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IATI - International Aid Transparency Initiative
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    About IATI

    Our work involves making data on development and humanitarian spending and projects easier to access, use and understand. Organisations publish information according to the rules and guidance set out in the IATI Standard and this data is freely available and open to anyone in the world.

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    Introduction to IATI

    Read basic information about our initiative.

    • What is IATI?
    • Who is IATI for?
    • Why use IATI?

    Case studies

    See how IATI data is used to improve decisions and accountability.

    • Powering rapid responses to food and nutritional insecurity
    • Making overseas development assistance accountable in the Netherlands
  • Using Data

    Using IATI data

    IATI data can be an invaluable resource for anyone searching for information on development or humanitarian spending and projects.

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    Tools to access IATI data

    There are a range of tools for people wanting to use IATI data, designed for different audiences and use cases.

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    d-portal

    Search key data on development and humanitarian activities presented in charts, graphs and maps. Recommended for users who are new to IATI.

    Visit d-portal

    Country Development Finance Data

    Access and download data on development and humanitarian activities, presented simply by country, reporting organisation and sector.

    Visit CDFD

    Other resources

    • IATI Datastore
    • IATI Virtual Training for Civil Society
  • Publishing Data

    How to publish data

    Find out how to register with IATI and publish data.

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    IATI Publisher

    A free online tool which lets you register with IATI and publish data on your development and humanitarian activities.

    Visit IATI Publisher

    IATI Validator

    Check if your data aligns with the rules and guidance of the IATI Standard. Run checks on data files published by any organisation.

    Visit IATI Validator

    IATI Registry

    Register your data files here and find details of all organisations that publish IATI data.

    Visit IATI Registry
  • IATI Standard

    IATI Standard

    The IATI Standard is a set of rules and guidance on how to publish useful development and humanitarian data. Find out the full range of data included in the IATI Standard and more about its technical format.

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    What data should I publish?

    Understand what information you can publish and how to prepare it.

    Standard documentation

    Find details of all the elements and attributes that can be included in IATI data.

    • Activity Standard
    • Organisation Standard
    • Topic-specific guidance

    Developer documentation

    Explore how IATI data and the schema can be imported and used in different platforms.

    • IATI Developer Documentation
    • IATI Datastore
  • Governance

    Governance

    Learn about how IATI is funded, governed and run.

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    Who runs IATI?

    Meet the Governing Board and Secretariat to understand their roles and responsibilities.

    Governing Board and Secretariat

    Members

    IATI is governed and funded by our members.

    List of members
    • IATI Strategic Plan 2020-2025
    • Finances
    • IATI workplan
    • Annual reports
    • Governance documents
  • Get Involved

    Get Involved

    Find out how to join IATI as a member, engage with IATI’s community and access useful resources about the initiative.

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    IATI Community

    Engage in IATI's Communities of Practice.

    IATI Connect

    Becoming a member

    Discover the benefits of becoming an IATI member.

    Learn more

    IATI Presentation Materials

    Access presentation materials on IATI.

    Learn more
    • IATI Videos
    • IATI Membership Pack
    • Working Groups
    • Contact us
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact
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Reference

