Linda Frey’s departure and next steps for OGP

Dear colleagues,

As you are likely aware, Linda Frey, the Executive Director of the Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More Support UnitThe OGP Support Unit is a small, permanent group of staff that work closely with the Steering Committee and the Independent Reporting Mechanism to advance the goals of the Open Government Partnership...., will step down from her role later this year.

Linda has accomplished a remarkable amount during her tenure. When she arrived in January 2013, the OGP Support Unit consisted of 3 staff members…including Linda! Recognizing OGP’s ambitious mission and significant growth opportunities, she built the necessary infrastructure to support a partnership that has grown much more rapidly than anyone could have predicted. She led the development of a powerful 4 year strategy, secured much-needed financial resources, recruited a talented and committed international team, and established regular and effective communication with all OGP participating countries.

Linda’s thoughtful and farsighted leadership has helped consolidate the core principles and ideas of the OGP. Her superb organization, effective networking and conceptual clarity have helped turn these ideas into effective support to OGP globally, demonstrating a new model of how governments can be more open and responsive to citizens. In doing so, together with the Steering CommitteeThe Steering Committee is OGP’s executive decision-making body. Its role is to develop, promote and safeguard OGP’s values, principles and interests; establish OGP’s core ideas, policies, and ru..., Linda has helped transform a start-up initiative into a globally admired partnership. She has succeeded in the difficult task of sustaining interest and momentum, and shored up the key mechanisms of the OGP, such as the committees, working groups, conferences and the IRM, and inventing new ones such as the Open Government Awards.  Her efforts, and those of OGP participating countries, have been globally recognized by several awards including the prestigious CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... to Development Award in 2014.

We will sorely miss Linda and her leadership and hope that you will join us in thanking her for her many contributions.

But we are enormously optimistic about the future. Linda steps down at a time when, despite numerous challenges, the OGP is strong. It now involves 65 countries, hundreds of civil society organizations, seven multilateral partner organizations, and a Support Unit and IRM staff of 20. With an impressive track-record in catalyzing open government reforms, an enterprising four-year strategy and a solid funding base, we are in an excellent position to attract a strong successor.

We have appointed a search committee comprised of four Steering Committee members to lead the search for a new Executive Director, together with the international recruitment firm Waldron.  Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks!

Best, 

Suneeta Kaimal and Alejandra Lagunes.