Submitter:

Name:Owen Ambur

Email:Owen.Ambur@verizon.net

Organization:

Name:Open Government Partnership

Acronym:OGP

Description:
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global effort to make governments better. Citizens want more transparent, effective and accountable government—with institutions that empower people and are responsive to their aspirations. But this work is never easy. It takes political leadership. It takes technical knowledge. It takes sustained effort and investment. It takes collaboration between government and civil society. The Open Government Partnership is a new multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. In the spirit of multi-stakeholder collaboration, OGP is overseen by a Steering Committee of governments and civil society organizations. The OGP portal is the initiative’s online presence. It is the primary repository for all OGP country action plans as well as the declaration of principles.

Stakeholder(s):

• OGP Steering Committee: The OGP is overseen by a multi-stakeholder International Steering Committee, comprised of governments and leading civil society representatives.


• Norway: Member of the Steering Committee


• United Kingdom: Member of the Steering Committee


• United States: Member of the Steering Committee


• Mexico: Member of the Steering Committee


• Philippines: Member of the Steering Committee


• Brazil: Member of the Steering Committee


• Indonesia: Member of the Steering Committee


• South Africa: Member of the Steering Committee


• National Security Archives (US): Member of the Steering Committee


• International Budget Project (Intl): Member of the Steering Committee


• MKSS (India): Member of the Steering Committee


• Transparency and Accountability Initiative (Intl): Member of the Steering Committee


• Revenue Watch Institute (Intl): Member of the Steering Committee


• Africa Center for Open Governance (Kenya): Member of the Steering Committee


• Twaweza (Tanzania): Member of the Steering Committee


• Instituto de Estudos Socioeconômicos (Brazil): Member of the Steering Committee


• Member Countries: To become a member of OGP, participating countries must: * deliver a concrete action plan, developed with public consultation and feedback * embrace an Open Government Declaration * commit to independent reporting on their progress going forward. Country Action Plan -- Governments will develop OGP country action plans that elaborate concrete commitments. Governments should begin their OGP country action plans by sharing existing efforts related to their chosen grand challenge(s), including specific open government strategies and ongoing programs. Action Plans should then set out governments’ OGP grand challenge commitments, which stretch government practice beyond its current baseline. These commitments may build on existing efforts, identify new steps to complete on-going reforms, or initiate action in an entirely new area. OGP recognizes that all countries will be starting from different baselines. Countries are charged with selecting the grand challenges and related concrete commitments that most relate to their unique country contexts. Concrete Commitments -- All OGP commitments should reflect four core open government principles: Transparency, Citizen Participation, Accountability, and Technology and Innovation. Minimum Eligibility Criteria -- In order to participate in OGP, governments must exhibit a demonstrated commitment to open government in four key areas, as measured by objective indicators and validated by independent experts.