  • Version 2.03
    • Activity Standard
      • iati-activities
        • iati-activity
          • iati-identifier
          • reporting-org
            • narrative
          • title
            • narrative
          • description
            • narrative
          • participating-org
            • narrative
          • other-identifier
            • owner-org
              • narrative
          • activity-status
          • activity-date
            • narrative
          • contact-info
            • organisation
              • narrative
            • department
              • narrative
            • person-name
              • narrative
            • job-title
              • narrative
            • telephone
            • email
            • website
            • mailing-address
              • narrative
          • activity-scope
          • recipient-country
            • narrative
          • recipient-region
            • narrative
          • location
            • location-reach
            • location-id
            • name
              • narrative
            • description
              • narrative
            • activity-description
              • narrative
            • administrative
            • point
              • pos
            • exactness
            • location-class
            • feature-designation
          • sector
            • narrative
          • tag
            • narrative
          • country-budget-items
            • budget-item
              • description
                • narrative
          • humanitarian-scope
            • narrative
          • policy-marker
            • narrative
          • collaboration-type
          • default-flow-type
          • default-finance-type
          • default-aid-type
          • default-tied-status
          • budget
            • period-start
            • period-end
            • value
          • planned-disbursement
            • period-start
            • period-end
            • value
            • provider-org
              • narrative
            • receiver-org
              • narrative
          • capital-spend
          • transaction
            • transaction-type
            • transaction-date
            • value
            • description
              • narrative
            • provider-org
              • narrative
            • receiver-org
              • narrative
            • disbursement-channel
            • sector
              • narrative
            • recipient-country
              • narrative
            • recipient-region
              • narrative
            • flow-type
            • finance-type
            • aid-type
            • tied-status
          • document-link
            • title
              • narrative
            • description
              • narrative
            • category
            • language
            • document-date
          • related-activity
          • legacy-data
          • conditions
            • condition
              • narrative
          • result
            • title
              • narrative
            • description
              • narrative
            • document-link
              • title
                • narrative
              • description
                • narrative
              • category
              • language
              • document-date
            • reference
            • indicator
              • title
                • narrative
              • description
                • narrative
              • document-link
                • title
                  • narrative
                • description
                  • narrative
                • category
                • language
                • document-date
              • reference
              • baseline
                • comment
                  • narrative
                • dimension
                • document-link
                  • category
                  • description
                    • narrative
                  • document-date
                  • language
                  • title
                    • narrative
                • location
              • period
                • period-start
                • period-end
                • target
                  • comment
                    • narrative
                  • dimension
                  • document-link
                    • category
                    • description
                      • narrative
                    • document-date
                    • language
                    • title
                      • narrative
                  • location
                • actual
                  • comment
                    • narrative
                  • dimension
                  • document-link
                    • category
                    • description
                      • narrative
                    • document-date
                    • language
                    • title
                      • narrative
                  • location
          • crs-add
            • other-flags
            • loan-terms
              • repayment-type
              • repayment-plan
              • commitment-date
              • repayment-first-date
              • repayment-final-date
            • loan-status
              • interest-received
              • principal-outstanding
              • principal-arrears
              • interest-arrears
            • channel-code
          • fss
            • forecast
      • Activity Standard Summary Table
      • Example Usage XML
    • Organisation Standard
      • iati-organisations
        • iati-organisation
          • organisation-identifier
          • name
            • narrative
          • reporting-org
            • narrative
          • total-budget
            • period-start
            • period-end
            • value
            • budget-line
              • value
              • narrative
          • recipient-org-budget
            • recipient-org
              • narrative
            • period-start
            • period-end
            • value
            • budget-line
              • value
              • narrative
          • recipient-region-budget
            • recipient-region
              • narrative
            • period-start
            • period-end
            • value
            • budget-line
              • value
              • narrative
          • recipient-country-budget
            • recipient-country
              • narrative
            • period-start
            • period-end
            • value
            • budget-line
              • value
              • narrative
          • total-expenditure
            • period-start
            • period-end
            • value
            • expense-line
              • value
              • narrative
          • document-link
            • title
              • narrative
            • description
              • narrative
            • category
            • language
            • document-date
            • recipient-country
              • narrative
      • Organisation Standard Summary Table
      • Example Usage XML
    • Codelists
      • Activity Date Type
      • Activity Scope
      • Activity Status
      • Aid Type
      • Aid Type (category)
      • Aid Type Vocabulary
      • Budget Identifier
      • Budget Identifier Sector
      • Budget Identifier Sector (category)
      • Budget Identifier Vocabulary
      • Budget Not Provided
      • Budget Status
      • Budget Type
      • CRS Additional Other Flags
      • CRS Channel Code
      • Cash and Voucher Modalities
      • Collaboration Type
      • Condition Type
      • Contact Type
      • Country
      • Currency
      • DAC 3 Digit Sector
      • DAC 5 Digit Sector
      • Description Type
      • Disbursement Channel
      • Document Category
      • Document Category (category)
      • Earmarking Category
      • File Format
      • Finance Type
      • Finance Type (category)
      • Flow Type
      • Gazetteer Agency
      • Geographic Exactness
      • Geographic Location Class
      • Geographic Location Reach
      • Geographic Vocabulary
      • Geographical Precision
      • Humanitarian Scope Type
      • Humanitarian Scope Vocabulary
      • IATI Organisation Identifier
      • Indicator Measure
      • Indicator Vocabulary
      • Language
      • Loan Repayment Period
      • Loan Repayment Type
      • Location Type
      • Location Type (category)
      • Organisation Identifier
      • Organisation Registration Agency
      • Organisation Role
      • Organisation Type
      • Other Identifier Type
      • Policy Marker
      • Policy Marker Vocabulary
      • Policy Significance
      • Publisher Type
      • Region
      • Region Vocabulary
      • Related Activity Type
      • Result Type
      • Result Vocabulary
      • Sector Vocabulary
      • Tag Vocabulary
      • Tied Status
      • Transaction Type
      • UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
      • UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Targets
      • Verification Status
      • Version
      • Vocabulary
    • Rulesets
      • IATI Ruleset Spec - JS Edition
      • Standard Ruleset
    • Schema
    • Namespaces & Extensions
    • Reference
  • Upgrades
  • How we manage the standard
    • All versions
    • IATI codelist management
    • Previous upgrade process
    • Upgrade process
  • Upgrade changelogs
    • Non-Core Codelist Changelog
    • Decimal Upgrade to 2.03
      • 2.03 Changelog
    • Decimal Upgrade to 2.02
      • 2.02 Changelog
    • Integer Upgrade to 2.01
      • 2.01 Changelog
      • 2.01 Headlines
      • Migrating from versions 1.x to version 2.01
    • Version 1 upgrades
      • Decimal Upgrade to 1.05
        • 1.05 changelog
      • Decimal Upgrade to 1.04
        • 1.04 changes
        • Location: summary of changes in IATI Standard version 1.04
      • Decimal Upgrade to 1.03
        • 1.03 changes
      • Decimal Upgrade to 1.02
        • 1.02 changes
  • IATI Standard Publishing Guidance: How to suggest changes

