One of the difficulties of creating a resource as large as the AidData project-level database is making it manageable for our users. In the past, we have offered the dataset in two basic forms: Research Releases and exports from the AidData web portal. However, many find the Research Release to be too large to handle and some are intimidated by the project-level data exporter.
In response to this, AidData is offering new prepared dataset options. These are:
- New formats for the Research Release, now in .csv, .sav and .sql.
- “Short Form” of the Research Release, available as .csv, .dta, .sav and .sql. (Six variables per project, including AidData ID, which is a unique record identifier and may be used for joining additional variables to the dataset.)
- Aggregated datasets:
- Donor-Recipient Aggregates: dyadic flows, by year
- Financing Agency-Recipient Aggregates: dyadic flows by financing agency (sub- national funding agency, when reported) and year. Useful for flows from funding agency (eg. MCC, DFID, AFD) to recipient.
- Donor-Recipient-Purpose Aggregates: annual dyadic flows, by purpose code (AidData/CRS). Also includes purpose name (e.g. basic nutrition, SME development, land mine clearance) for users who are not familiar with AidData purpose codes.
All of these can be found on the Research Datasets page. We are thankful for the support of Ilya Boyandin of the University of Fribourg who created the Donor-Recipient-Purpose Aggregates data as part of his Flowstrates project and allowed us to share it for public use. You can find his application of AidData aggregates in a demo applet. This dataset uses a “coalesced purpose code” column, which combines CRS purpose codes for data from the OECD and AidData purpose codes for data from other sources. Purpose descriptions are also included for the benefit of users not familiar with these codes. Detailed information about these coding schemes may be found in the AidData User’s Guide and CRS Reporting Directives.
Going forward, AidData is exploring options for automated aggregate searches and exports, so that users can extract data quickly and simply and put it to work with as few complications as possible. In the meantime, we’re doing our best to bring you the best and latest development finance information available!