Data Sharing & Governance

Bahrain Open Data Portal provides citizens, businesses, and researchers free access to government data for sustainable development. It aims at building up their capacities to overcome data silos and skill gaps to address diverse dimensions of data governance. Bahrain's Vision 2030 emphasizes the importance of digital transformation and data management in achieving economic growth and development. The vision includes initiatives to improve eGovernment services, establish a national data center, and enhance data security and privacy to ensure the consistency of data collection that enhances government accountability in sharing data and strengthening data quality. 
The Kingdom of Bahrain has established the ‘National Information and Population Taskforce, chaired by the cabinet Affairs minister, to follow up on national indicators and information related to socio-economic fields and demographic statistics. 

The panel will propose national demographic policies and update and verify data pertaining to national indicators and information and sustainable development goals, including population programs.

The task force shall also ensure all government entities update all national information and statistics related to sustainable development goals and competitiveness. It also sets the required measures that regulate data exchange between government entities and review and evaluate the database towards enhancing the quality of information.

Enterprise Data Governance: Bahrain government uses geodata in a variety of applications and initiatives to simulate and predict the impact of policy decisions at the enterprise level. The government has implemented several geospatial data management and analysis initiatives, including the Bahrain Spatial Data Infrastructure (BSDI). These initiatives aim to encourage the creation, use, and maintenance of GIS datasets, GIS and remotely sensed data in numerous studies and urban planning, environmental monitoring, and improve access to geospatial data across government agencies. Bahrain is leveraging satellite technology to enhance its government data management system. Bahrain can gather valuable information about its land, natural resources, and infrastructure by utilizing satellite imagery and remote sensing data. This data can be stored and accessed from a centralized location.

Cloud-tech Platforms: Bahrain is leading the way in government data management by providing a secure and scalable platform that allows for the efficient sharing of data across various government agencies and departments. With Cloud-First Policy, Bahrain has a clear roadmap and guidance for adopting cloud technology at the public sector level. This centralized system makes it easier for different entities to collaborate and access data from a secure, centralized location, which is a significant advantage over traditional data management systems.

Bahrain is unique in its approach to cloud computing. According to Amazon, Bahrain is the first country with a policy mandating that all government entities move to the cloud. Today, more than 30 government agencies in Bahrain have migrated their systems to the cloud, demonstrating a deep commitment to innovation and modernization.

By embracing cloud computing, Bahrain is not only improving data management and collaboration but also reducing costs and increasing efficiency. As Bahrain continues to lead the way in government cloud computing, other countries may look to this small but forward-thinking nation as a model for innovation in data management and technology.

Data Analytic Platform: Bahrain is establishing a national data lake for enhanced analytics, benefiting government agencies and public services. The Bahrain Open Data Portal is being upgraded for easier access through machine-readable formats.

Key projects like the population census and Consumer Price Index rely on big data, AI, and advanced analytics. These technologies also bolster the Tourism sector and the National Space Science Agency, ensuring accurate insights and informed decisions.

Bahrain demonstrated a commitment to promoting data sharing, quality of data, and governance, which was identified as a common theme across various policy areas. The report highlighted Bahrain's efforts to address the risks and challenges of data access and sharing, as well as the government's role in promoting public trust in COVID-19 vaccination.
 

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