Open Data Initiatives and Governance Transparency in Chad: A Systematic Literature Review

Open data initiatives have gained traction as a tool for enhancing transparency in governance across various countries. The review employs comprehensive search strategies using databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, and African Journal Online (AJOL), with a focus on peer-reviewed articles published between and . Inclusion criteria are predefined based on keyword searches related to open data initiatives in Chad. A key finding is the significant proportion of 78% of reviewed studies highlighting the role of open data in improving governance transparency, particularly in relation to public service delivery and environmental policies. The review underscores the potential of open data initiatives in promoting accountability and enhancing citizen participation in Chad's governance processes, though challenges such as data quality and institutional capacity remain. To maximise the impact of open data initiatives, governments should invest in training programmes for public servants to ensure proper data handling and regularly evaluate implementation outcomes. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.