Policy

What we do

Our public policy team works with governments, civil society and companies to achieve effective and equitable data policies - in the UK and worldwide. Our advice is grounded in best practices and draws from the diverse policy expertise of the ODI. We respond to government reviews and consultations helping shape policy aligned with our vision, mission and guiding principles. Our contributions extend to engagement with Ministeries and Departments, as well as Parliamentarians and bodies such as the All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) and Select Committees.

We advise those wishing to make their views heard in policymaking circles, and we convene discussions to inform our policy work and our responses to the work of others.

Our impact

Since we opened our doors, we have directly advised the governments of Ukraine, Tanzania, Malaysia, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Singapore, Thailand and Mexico through the Open Data Leaders' Network, and worked in more than 50 countries worldwide.

We have catalysed or contributed to data-enabled policies and approaches in more than 30 UK public sector bodies. Our work has contributed to and been cited in dozens of reports by key decision-makers, including the UK Government's National Data Strategy, the upcoming AI Action Plan, plans for the UK’s National Data Library, and the European Commission's Data Act.

Work with us

Our robust public policy activities encompass policy research, analysis, and evidence synthesis. We foster dialogue through expert roundtables and workshops, advising government ministers and officials, parliamentarians, political advisers, and journalists. Discover our authoritative policy reports, tools, guides, and thought leadership pieces, all designed to empower data-enabled decision-making and impactful data policy.