2 PREFACE The transition to e-government and digital means of data collection, storage, analysis and use provides the Government of Myanmar with a unique opportunity to rethink ways of working, and develop a local data ecosystem that generates quality data and strengthens the work of government. Over the past five years, The Asia Foundation has been working with a range of government agencies across Myanmar to improve the collection and use of data, and develop and implement digital systems to support their work. The Foundation’s work helps individual agencies to meet their routine responsibilities, but also enables multiple departments to work together to plan and solve local problems collectively and strategically. The Foundation is publishing Developing Myanmar’s Local Data Ecosystem to share its experience and learning. We hope that it provides insights of use to all stakeholders in Myanmar’s governance system. The report was generously financed by UKaid. The opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of The Asia Foundation or UKaid. Dr. Matthew B. Arnold Country Representative, The Asia Foundation, Myanmar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank everyone who contributed to this study, including the numerous township officials with whom Thibi and The Asia Foundation have had the pleasure of working, and whose experiences this paper is intended to reflect. The authors would also like to acknowledge the invaluable feedback and advice of those who reviewed the report. Finally, a special thank-you to Matthew Arnold, Diana Fernandez, and Ange Moray of The Asia Foundation for their continued support and guidance. Any faults in substance or analysis rest with the authors. AUTHORS Richard Batcheler Lu Min Lwin David Ney James Owen James Powers REVIEWERS Jared Bissinger Shon Campbell Asim Jaweed Yan Naung Oak GRAPHIC DESIGNER Elzemiek Zinkstok EDITOR John H. Rieger