Online focus groups to determine priorities for opening databases of state institutions

As part of the USAID Civic Engagement Project, the Metamorphosis Foundation organized online focus groups to determine priorities of stakeholders with the aim of opening the databases of state institutions. The focus groups were held on 8 June 2020. The purpose of the discussions was to determine the civil sector and business sector needs for open data, to prioritize the opening of databases of state institutions and to identify obstacles in the process of data opening.

The first focus group was intended for the civil society sector and the discussion was attended by representatives of the Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women, Center for Change Management, Foundation Open Society – Macedonia, Association for Citizen’s Tolerance and Cooperation, Citizen Association for Help to the Homeless and Socially Endangered Families and Individuals – “Ljubeznost” and the Ministry of Information Society and Administration.

The second focus group was intended for the business sector and the discussion was attended by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce for Information and Communication Technologies – MASIT; StartUp Academy; StartUp Macedonia and the Ministry of Information Society and Administration.

Also, interviews were conducted with media representatives in order to determine their needs and priorities for opening the databases of state institutions.

The conclusions and findings of the discussions, together with the information obtained from the conducted interviews, will be submitted to the Ministry of Information Society and Administration and other relevant institutions. These findings will be the basis for the implementation of the next activities for opening and using the data of state institutions.

In the coming period, the Metamorphosis Foundation, within the USAID Civic Engagement Project, in cooperation with the Ministry of Information Society and Administration will provide technical assistance to the institutions in the Republic of North Macedonia to improve the use of open data.

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