The Case for Secondary Publishing

A strategy to enhance IATI data comprehensiveness, engagement, and insight by empowering organizations to publish on behalf of others.

What is it?

Secondary Publishing is a model where one organization, often a primary funder or network lead, formats and publishes aid data according to the IATI standard on behalf of its partners. This captures crucial ground-level data that might otherwise go unreported.

Why It Matters: The Triple Benefit

📈

Boosts Comprehensiveness

Fills critical data gaps by including information from smaller, local organizations who may lack the resources or technical expertise to publish directly.

🤝

Increases Engagement

Lowers the barrier to entry, allowing a much wider range of humanitarian and development actors to contribute to the global transparency ecosystem.

💡

Unlocks Deeper Insights

A more complete dataset enables better analysis, improves fund traceability to the ground level, and helps identify overlaps or gaps in aid delivery.

Pros & Cons: A Balanced View

Advantages

  • ✓Fills Data Gaps: Captures information from organizations unable to publish themselves.
  • ✓Reduces Partner Burden: Frees smaller organizations from technical and administrative overhead.
  • ✓Enhances Traceability: Creates clearer links in the aid chain from funder to implementer.
  • ✓Improves Data Quality: Leverages the expertise of the primary publisher for better formatting.

Disadvantages

  • ✗Potential Loss of Detail: Published data may be less granular or timely than direct reporting.
  • ✗Risk of Inaccuracy: Relies on the primary publisher having complete and up-to-date information.
  • ✗Ambiguous Accountability: Can blur the lines of responsibility for data accuracy.
  • ✗Limits Capacity Building: May reduce partners' incentive to develop their own data skills.

Visualizing the Data Flow

Toggle between models to see how information reaches the IATI Registry.

Local Partner A
Local Partner B
Primary Funder
(e.g. Gov Dept)
IATI Registry

Key Tactics for Implementation

1

Develop Clear Guidance

Create and promote easy-to-understand standards for secondary publishing, defining roles, responsibilities, and data formatting.

2

Provide Technical Tools & Support

Endorse or develop user-friendly platforms that simplify the data aggregation and publishing process for primary funders.

3

Incorporate into Donor Requirements

Encourage major funders to make secondary publishing a standard clause in grant agreements to systematize data collection.

4

Showcase Success Stories

Highlight real-world case studies to demonstrate the value and feasibility of the approach, building confidence and encouraging adoption.