The City of Cape Town has embarked on a pioneering journey by announcing its comprehensive Data Strategy, aimed at transforming service delivery through enhanced data utilisation and transparency.
This initiative was unveiled on September 9, with the City marking it as a key milestone that positions Cape Town as a leader in data-driven governance across Africa.
Over the last few years, the City has steadily changed into a data-driven organisation, and the formal launch of this Data Strategy represents the outcome of years of effort.
"We pledged to take service delivery into the digital age, ensuring unprecedented levels of data transparency for the public," said executive mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis during the launch.
According to Hill-Lewis, this is a first for an African city.
The Data Strategy outlines a comprehensive framework for improving the efficiency, openness, and accountability of city services.
Hill-Lewis emphasised that the approach was intended to give citizens, stakeholders, and the general public access to a wealth of relevant data via the Open Data Portal.
"Residents can access all sorts of information, ranging from service delivery maps and demographic data to real-time water quality monitoring for inland and coastal bodies," said Hill-Lewis.
In addition to increasing data accessibility, the City is using these insights to monitor and enhance infrastructure performance in the water, sanitation, and energy sectors.
"We encourage the public to work with us as we enhance the quality and scope of the data that will support a future-fit City of Hope for all," said Hill-Lewis.
The Data Strategy did not evolve overnight. Since 2018, the City has made concerted efforts to transform its administrative data into actionable insights that support evidence-based decision-making.
These efforts began with the establishment of an internal administrative data strategy, laying the foundation for the comprehensive Data Strategy now being launched.
To support the implementation of this plan, the City of Cape Town established a three-year technical advisory collaboration with the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (UKFCDO).
This partnership has helped to form the City's Data Science team, which is already working on data-driven projects ranging from Covid-19 response programs to infrastructure asset management.
"By using data more effectively, we can now make better, more informed decisions that directly improve the lives of our citizens," said Hill-Lewis.
"This partnership has been invaluable in growing our internal capacity to make the most of our data resources."
IOL