Policy Challenge Guide (Track A) Introduction One of the greatest challenges of our generation is achieving universal food and nutrition security. It would seem to be an achievable goal. After all, thanks to 21st Century innovation and inquiry we have more knowledge today about how to grow more food and eat more nutritious meals than ever before. Yet ironically a preponderance of the nearly 800 million most hungry and malnourished people on earth are themselves farmers. Alarmingly, a growing majority of those with easy access to food are for the first time in history both overweight and undernourished at the same time. GODAN partner organisations work across the world to support global efforts to make agricultural and nutritionally relevant data globally available and unrestricted. GODAN has worked with our partners to explore and define two specific challenge themes that experts, researchers and innovators can respond to. We hope that responses to these challenges will enable policy makers, farmers and the open data community to make significant steps forward in the release, management and use of open data. Ultimately the submissions we receive will all contribute solving long­standing problems and to benefit farmers and the health of consumers. Those people who participate in Track A are asked to explain the open data challenge(s) that they face in relation to our two challenge themes (see below), and design and propose a practical solution to overcome this barrier. They will apply to the challenge through a short, structured written submission (via the application form linked on the challenge homepage). Finalists will elaborate on their short written submission to develop a longer white paper (max 7,000 words). Contents of this document: 1.1 Challenge Question 1.2 Schedule 1.3 Who can participate? 1.4 Prizes and rewards 1.5 Assessment and Selection of Winners 1.6 Contact Details 1.1 Challenge Question Design a policy or program for your country/organisation that would incentivize government and non­governmental agencies to better utilize, collect, and/or make more accessible open data and will positively impact one of the following challenge themes: 1. Agriculture:​
The lack of crowdsourced data from rural areas, especially as it relates to helping farmers make better decisions about inputs, pricing, and other factors related to agricultural production. 2. Nutrition:​
The cost and difficulty of capturing and utilizing consumer open data about daily nutritional intake, with the goal of understanding nutritional risks, opportunities, and constraints. 1.2 Schedule First submission:​
Monday 1 August 2016, midnight GMT Finalists announced:​
Wednesday 17 August 2016 Finalists attend GODAN Summit:​
Thursday 15 and Friday 16 September 2016 Final submission:​
Monday 30 January 2017, midnight GMT Overall winner announced:​
At Spring Event 2017 (date to be confirmed​
) 1.3 Who can participate? All individuals who are interested in and knowledgeable about open data in agriculture/nutrition are welcome to participate in the Track A Policy Challenge. You might be particularly interested to participate if you are a researcher, academic, entrepreneur, student, government official or development practitioner. Submissions are welcomes from all organisations whether or not they are GODAN partners. 1.4 Prizes and rewards A panel of volunteer judges will review the submissions virtually (using the criteria below) and select a small group of finalists. These teams will: ● Be invited to attend the GODAN Summit 2016. One team member (team leader) will receive financial support to cover travel and accommodation. ● Present their paper during a short presentation at the GODAN Summit 2016 ● Benefit from mentorship opportunities and follow up support in the 3 months post­Summit: ○ GODAN will select a relevant mentor and suggest a schedule of discussions that you will need to arrange between yourselves and your mentor ○ Finalists are encouraged to use the GODAN Summit as an opportunity to network and develop their proposal by drawing on the attendees expertise. GODAN will support finalists to connect with relevant specialists at this event. 1 Final Winner Reward: One overall winning team will be selected and announced in Spring 2017. This team will receive: ● Cash prize $5,000 (USD) (and public announcement at Spring agriculture/nutrition event) ● Opportunity to publish the proposal in collaboration with GODAN and partner organisations 1.5 Assessment and Selection of Winners Judging Criteria Three consistent judging criteria will be used throughout the judging process to select finalists and winners. These have been selected to reflect the priorities for GODAN in running this challenge: 1. Impact​
– The obstacle defined must be shown to have widespread and significant impact a. What is the ​
nature of the impact​
that you anticipate your solution to create (social, environmental or economic). You should give some indication of the nature/size of this impact. b. There should be a clear ​
theory of change​
that relates your solution to the problem that you have chosen to address. You should articulate both the open data problem and the impact on the agriculture/nutrition sector. 2. Innovation​
– Your proposed solution must be innovative or an new application of an existing approach for accessing, sharing or using data a. Design a solution that will bring a ​
degree of innovation​
to the sector, what are the competing solutions already in use? b. Consider whether your solution has been implemented elsewhere ­ what ​
learnings​
can be applied to this sector if so? 3. Feasibility​
– The submission must show evidence that the solution is affordable, achievable and realistic. a. Give some indication that you have considered how the solution will be ​
implemented​
, supported financially​
and ​
adopted​
for the future (if relevant). b. How are ​
you well­placed​
to execute this solution? Stage 1 Judges A group of volunteer judges will be selected to assess submissions against an agreed judging rubric. They will work remotely and assess submissions virtually and independently of one another. Due to the volume of submissions that we anticipate, we cannot guarantee that feedback will be available. Your Stage 1 submission Submissions will only be accepted through the online application form managed on our behalf by YouNoodle. Should you have any technical difficulties accessing the form, please contact the organising team (details below). For the first round of the GODAN Open Data Challenge, you will need to complete a short submission, in the form of a written, structured concept note. Your submission will include responses to the following prompts/questions: ● Agriculture or Nutrition [select one or other] ● What is the problem that you seek to solve? [100 word limit] ● What are the parameters of your proposal? Local, National or Global – if local or national, where specifically (could be multiple places)? 2 ●
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What is the current impact and implications of this problem – make some attempt to quantify the scale of the challenge [200 words] In summary what is your proposed solution? [100 word limit] What has inspired your solution? What related/similar practices have you observed and where? [150 words] Describe your proposed solution in detail. [500 words] What is the impact you hope your solution will make on the open data infrastructure? [300 words] Who have you discussed your proposal with? What are their reactions? Include quotes/testimonials if available [100 words] What is the likely estimated financial cost of the implementation of this proposal? [100 words] ●
You may also wish to submit a video (max. 1 minute) captures the essence of the submission to complement the written document, this is optional. Your Stage 2 Submission Track A finalists will be required to write and submit a white paper (up to 7,000 words) that provides: ● Analysis of the current situation – the open data practice and the challenges that it presents ● Detailed articulation of the proposed solution ● Indication of the feasibility of the solution in practice ● Indication of the potential scale of application ● Illustrations/graphics/infographics to support the proposition Stage 2 Judges The finalists white papers will be assessed by high level government and development officials 1.6 Contact Details If you have a specific question relating to your entry, please email ​
briony.phillips1@gmail.com​
and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. 3