The Open Government Partnership (OGP)

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The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global effort to make governments better. Citizens want more transparent, effective and accountable governments—with institutions that empower citizens 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.

To become a member of OGP, participating countries must:

-embrace a high-level Open Government Declaration

-deliver a concrete action plan, developed with public consultation

-commit to independent reporting on their progress going forward

The Open Government Partnership formally launched on September 20, 2011, when the 8 founding governments (Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States) endorsed the Open Government Declaration, announced their country action plans, and welcomed the commitment of 38 governments to join the Partnership.

OGP held its first annual high-level meeting on April 17-18, 2012 in Brasilia, Brazil. Since its launch, OGP has grown to become a global community of government reformers, civil society leaders, and business innovators, who together are advancing a new standard of good governance in the 21st century. Through concrete commitments announced via OGP action plans, over fifty-five governments are taking important steps towards greater transparency, accountability and participation that will ultimately improve the lives of people around the world.