The Open Access Micro Data Initiative (OAMDI)

The Open Access Micro Data Initiative (OAMDI) is a dynamic and unique project led by ERF, providing researchers with free access to several types of micro data. The premise here is that data are a public good, it is in the interest of the region and consistent with the mandate of ERF to exert as much effort as possible to make micro data available to researchers. Much investment has already been put into it, and the returns are expected to be very large.
 
OAMDI serves as the sole archive of a variety of micro data for countries of the ERF region, among which some are already cleaned and harmonized by ERF to ensure comparability across countries and over time. This online automated data portal is set up to encourage responsible use of those data sets while respecting the ERF’s and National Statistical Offices (NSOs) confidentiality and copyrights.
 
OAMDI was first launched in April 2013 to make micro data available to the data users, covering 17 Harmonized Household Income and Expenditure Surveys from Egypt, Palestine and Jordan, in addition to 4 Labor Market Panel Surveys from Egypt and Jordan, and 7 data sets on Micro and Small Enterprises from Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Morocco. Starting February 2014, the ERF data team embarked in a revamp of the OAMDI activities including upgrading available surveys and disseminating new ones. A change in the citation requirement has been also implemented and our users are encouraged to use the relevant citation, available with each survey, when acknowledging the use of the data set.

 

Our Goals

  • Disseminate micro data to facilitate cross-national and cross-temporal comparative research.
  • Lead the production of high-quality and evidence-based economic research, through making micro data publicly accessible.
  • Promote transparency and accountability by providing reliably harmonized micro data.

 

OAMDI Process

  1. Collecting/Acquiring New Data
  2. Processing/Cleaning-Harmonizing Data
  3. Validating Processed/Re-checking Harmonized Data
  4. Documenting and Widely Disseminating Micro Data

 

Why Should NSAs Participate?

ERF’s OAMDI provides partner NSOs with unique opportunities to:

  • Preserve and archive historical micro data and its documentation.
  • Give full acknowledgment of NSAs ownership and copyright of the raw data, entrusted to ERF.
  • Guarantee the confidentiality of survey data.
  • Provide training and capacity building for NSAs selected staff.
  • Achieve a standardized harmonization process, based on best international practices.

 

Our Micro Data Types

OAMDI gives free access to several types of micro data:

Household-level data:

Sectoral/Firm-Level Data:

 
You can Access our Micro Data sets, through the

ERF Micro Data Catalogue (NADA)

Links:

For any inquiries related to the data, please contact:
ERF data team
Email: erfdataportal@erf.org.eg