The Fiscal Data Package is a lightweight and user-oriented format for publishing and consuming fiscal data. Fiscal data packages are made of simple and universal components. They can be produced from ordinary spreadsheet software and used in any environment.
The motivation behind the fiscal data package was to create a specification which is open by nature - based on other open standards, supported by open tools and software, modular, extensible and promoted transparently by a large community.
It is designed to be simple to use - providing a small but flexible set of features, based on real-world requirements and not theoretical ones. All the while, the built-in extensibility allows this spec to adapt to many different use cases and domains. It is also possible to gradually use more and more part of this specification - thus making it easier to implement this spec with existing data while slowly improving the data quality.
A main concern of this specification is the ability to work with data as it is currently exists, without forcing publishers to modify the contents or structure of their current data files in order to "adapt" them to the specification.
####The Open Fiscal Data Package serves two main purposes:
Standardizing the structure and the content of fiscal data so that tools and services can be built over it for visualization, analysis or comparison;
Driving data quality by providing a solid framework of publication.
So the Open Fiscal Data Package specifies the form for fiscal data and offers a standardized framework for the content.
- Read the [Fiscal Data Package specification](https://frictionlessdata.io/specs/fiscal-data-package/) on the Frictionless Data website
- Meet the [OpenSpending tools]({% link about/tools.md %})
OpenSpending is a free, open and global platform to search, visualise and analyse fiscal data in the public sphere. With OpenSpending, Open Knowledge International created the opportunity for governments, civil society organizations and communities to publish and visualize their revenue, budgets, spending and procurements data in an open source platform.
OpenSpending exists to *map the money worldwide*– that is, to
track and analyse public financial information globally. It is meant
to be a resource for individuals and groups who wish to
discuss and investigate public financial information, including
journalists, academics, campaigners, and more. Concretely,
OpenSpending is:
The OpenSpending platform consists of a core platform with a large, centralised database that allows for deep analysis across a range of datasets. It is designed, developed and maintained by Open Knowledge International. At the same time, OpenSpending offers tools that enable to establish an ecosystem around fiscal data, which is tailored to the specific aspects and local contexts the data is embedded in.
* A central, high-quality, open **platform** for public financial information, including budgets, spending, balance sheets, procurement etc
* A **community** of users and contributors to this database
* A set of **open resources** providing technical, fiscal, and political understanding necessary to work with financial information.
As an open source and a community-driven project, also reflects the valuable contributions of an active, passionate and committed community.
We are currently building [the next version of OpenSpending](/next/). Find out more about how to [get involved](/get-involved/).
###Got it, what now?
##Project History
The original version of [OpenSpending](http://openspending.org)
represents more than 6 years of development with at least 2 major
iterations of the platform. Originally launched as
[Where Does My Money Go](http://wheredoesmymoneygo.org/) in 2009,
OpenSpending joined forces with other projects in 2011 and expanded to become
OpenSpending.
Today, the original OpenSpending database has over 1000 datasets
representing more than 28 million transactions. In addition, there are more
than 30 local “Where Does My Money Go” sites powered by OpenSpending
from Brazil to Nicaragua, Cameroon to Bosnia.
##Project Principles
OpenSpending is guided by its community principles.
***Open materials**. All material created within the project will be [open data and open content](http://opendefinition.org) built with [open tools](http://opensource.org). All project data is made available under the [Open Database License](http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/) or another [Open Data Commons license](http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/).
***Open community**. Anyone interested in financial data can contribute. We're friendly to newcomers and old hands alike -- everyone was new once, and we value all levels of experience.
***Doing**. Our focus is on the concrete, not the abstract, and on making rather than theorizing.
##Governance
###Principles
* The OpenSpending project is **community-owned and community-run**. Both individuals and organizations - non-profit and for-profit - may participate.
* The project's **Steering Group** has overall responsibility for the project. This includes engaging with community members and communicating decisions.
* [Open Knowledge][ok] is the project's **legal and institutional home**. This stewardship responsibiliy confers no direct control over or special role in managing the project. At the same time, Open Knowledge may have other roles in the project, for example, as a member of the Steering Group. The project is also accountable to Open Knowledge regarding conformance with Open Knowledge project guidelines and principles of openness.
[ok]: http://okfn.org/
###Steering Group
The steering group oversees the project and represents its major stakeholders. This group takes responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the project, setting project policies, representing the project in relation to third parties etc.
See the [Steering Group page][sg] for more details and current members.
[sg]: /about/steering-group/
- Meet the [OpenSpending tools]({% link about/tools.md %})
- Lear about the [Fiscal Data Package]({% link about/fiscaldatapackage.md %})
- Read other resources about Fiscal Transparency on the [GIFT website](http://www.fiscaltransparency.net/resources/)
- Read the [OpenSpending documentation](https://docs.openspending.org/en/latest/)
- Learn more about [this website]({% link about/meta/index.md %})
- Or just use the menu to your left to navigate the rest of the site.
The OpenSpending Viewer is a Javascript app that provides views over data uploaded to OpenSpending. It offers 8 different visualisations and a pivot table for analyzing the data
###OpenSpending Packager
Via OpenSpending Packager fiscal data can be uploaded from alternate sources (csv, Excel, Google Sheets and Fiscal Data Package). Data and metadata can be uploaded in 4 simple steps.
###OpenSpending Admin
OpenSpending Admin offers the possibility to administer a user account and the associated data packages that have been loaded to the platform.
###OpenSpending DataMine
The OpenSpending DataMine is an experimental feature for investigative analysis of data with direct access to read any part of the database. This feature can be used (and it is encouraged!), but currently it is not subject to further customisation.
##What kind of data can I upload to OpenSpending?
OpenSpending is designed to work with any dataset in CSV format containing government budget, spending information or any other fiscal data. To upload this data, we use data pipelines and the Fiscal Data Package. We recommend learning a bit more about it, even if you're not part of the technical team uploading the data.