Oxford Insights
The challenge
In 2022, the Government of Colombia established the need to govern data effectively for the benefit of citizens as one of their policy priorities. The National Planning Department (DNP) commissioned Oxford Insights to develop a data-sharing pilot in a strategic sector for the Colombian economy to unlock value and opportunities through effective data governance.
Our approach
We began our work by investigating the potential for implementing a sustainable data-sharing mechanism in three strategic sectors: agriculture, energy, and transport.
To systematically assess each sector’s potential, we created a framework that measured more than 20 indicators across six dimensions, including stakeholder support and economic value. After identifying agriculture as the sector best suited to a data sharing pilot, we conducted workshops with government officials to brainstorm potential use cases, encouraging stakeholders to pitch ideas for consideration.
Concurrently, we explored three types of data institutions—data commons, data trusts, and data marketplaces—to structure the pilot around. We studied international examples to understand their features and potential impact on the chosen use case. We developed a practical guide for stakeholders illustrating how to implement the data institution models, incorporating recommendations tailored to Colombia’s context. We also identified potential allies and provided policy recommendations.
Our impact
Our collaborative effort resulted in the successful design of a data sharing pilot tailored to Colombia’s agricultural sector. By addressing barriers and leveraging opportunities, we laid the groundwork for effective data governance, paving the way for future initiatives to harness the power of data for economic growth and societal benefit.
Our pilot design document (in Spanish) is available at right, and you can read more about our work on the Colombian Ministry of Information Technology and Communication’s website.
Grid photo by Juan Saravia on Unsplash
