Establishing the open Web as a basic right and a public good.

We use original research, advocacy and public action to shape the policies and products we need for the web we want. Decisions made by governments and businesses have far-reaching effects on who can access the web and use it to improve their lives. Influencing relevant policies, rules and regulations for the better brings us closer to a world where everyone has affordable, meaningful access to a web that improves their lives and where their rights are protected.

Our approach

  • Generating evidence: Everything we do is grounded in research and data. Our research team uncovers evidence and understanding of issues at the heart of digital inequalities.
  • Developing solutions: We develop solutions to the biggest tech challenges facing our societies, informed through consultation with technology experts, companies, policymakers, civil society leaders, and diverse groups of people across the world.
  • Building alliances: Beyond our team of 30, we scale the impact of our work through the power of the alliances and networks we build.
  • Catalysing action: We work constructively with government and industry decision makers to shape policies and practices, and advocate for their adoption alongside our partners. And when needed, we mobilize the public to add pressure for these decision makers to take bold action.

Below you can see a full list of our current and past projects.

Alliance for Affordable Internet

The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) is the world’s broadest technology sector coalition working to reduce the cost of internet access to enable everyone, everywhere to afford to come online. The 80+ member organisations of the Alliance come from across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in both developed and developing countries, and are focused on working to reform the policies and regulations needed to drive down prices and expand access. Working through a consultative, locally-driven and locally-led process in member countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America, A4AI is aiming to develop and implement the policy and regulatory frameworks needed to enable universal, affordable access for all.
To learn more, visit a4ai.org.

The Contract for the Web

The web was designed to bring people together and make knowledge freely available. Everyone has a role to play to ensure the web serves the public good. This project brings together governments, companies and citizens to negotiate and build a Contract for the Web that outlines the rights and responsibilities we all have.

To find out more and sign up to back the contract, visit contractfortheweb.org.

Tech Policy Design Lab

The Tech Policy Design Lab brings people together to create solutions that limit the worst of humanity online and encourage the best. The Lab is a collaborative space for governments, companies and civil society to learn directly from those affected by technology and develop solutions to the most pressing technology challenges of our time to create a safer, more empowering online world for everyone.

Tackling Online Gender-Based Violence and Abuse

Women and girls disproportionately face violence and abuse online. As part of our commitment to tackle all forms of digital inequality, the Web Foundation is convening a series of consultations and policy design workshops focused on online abuse that targets women because of their different and intersecting identities. This initiative brings together tech companies and women from across civil society to gather evidence of online abuse and work collaboratively to create concrete policy and product solutions to address online gender-based violence.

Women’s Rights Online

As the digital revolution steams ahead, women and girls are being left behind — poor urban women in the developing world are 50% less likely than men to access the internet. Determined to tackle this challenge head on, our Women’s Rights Online network drives women's empowerment on and through the web by working to reform policy and regulation to close the digital gender gap.

Previous projects

Open Data Charter

Open data can help governments deliver greater transparency and citizen participation. Guided by six core principles, the international Open Data Charter guides and supports governments as they implement shared open data principles, standards and best practices. More than 70 governments and organisations have joined the movement and we’re working to expand the Charter’s adoption and implementation further.

Open Data Labs

The Open Data Lab uses a combination of research, incubation, training and engagement to accelerate progress and ensure that open data is used to tackle practical problems in developing and emerging economies. We opened the doors to our first Lab in Jakarta in early 2014.

Web We Want

Web We Want is a global coalition working to defend, claim, and change the future of the Web. We're responding to threats to the future of the Web with a practical and positive vision — unleashing the power of people across the globe to promote human rights online and a free and open Web. So far, our research and advocacy efforts in over 60 countries have helped to pass the world’s first “bill of rights for the Internet” in Brazil, protect the online privacy of gay rights activists in Uganda, empower Internet activists in Turkey, and stop Internet “toll lanes” in the US — and we're just getting started.

Open Government Partnership

The Open Government Partnership is the pre-eminent international initiative dedicated to transparency and open data amongst governments. OGP brings together 89 governments and 120 civil society organisations to share practical know-how and promote best practice in ensuring that open data leads to direct benefits for citizens. The group is focused on developing an international set of principles, and measuring the impact of open data.

The Web Index

The Web Index is the first measure of the web’s contribution to social, economic and political progress, studying 86 countries across the world. Shining a light on issues from surveillance and censorship, to net neutrality and violence against women online, it provides data on the use of the web and its impact on people’s lives. Since its launch, the Web Index has become established as a reference point for governments and policymakers around the world, holding governments accountable and driving public debate.

Open Data in Developing Countries

We believe in the power of the data revolution for development. but above all, we believe this revolution must be open. As part of our commitment to that belief, we’ve conducted research that has helped deliver insight to over 1,000 key open data stakeholders, from country ministers to grassroots activists.

Open Contracting Data Standard

Governments worldwide spend more than $9.5 trillion annually on contracts, but little information about how this money is spent is publicly available. The Open Contracting Data Standard aims to fight corruption, improve service delivery, and enhance market efficiency, by enabling public contract data to be easily accessed and compared across countries, regions and industries. Built in 2014 by the Web Foundation, the Standard is now being trialled by six countries, where it has already facilitated the release of over two million government contracts.

Open Data Research Network

We're on the cusp of an open data revolution — one where governments, companies, and civil society worldwide use open data to promote innovation, development, and democratic change. Our Open Data Research Network (ODRN) works to understand how open data initiatives can be implemented successfully and scaled for impact. To date,this research has helped deliver insight to over 1,000 key open data stakeholders, from country ministers to grassroots activists.

Open Data Barometer

The Open Data Barometer measures the prevalence and impact of open data initiatives around the world. It analyses global trends, and provides comparative data on countries and regions to rank governments on open data readiness, implementation and impact. The Barometer is a key benchmark for policymakers and civil society and is being used to measure progress and change policies in 15+ countries.

Open Data Lab Jakarta

Open Data Research (South)

Research: Mobile Data Collection Opportunities in Sub Saharan Africa

Ghana Open Data Initiative (GODI)

Open Government Data

Voice Browsing

Open Government Data Feasibility Studies

Mobile Entrepreneurship

Foroba Blon: Voice-Based Citizen Journalism

Voice-Browsing Acceptance and Trust

Regreening in Africa