The UNESCO-CODATA Toolkit: Data Policies for Times of Crisis Facilitated by Open Science (DPTC) is a major addition to the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit.
The UNESCO-CODATA DTPC Toolkit aims to operationalize open science principles, as outlined in the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, by providing actionable guidance for data sharing and management in crisis situations. It includes a factsheet, a guidance document, and a checklist to support the development of context-sensitive data policies:
- Factsheet: Provides an overview of the role of data policies in crisis situations and how open science can improve data management.
- Guidance: Offers a structured framework for developing data policies aligned with open science principles.
- Checklist: Helps stakeholders design data policies that reflect open science values.
The toolkit is part of a broader effort to promote open science and its application to global challenges, including those related to data sharing in times of crisis. The toolkit is already being implemented in the CODATA-led, ISC-funded FAIR Data for Emergencies project. Both CODATA and UNESCO will be very keen to hear from any institutions or projects implementing the toolkit or interested in collaborating around activities to put the guidance into practice and provide feedback. Please get in touch with CODATA via dptc@codata.org.
The toolkit marks an important collaboration between UNESCO and CODATA and was developed by the UNESCO-CODATA Working Group on Data Policies for Times of Crisis Facilitated by Open Science. The initiative was conceived as a result of a thematic session on ‘Open Science and data policy in times of crisis’ at the UNESCO-hosted symposium ‘Towards a FAIRer World: Implementing the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science to address global challenges’ organised by UNESCO, CODATA, WDS and the International Science Council (ISC) at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The UNESCO-CODATA toolkit was launched on June 4th 2025 at an event also hosted at UNESCO HQ.