Starting from Ineke Buskens description of open development, this session is an open discussion and debate of what ‘openness’ can add to traditional development approaches, giving us an opportunity to explore different visions.

We are aiming to also make this an ‘open’ and dynamic panel where six invited contributors will start the discussion with short 5 minute talks on their understanding of and visions for open development. During the rest of the session, members of the audience will be invited up to the stage to join the conversation, ask questions and answer questions from the floor.

Whilst this will be an experimental approach, and we will admit we’re not exactly sure how it will work(!), we hope that it offers an opportunity to promote a participative discussion about the opportunities and challenges of open development.

This session kicks off Open Development Wednesday - a series of workshops and talks on open initiatives, including open data, International Aid Transparency Initiative, open access research, within international development.

• Tariq Kokhar, Data Evangalist, World Bank Institute, USA

• Philip Thigo, The Social Development Network, Kenya
• Linda Raftree, Senior Advisor ICT4D, Plan USA

• Blane Harvey, Institute of Development Studies, UK

• Karina Banfi, Secretaria Ejecutiva at Alianza Regional por la Libertad de Expresión e Información

• Dr Jyrki Pulkkinen, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland