Data License

License Overview

This license governs the use of datasets available through AfriData Commons. By downloading, accessing, or using any dataset from our platform, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions outlined in this license.

Permissions

Under this license, you are granted the following permissions:

• Use: Download, access, and use datasets for research, analysis, and educational purposes.
• Share: Distribute and share datasets with proper attribution and under the same license terms.
• Modify: Transform, adapt, and build upon datasets for your specific use cases.
• Analyze: Perform statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization.
• Academic Use: Use datasets in academic research, publications, and educational materials.

Requirements

When using datasets from AfriData Commons, you must:

• Attribution: Provide clear attribution to the original dataset creator and AfriData Commons.
• Source Citation: Include a link to the original dataset source on AfriData Commons.
• License Preservation: Maintain license information when redistributing datasets.
• Ethical Use: Use datasets in ways that respect African communities and promote positive outcomes.

Restrictions

The following activities are prohibited:

• Re-identification: Attempting to identify individuals from anonymized datasets.
• Harmful Use: Using datasets for discriminatory, harmful, or illegal purposes.
• False Claims: Claiming ownership of datasets or misrepresenting their origin.
• Security Violations: Using datasets to compromise security or privacy of individuals or organizations.

Attribution Guidelines

Proper attribution should include the following elements:

Commercial Use

Commercial use of datasets is generally permitted under this license, subject to the following conditions:

• Ethical Standards: Commercial use must align with ethical data practices and benefit African communities.
• Derivative Works: If you create derivative works, consider sharing insights back with the community.
• Revenue Sharing: For significant commercial ventures, consider contributing back to AfriData Commons.

Liability and Warranties

Datasets are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. AfriData Commons and dataset creators:

• No Warranties: Make no representations about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of datasets.
• Limited Liability: Are not liable for any damages arising from the use of datasets.
• User Responsibility: Users are responsible for validating data quality and suitability for their use cases.

Termination

This license may be terminated if you:

• Violate Terms: Fail to comply with any terms of this license.
• Harmful Use: Use datasets for harmful, illegal, or unethical purposes.
• Attribution Failure: Fail to provide proper attribution or violate intellectual property rights.

Version History

This license may be updated from time to time. Here's the version history:

• Version 1.0: Initial release of the AfriData Commons Open Data License (January 2025).

Contact Information

For questions about this license or specific use cases, please contact: