The Open Government Partnership (OGP)’s Asia Pacific Regional Conference, the first of its kind in the region, ended with a very constructive and univocal note that openness helps government to deliver better; transparency helps government and civil society gain better trust among each other.
The conference ‘Unlocking Innovative Openness: Impetus to Greater Citizen Engagement’ that took place in Bali, the renowned island of Indonesia enriched with history, tradition and culture, on May 6-7 imparted a message to the globe that meaningful partnership among government and civil society candidly contributes enhancing government’s efficiency and most importantly the lives of the people.
Participated in by more than 600 delegates representing government officials, members of parliament, law enforcement officials, CSOs, youths, private sector, media and multilateral institutions from around 50 countries of the Asia Pacific Region, the event concludes that reforming government does not have to be a solo undertaking but a global one.
“That inviting public participation must not be a daunting task but an inspiring one. That innovating public services shall not be a costly initiative but an affordable one”, said Dr Eko Prasajo, Vice Minister, Ministry of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform, Indonesia while delivering concluding remarks on May 7.
The conference inaugurated by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted a great number of outstanding openness actors around the region that offers countries and communities the opportunity to connect and learn from each other on the benefits across good and open governance. Besides, the event also provides opportunities for everyone to share their ideas, innovations and exchange contacts that are key to the development of ideas and thoughts and partnership to facilitate greater collaboration ahead.
In his inaugural speech, the President said, “Through OGP the governments and civil society can work together to ensure openness. OGOP proves that the government is not monolithic but full of reformers sharing aspirations of transparency and accountability to help fight corruption, spur innovation and economic growth and deliver development agenda”
There were a total of 18 breakout sessions which touched upon a wide range of issues including open data citizen engagement, good and open governance in post-2015 Development Agenda, legislative openness, fiscal openness, access to information, and openness in natural resource management. “The sessions talked about the cross-sectoral benefits of openness” said Ashish Thapa, Executive Director of Transparency International, Nepal Chapter, who also participated in the event.
OGP began in 2011 as a multinational initiative of the countries that include Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, The United Kingdom and the United States and a number of civil society organizations. After less than three years, it has transformed into a global movement involving 64 countries and around 200 civil society organizations.
Though Nepal is one of the eligible countries in Asia Pacific that meets the four criteria required by the OGP including fiscal transparency, access to information, asset disclosure and citizen engagement, it has not yet joined the global movement.
freedom1 Forum has been massively working on all four issues apart from asset disclosure to push the government to collaborate for joining OGP. Forum Director Krishna Sapkota also took part in the Civil Society Day-2014 and Market Place as well as the OGP Asia-Pacific Regional Conference to show organizational commitment to the movement.