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Open Government Partnership

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Open Government Partnership[1]
AbbreviationOGP
FormationSeptember 20, 2011; 14 years ago (2011-09-20)
Founder Brazil

Indonesia
Mexico
Norway
Philippines
South Africa
United Kingdom

United States
Founded atNew York, United States
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., United States
Location
  • Worldwide
Members73 (National)
136 (Local)
CEO
Aidan Eyakuze
Websiteopengovpartnership.org

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multilateral initiative aimed at securing commitments from national and sub-national governments to promote open government, combat corruption, and improve governance.[1] The OGP is managed by a steering committee that includes representatives from governments and from civil society organizations.

History

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The Open Government Partnership was formally launched on September 20, 2011, on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly meeting during which heads of state from eight founding governments (Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States) endorsed the Open Government Declaration and announced their country action plans along with an equal number of civil society leaders.[2] The eight founding members also welcomed the commitment of 38 governments to join the OGP.[3] India[4] and Russia[5] had initially expressed intentions to join the partnership, but neither followed through with the process.

Six months after its start, OGP had grown from eight action plans and 46 participating countries to 50 action plans and 54 participating countries.[6] The meeting in Brasília brought together countries and organizations united in their belief in the power of transparency, with participation from anti-censorship campaigners in Yemen to reformers using data on primary schools to improve education in India.[7]

A total of 46 members had already published action plans containing over 300 open government commitments.[8] According to the then Minister of the United Kingdom's Cabinet Office responsible for public transparency and open data, Francis Maude, Britain sought to "further secure the foundations of OGP as a globally recognized and respected international initiative…. [and to] strengthen the role of civil society organizations, encouraging greater collaboration with governments to forge more innovative and open ways of working."[8]

In 2013, OGP's thematic goals centered around citizen action and responsive government. In an era of hyperconnectivity, openness and transparency, as well as citizen participation and collaboration, are increasingly viewed as essential components of good governance.[9]

With the adoption and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by world leaders at a historic United Nations Summit, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 16 for the "promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies," 2015 marked a milestone for the future of development outcomes and open government.[10] In October 2015, the Government of Mexico hosted the third OGP Global Summit in Mexico City, emphasizing the theme "Openness for All: Using the Open Government Principles as Key Mechanisms to Implement the Post-2015 Development Agenda."

In early 2016, OGP launched a new pilot program designed to involve sub-national governments more proactively in the initiative.[11] Later in December 2016, the Government of France, in partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI), hosted the fourth OGP Global Summit in the nation's capital, Paris, gathering 3000 representatives from 70 countries.[12]

In the first 10 years, OGP members created over 4,500 commitments in more than 300 action plans.[13]

Objectives

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OGP serves as a platform for reformers within and outside governments worldwide to develop initiatives that enhance transparency, empower citizens, combat corruption, and utilize new technologies to improve governance. OGP seeks to secure concrete commitments from national and sub-national governments to promote open government reform and innovation, advancing transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.[14] It is a voluntary partnership that countries choose to join, allowing civil society organizations to collaborate with governments on initiatives aligned with their reform agendas.

Open Government Declaration

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The principles of OGP are best explained by the Open Government Declaration. As outlined in the declaration, participating countries are expected to adhere to the following principles:

  • Acknowledge that people all around the world are demanding more openness in government. They are calling for greater civic participation in public affairs and seeking ways to make their governments more transparent, responsive, accountable, and effective.
  • Recognize that countries are at different stages in their efforts to promote openness in government and that each of us pursues an approach consistent with our national priorities and circumstances and the aspirations of our citizens.
  • Accept responsibility for seizing this moment to strengthen our commitments to promote transparency, fight corruption, empower citizens, and harness the power of new technologies to make government more effective and accountable.
  • Uphold the value of openness in our engagement with citizens to improve services, manage public resources, promote innovation, and create safer communities. We embrace principles of transparency and open government with a view toward achieving greater prosperity, well-being, and human dignity in our own countries and in an increasingly interconnected world.

OGP participants declare their commitment to increase the availability of information about governmental activities, support civic participation, implement the highest standards of professional integrity, and increase access to new technologies for openness and accountability.

Community of reformers

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Rather than establish a worldwide transparency ranking of countries, OGP provides support and encouragement to countries around the world as they champion ambitious new reforms and deliver on their promises "under the watchful eyes of citizens."[7] The community of reformers is meant to "offer support to those in government that are willing and to create a hook whereby the conversations among government and civil society can occur."[15] This relationship between government and civil society is the cornerstone of OGP. Governments are expected to actively collaborate with civil society when drafting and implementing country commitments, as well as when reporting on and monitoring efforts.[14] The OGP process requires the government to consult with civil society and citizens, and the Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) assesses the quality of this consultation.

