Open data is defined as data that are made available to the public free of charge, without registration or restrictive licenses, for any purpose whatsoever (including commercial purposes and excluding harmful purposes), in electronic, machine-readable formats that are easy to find, download and use. Open data is radically opening up government for greater accountability, public service improvement and economic growth. Open data is used across all development sectors such as administration, business, health, education or agriculture. This guide provides specific instructions on how to set up an open data initiative. First it outlines the requisite steps for setting up an open data initiative. The specific steps are as follows: (1) Engage stakeholders, (2) Decide on what data should be public, (3) Apply for an open license, (4) Choose appropriate data formats, (5) Make data discoverable, (6) Review, Learn, and improve, and (7) Linking MfDR pillars to open data.