Abstract: 
The City of Cape Town’s open data policy aims to make as many datasets as possible publicly available. However, many datasets include sensitive information that can only be released in highly aggregated form, which often limits their usefulness for research. To bridge this gap, the Organisational Research Branch facilitates research requests for academics who require more detailed data. However, this process can be slow as it relies on operational staff for data provision. The Data Analytics Hub and the Organisational Research Branch are now piloting a new approach to streamline access for researchers while maintaining data privacy and security. This talk will outline the research request process, highlight the datasets currently included in the pilot, and showcase examples of how City data is being used to support research and improve service delivery. 

About the presenter: 
Kathryn McDermott is a Senior Data Analyst in the Data Analytics Hub at the City of Cape Town. She works on projects across the City, supporting frontline service departments to improve service delivery and enhance revenue collection. Before joining the City, she worked at J-PAL Africa, where she contributed to research projects on utility provision for low-income households in Cape Town.