Data is an essential tool for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data supports better monitoring and decision-making, improves public service delivery, and enables greater transparency and accountability in public spending. For data to be truly effective, a data eco-system must exist to improve data collection, management, and use for development.By joining the global Open Data for Development (OD4D) movement, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region continues to build a vibrant data community. Governments are increasingly interested in how open data can improve their services and they are looking for ways to build the capacity of their civil servants in this area. Almost every country in the region shows open government data activity, with Jordan and Tunisia leading the way as members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), and Morocco exhibiting renewed interest in joining the partnership. Moreover, the potential of data-driven innovation to spur commercial activity is also garnering attention from governments in the region. The new data economy could potentially lead to billions in new economic activity. However, challenges remain in the areas of coordination, capacity building, data quality, privacy, and security. The creation of the MENA OD4D node is necessary to build a strategic network for the open data community in the region. Looking to mobilize the power of open data in various facets of development, the node will coordinate and participate in ongoing activities and research on open data in the region, bringing a focus to goals and aligning efforts to common challenges. It will identify gaps in the use of open data, support creation of standards, build capacity, support and assess policy, and streamline and harmonize efforts across the region. It is expected that this project, implemented with local partner the American University in Cairo, will result in strengthened research and advocacy capacity of the open data community in MENA. Its aim is to effectively address development challenges as well as build stronger connections with international open data initiatives and partners. It is also expected that the project's findings and recommendations will enhance commercial and civic innovation in different fields and inform policy debates around effective data collection and management and use of open data for development in the region, with a special focus on privacy, security, and quality issues.