IATI codelist management

The IATI codelists are key to making IATI data from different publishers comparable. Codelists contain a list of values and each value is assigned a code, e.g. the country Uganda has the code ‘UG’. All codes are alphanumeric and case sensitive. Codes help reduce the amount of human error when entering data and having set values helps with data analysis.

Over time, Codelists need to be updated when codes need to be added, removed, or changed. We use GitHub as a tool to manage our Codelists, and you are able to track the changes. By managing Codelists in GitHub, we have the ability to track very minor changes and to ‘tag’ major releases.

The structure of the codelists themselves is governed by a schema that is versioned and maintained in the GitHub repository for each version of the standard. e.g. for v2.03: https://github.com/IATI/IATI-Codelists/blob/version-2.03/codelist.xsd

There are four types of Codelist in IATI: Core, Non-Core, Replicated, and External. Each of these are managed in a different way:

Embedded Codelists - Core

Core Codelists contain conforming values for a particular decimal Version of the IATI Standard, the contents of which are managed by the IATI Secretariat. Core Codelists contain codes that involve functional logic that impacts the way in which the Standard is interpreted and processed.

These are Codelists that are core to IATI: changing them has a big on impact on all those publishing and using IATI data.

Embedded codelists are  managed via GitHub at: https://github.com/IATI/IATI-Codelists/

Modification Schedule: Embedded Codelists - Core

Codes in Core Codelists may be:

  • Added - at a Minor or Major Upgrade, through the applicable consultation process

  • Modified - at a Minor or Major Upgrade, through the applicable consultation process

  • Withdrawn - at a Minor or Major Upgrade, through the applicable consultation process

  • Removed - at a Major Upgrade, through the applicable consultation process

See more information about the IATI Upgrade process here: http://reference.iatistandard.org/upgrades/

Examples of Core Codelists include: Transaction Type, Organisation Type.

Non-Embedded Codelists - Non-Core

Non-Core Codelist values are not version specific. The contents of the codelist which are managed by the IATI Secretariat. Non-Core Codelists contain codes that qualify data, not processes.

These Codelists usually provide lookup information, e.g. Description Type, Geographic Location, Indicator Vocabularies. An addition or modification has a minor impact on the sense and use of the data.

Non-Core Codelists are managed via GitHub at: https://github.com/IATI/IATI-Codelists-NonEmbedded

Modification Schedule: Non-Embedded Codelists - Non-Core

Codes in Non-Core Codelists may be:

  • Added - at any point in time, subject to applicable notification and/or consultation via IATI Connect

  • Modified - at any point in time, subject to applicable notification and/or consultation via IATI Connect

  • Withdrawn - at any point in time, subject to applicable notification and/or consultation via IATI Connect

  • Removed - at a Major Upgrade, through the applicable consultation process via IATI Connect

Examples of Non-Core Codelists include: Sector Vocabulary, Condition Type, Result Type.

Non-Embedded Codelists - Replicated

Replicated Codelist values are not version specific. The contents are generally managed by a third-party organisation. In exceptional circumstances an additional code can be added. The IATI Secretariat maintains a corresponding copy in a document that conforms to the Codelist Schema.

Modification Schedule: Non-Embedded Codelists - Replicated

Codes in Replicated Codelists may be:

  • Added - at any point in time, subject to applicable notification by the third-party

  • Modified - at any point in time, subject to applicable notification by the third-party

  • Withdrawn - at any point in time, subject to applicable notification by the third-party

  • Removed - never

Examples of Replicated Codelists include: DAC 5-Digit, Organisation Registration Agency

Non-Embedded Codelists - External

External Codelists are a collection of codes managed by a third-party organisation. The IATI Secretariat does not maintain a corresponding copy in a document that conforms to the Codelist Schema. A URL to the codelist will be added to the relevant Non-Core codelist vocabulary e.g. the Aid Type Vocabulary codelist contains codes for and links to:

  • OECD DAC (aid type) which is a replicated codelist

  • Earmarking Category which is a replicated codelist

  • Earmarking Modality which is an external codelist

Please note that the managers of external codelists can update and remove codes according to their own processes.

Changing Codelist Type

A Codelist may have its type changed. Any change either from or to Codelist Type Core or Non-Core requires a version upgrade and will be subject to consultation.

Proposals to change a codelist between External and Replicated should be posted in IATI Discuss under the Third Party Codelist category. A use case for the change is required, which should include either the need to add an additional code or how the change aligns with IATI’s strategic plan. The change will be subject to consultation, with final decision held by the IATI Secretariat.

Code status, addition and withdrawal dates

All new codes added to codelist from the release of version 2.02 (December 2015) will feature status="active" and activation-date attributes in the underlying GitHub source code repositories. Similarly, codes withdrawn from the release of version 2.02 (December 2015) will feature status="withdrawn" and withdrawal-date attributes.

Complete vs Incomplete Codelists

Some codelists, such as the ISO country codes, are not ‘complete’ lists of all possible values that might be used. In the case of countries, publishers may use extra user defined codes (such as ‘XK’ for Kosovo) or valid historical values that are not on our maintained list.

For other codelists, such as the Description Type codelist, if the value is not on the codelist the data doesn’t make any sense - it is invalid. This is an example of a ‘complete’ codelist.

We distinguish between these two types of codelists by the use of an xml attribute: complete="1"

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