Funding

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The Open Government Partnership is funded through three primary sources: country contributions, bilateral agencies, and private foundations.[16] Country contributions are core, unrestricted funds that support the OGP Support Unit's services to all members. Funding from bilateral and private donors complements this by supporting specific initiatives and strategic priorities.

Country contributions

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In May 2014, it was agreed that all participating governments were expected to contribute to OGP's budget. Contributions are based on each participating country's income level (according to World Bank data) with additional consideration introduced for GDP size.[17] The OGP Steering Committee sets both minimum and recommended contribution levels.

Income levelMinimum member contribution Recommended member contribution
Low income$13,500 $33,750
Lower middle income$33,750 $67,500
Upper middle income$67,500 $135,000
High income (<$100bn GDP)$67,500 $135,000
High income ($100bn to $2500bn GDP)$135,000 $270,000
High income (>$2500bn GDP)$200,000 $400,000

Structure

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As a multi-stakeholder initiative, civil society participation is enshrined in OGP's foundational principles and management structures. Governments and civil society play an equally important role in managing the OGP through participation in the steering committee, the OGP's executive management body, as well as at the national level.[14]

Co-chairs

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Year Government Co-chair Civil Society Co-chair
2012–2013 Government of the United Kingdom Warren Krafchik, Senior Vice President, International Budget Partnership (IBP)
2013–2014 Government of Indonesia Rakesh Rajani, Head, Twaweza
2014–2015 Government of Mexico Alexandro Gonzales, Executive Director, GESOC A.C.
2015–2016 Government of South Africa Suneeta Kaimal, Chief Operating Officer, Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
2016–2017 Government of France Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, World Resources Institute (WRI)
2017–2018 Government of Georgia Mukelani Dimba, Executive Director, Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC)
2018–2019 Government of Canada Nathaniel Heller, Executive Vice President, Results for Development (R4D)
2019–2020 Government of Argentina Robin Hodess, Director of Governance & Transparency, The B Team
2020–2021 Government of South Korea María Baron, Global Executive Director, Directorio Legislativo
2021–2022 Government of Italy Aidan Eyakuze, Executive Director, Twaweza
2022–2023 Government of Estonia Anabel Cruz, Founder Director, Institute for Communication and Development
2023–2024 Government of Kenya Blair Glencorse, Co-CEO, Accountability Lab
2024–2025 Government of Spain Cielo Magno, Bantay Kita - PWYP Philippines
2025–2026 Government of Brazil Stephanie Muchai
2026–2027 Government of United Kingdom Laura Neuman, Senior Advisor, The Carter Center

Steering Committee

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The OGP Steering Committee provides guidance and direction at the international level in order to maintain the highest standards for the initiative and ensure its long-term sustainability. It is composed of equal numbers of representatives of governments and civil society organizations. OGP's leadership regularly rotates by appointing a new government co-chair and a new civil society co-chair every year. Incoming government and civil society members of the steering committee are selected by their peers.[18]

Subcommittees

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Members of the OGP Steering Committee delegate work to the OGP sub-committees. There are three sub-committees: 1) Governance and Leadership; 2) Criteria and Standards; and 3) Thematic Leadership.[19] The principle of parity is preserved in the sub-committees, as an equal number of government and civil society representatives serve in each one.

OGP Support Unit

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The OGP Support Unit is a small, permanent secretariat that works closely with the steering committee to advance the goals of the OGP. It is designed to maintain institutional memory, manage OGP's external communications, ensure the continuity of organizational relationships with OGP's partners, and support the broader membership. It also serves as a neutral third party between governments and civil society organizations, ensuring that OGP maintains a productive balance between the two constituencies.[20]

Independent Reporting Mechanism

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The Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) is the key means by which all stakeholders can track OGP progress in participating countries. The IRM produces biannual independent progress reports for each country participating in the OGP. Progress reports assess governments on the development and implementation of their OGP action plans as well as their progress in upholding open government principles. The reports also provide technical recommendations for improvements. These reports are intended to stimulate dialogue and promote accountability between member governments and citizens.[21]

International Experts Panel

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The International Experts Panel (IEP) oversees the IRM by helping to ensure the quality of the reviews, assess procedures, and promote findings.[22]

Membership

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National members

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Local members

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