This report on the land data ecosystem in Madagascar is the first step towards providing a baseline and diagnostic tool to inform conversations around land and data governance. It aims to complement existing initiatives to improve the accuracy and extent of land data in Madagascar and identify opportunities to improve public access to all forms of land information.

As the momentum around international land monitoring initiatives increases, there is an unprecedented global demand for free, accessible, and usable land data and information. Increased digitization of information, internet usage, and growing demand for data transparency are expanding the land information ecosystem. The African Union’s Model Access to Information Law to give effect to Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, supports increased access to information.

Land data in Madagascar is often incomplete and inaccurate. An open land data future requires strengthened support for programs to improve the accuracy and coverage of land information. In assessing the openness of land data in Madagascar this report acknowledges the baseline challenges for improving data quality and the sustained response needed to achieve an effective open data regime.

This report describes Madagascar’s legal framework for data governance, examines its international and national commitments to access to information, its instruments for data and information governance, and it summarizes Madagascar’s legal framework for opening information. It examines the completeness of available land data and information provided by the government organizations responsible for Madagascar’s land administration.

The open data assessment evaluates the “openness” of Madagascar’s land data and information, by assessing it against 10 criteria for open data, as used by international best practice. The score for openness is provided as part of the assessment and reflects the current situation as well as providing a baseline for future improvements. This baseline assists with understanding the current state of data and supports future usability of data for informed decision making, data-dependent services and to meet the public needs and interests.

The report highlights the key findings from this research project and sets out the next key steps to consolidate the sound foundations that have been identified. Finally, this report provides an open data action framework that serves as a practical guide for the Government of Madagascar to optimize the management and utilization of land data through  streamlining access, promoting collaboration, and building capacity among stakeholders.