2.3 – Accessing aid information

2.3.1 – Access via an API

0 There are many different ways to publish aid information online. It may be published on web pages, exposed via a query interface on a website, or via an Application Programming Interface (API). Making information available via an API can ensure that it is up to date – or even available in real time.

0 We suggest that aid information should be published via an API where possible, but that this is secondary to publishing raw data.

2.3.2 – Access to raw data

0 We strongly advise that raw data be made available in addition to being accessible via an API. This allows others to use the data beyond read-only access. For example, it allows batch conversion it into a new format, linking and integration with other resources, archival in multiple places, and so on ¹. While the latest version of the data may be made available via an API, raw data should be made available in bulk at regular intervals.

0 For example, the Eurostat statistical service has a bulk download facility offering over 4000 data files. It is updated twice a day, offers data in Tab Separate Value (TSV) format, and includes documentation about the download facility as well as about the data files ².

0 Another example is the District of Columbia OCTO’s Data Catalogue, which allows data to be downloaded in CSV and XLS format, in addition to live feeds of the data ³.

0 We suggest that the standard should require aid information to be made available in raw form on a regular basis.