conducted dozens of Open Data Roundtables with government agencies and other partners in the U.S. and internationally. These unique convenings bring together data providers and their data users to help identify high-value datasets, find solutions to data problems, and establish new collaborations. They connect experts from government, nonprofits and NGOs, academia, and the private sector who may never have met before but who share common goals and interests. The Open Data Roundtables include presentations, discussions, and highly facilitated breakout sessions to produce actionable recommendations through published reports, which can be found on our Publications page. You can lean more about our Open Data Roundtables in this short video featuring CODE's Roundtables Program Manager Paul Kuhne. CODE hosts three types of Roundtables:

U.S. Federal Roundtables. CODE has held more than two dozen Roundtables and Workshops with the White House and Federal agencies focusing on topics including medical research and health care, energy and the environment, and the Federal data strategy. They can cover the use of an individual agency’s data, cross-cutting topics and issues that involve multiple agencies, or federal data policy across the government. CODE has had a particular focus on Roundtables for health data sharing, including Roundtables on specific diseases or health conditions, on general data sharing principles, and on the social determinants of health. These Roundtables often involve participants from state and local governments to address how their data programs can best work together with Federal programs.

CODE now hosts most of our Federal Roundtables virtually. Each of our Roundtables typically includes a number of associated activities and publications:
          - A Briefing Paper that provides a landscape analysis of current work and challenges in the field
     - A public Webinar, livestreamed and recorded for later viewing, with keynote addresses from Federal leaders, and lightning talks on data applications
         - A Summary Report with insights from the Roundtable and CODE's recommendations for action
         - A Data Hub presenting high-value data resources and analytic models through a searchable, sortable, and easily usable online platform
     - Public outreach on the results of the Roundtable through email campaigns, social media, and articles in widely read online publications

See U.S. Federal Roundtable Reports & Publications >
Independent Roundtables. CODE’s Independent Roundtables represent the initiatives and convenings hosted independently by CODE without government partnerships, but often with government participation. These have included roundtables on data for racial equity in healthcare and policing, on oceans data, and on data for advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. CODE’s Independent Roundtables are often co-hosted by other nonprofits such as the IBM Center for the Business of Government, Measures for Justice, Ocean Conservancy, and the Global Project for Sustainable Development Data.

See Independent Roundtable Reports & Publications>
International Roundtables. CODE has worked with the national governments of numerous countries to help them develop user-focused data policies. Many of these CODE Roundtables have used the Open Data for Business (OD4B) tool, developed by CODE and the World Bank, which is an assessment methodology to help inform governments’ data strategies and investments to meet the needs of the private sector. The OD4B Tool works to increase private sector awareness of government data, identify high-value datasets, and develop action plans for governments to engage with business on an ongoing basis. CODE has also facilitated sessions with the United Nations and other partners as part of its work on the SDG National Reporting Initiative.
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See International Roundtable Reports & Publications >

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RESEARCH

CODE’s research provides insights, best practices, and recommendations on investing in, sharing, and utilizing data for public good. The organization’s reports, white papers, and policy notes provide an overview of current data applications, facilitate analysis of trends and opportunities, and provide recommendations for management and use of publicly available data. These publications can be found on our Publications page. CODE conducts research on:

Data Policy. CODE’s research focuses on developing government policy recommendations for open data management, infrastructure, capabilities, and alignment with public services. For example, the Open Data Transition Report, a nonpartisan report published in October 2016, presented an action plan with recommendations for a continued government commitment to open data after the presidential election.
Best Practices. CODE studies the ways that government agencies and their stakeholders can better use publicly available data to serve user needs. CODE’s research offers insights and recommendations into such topics as government data and business innovation, data management through the data lifecycle, and privacy protection in data publication and use.
Global Progress. CODE’s research and reports on utilizing data for sustainable development focus on applying the data revolution to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. CODE has published several reports on sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals in partnership with the World Bank and other international organizations.

See Relevant Publications >

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RESOURCES

CODE develops resources for the U.S. and international data community to help analyze the use of open government data, provide insight into policies and best practices, and help governments leverage their data assets. These include:

Resource and Data Hubs. CODE’s roundtables and research identify a range of resources including reports, organizations, datasets, and data portals. Our Resource and Data Hubs present this valuable information in searchable, sortable tables. They provide a single source of access for anyone looking to understand the state of data, related research, and key organizations and individuals involved in a wide range of topics.
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              The CODE Climate Risk Data Hub
              The CODE Cross-Sectoral Social Determinants of Health Resource Hub
              The CODE + Measures for Justice Data for Racial Equity in Policing Resource Hub
Healthdatasharing.org. HealthDataSharing.org was developed as part of the Open Data Roundtable Series: Sharing and Utilizing Data to Enhance and Protect Health and Well-Being, which allowed the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at HHS and the Center for Open Data Enterprise (CODE) to co-host a series of three roundtables for experts inside and outside of government to find ways to improve how health data is shared and utilized for the public good. HealthDataSharing.org presents findings from those roundtables, further research by CODE, and additional input from key stakeholders. The Roundtable Series and HealthDataSharing.org were funded by an Engagement Award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Healthdatasharing.org is no longer active and was last updated in 2021.
SDG National Reporting Initiative. The SDG National Reporting Initiative was launched to facilitate greater information-sharing for reporting on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) between international, regional, and local communities. SDG reporting involves publishing and disseminating data and statistics on the SDG indicators for key stakeholders. It is an essential tool for helping to achieve the SDGs and to monitor progress. The SDG National Reporting Initiative is no longer active and was last update in July 2019.
Open Data Impact Map. A project of the Open Data for Development Network (OD4D)m developed and managed by CODE, the Open Data Impact Map is a public database of organizations that use open government data from around the world. It showcases open data use cases across 7 geographical regions, 20 countries, and 13 sectors. The Impact Map was developed to provide governments, international organizations, and researchers with a more comprehensive understanding of the demand for open data, and to enable cross-national comparisons and analysis. The Open Data Impact Map is no longer active and was last updated in 2018.
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See Relevant Publications >

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What We Do

CODE's METHODOLOGY

ROUNDTABLES

RESEARCH

RESOURCES