Action plan – Zagreb, Croatia, 2026 – 2029

At-a-Glance

Duration

May 2029

Date Submitted

3rd September 2026

Foreword(s)

We are proud to present the City of Zagreb’s Action Plan for 2026–2029, prepared as part of our ongoing engagement in 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 (OGP) Local program. Building upon the foundations laid by our first Action Plan, this new cycle reflects our strategic 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 further advancing transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the public,... More, accountability, and meaningful citizen participationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to more ... More through concrete, sustainable, and impact-oriented measures.

We remain committed to making government processes more open, accessible, and understandable. This Action Plan focuses on improving the availability of public information, strengthening fiscal transparency, and enabling citizens to actively follow and engage in decision-making.

Our vision is a city where transparency is embedded in governance, digital tools support efficient public administration, and citizens actively participate in shaping and monitoring public policies.

This Action Plan is based on a participatory and inclusive co-creation processCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders (e.g., citizens, academics, private sector) is at the heart of the OGP process. Participating governments must ensure that a dive... involving civil society and diverse stakeholders, ensuring responsiveness to concrete needs. The partnership framework will continue throughout implementation and monitoring through continuous dialogue, feedback, and collaborative evaluation.

To support effective implementation, the City of Zagreb has defined clear responsibilities across relevant administrative bodies, ensured the necessary financial and human resources, and established a system for regular monitoring and evaluation of the Action Plan measures.

Particular attention will be given to strengthening systems that improve transparency and accountability, including participatory budgeting, public procurement transparency, digitalization of administrative processes, and improved communication with citizens.

Through this Action Plan, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of open government and to building a more transparent, participatory, and accountable city administration for the benefit of all citizens.

Open Government Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Vision

This subsection details the Open Government Strategic Vision in your local area that should guide the commitments for the action plan period.

What is the long-term vision for open government in your context and jurisdiction?

The long-term vision for open government in the City of Zagreb is aligned with its broader development vision of a green, innovative, and sustainable city, as defined in the Development Plan 2021–2027. Open government is seen as a central driver of transparent, accountable, and participatory governance, where citizens have access to timely information, can engage in decision-making, and monitor the use of public resources.

To achieve this, we aim to strengthen participatory mechanisms, improve fiscal transparency, and advance the digitalization of public administration. This includes developing tools for tracking participatory budgeting projects and public spending, increasing transparency in public procurement and management of city assets, digitalizing recruitment processes, and enhancing communication with citizens through integrated digital systems, contributing to a more open, efficient, and trustworthy administration.

What are the achievements in open government to date (for example, recent open government reforms)?

Over the past several years, the City of Zagreb has made significant progress in advancing open government principles, particularly in transparency, digitalization, and citizen participation.

Key achievements include strengthening fiscal transparency through the iTransparentnost application and the Treasury project, as well as upgrading the Open DataBy opening up data and making it sharable and reusable, governments can enable informed debate, better decision making, and the development of innovative new services. Technical specifications: Polici... Portal and introducing funding for projects using open data. Transparency and accessibility have also been improved through the development of a catalog of city services and systems for better oversight of city-owned assets (real estate catalog).

In the area of citizen participation, the City has digitalized public consultations and introduced participatory budgeting, enabling citizens to propose and vote on local projects. At the same time, the City has advanced the digitalization of public administration, including e-services, paperless processes, and digital tools that improve efficiency and communication with citizens.

To strengthen accountability, tools such as the “ZG Whistleblower” platform have been introduced, while platforms like the Zagreb Smart City Hub provide centralized access to data and information on city projects.

These achievements provide a strong foundation for further development of open, transparent, and participatory governance in the new Action Plan.

What are the current challenges/areas for improvement in open government that the jurisdiction wishes to tackle?

Current areas for improvement in open government that the City of Zagreb seeks to address are aligned with the OGP 2023–2028 Strategy, particularly in fiscal openness and digital governanceAs evolving technologies present new opportunities for governments and citizens to advance openness and accountability, OGP participating governments are working to create policies that deal with the ... More.

In fiscal openness, the main challenge is ensuring that data on public spending, procurement, and city assets is comprehensive, accessible, and user-friendly. Although data exists, it remains fragmented and insufficiently standardized, limiting its usability and effectiveness for public oversight.

In digital governance, key challenges relate to the limited integration and interoperability of digital systems. Existing tools often operate in silos, reducing efficiency, transparency, and the overall user experience, especially in administrative processes and citizen communication.

This Action Plan addresses these challenges through a more integrated approach, focusing on improved data accessibility and the development of user-centric, interoperable digital solutions.

What are the medium-term open government goals that the government wants to achieve?

The medium-term open government goals for the City of Zagreb in fiscal openness are to improve the availability, clarity, and usability of information on public spending, public procurement, and the management of city assets. This includes the development of public catalogs of contracts and city assets, as well as tools such as dashboards for tracking participatory budgeting projects and the use of public funds.

In digital governance, the goal is to further integrate and digitalize administrative processes to improve efficiency, transparency, and user experience. This includes the introduction of a CRM system for managing citizen inquiries and requests, as well as the digitalization of recruitment processes within the city administration.

These efforts aim to build a more transparent, efficient, and user-oriented public administration.

How does this action plan contribute to achieve the Open Government Strategic Vision?

This Action Plan contributes to achieving the open government strategic vision of the City of Zagreb by strengthening transparency, fiscal openness, digital governance, and citizen participation.

The Action Plan introduces a set of measures designed to improve the availability and usability of information on public spending, public procurement, and city assets, while simultaneously accelerating the integration and digitalization of administrative processes. It also reinforces citizen participation through expanded participatory mechanisms, digital engagement tools, and enhanced communication channels, thereby contributing to a more transparent, efficient, and user-centric public administration.

How does the open government strategic vision contribute to the accomplishment of the current administration’s overall policy goals?

The open government strategic vision of the City of Zagreb supports the administration’s broader goals of building a transparent, accountable, inclusive, and digitally advanced public administration.

By advancing transparency and fiscal openness, the City seeks to strengthen public trust and accountability through improved access to information on public spending, procurement, and city assets. At the same time, integrated digital systems support the digital transformationGovernments are working to increase access to and quality of government services, improve transparency, and create opportunities for participation by using information and communications technologies.... More and modernization of public administration, improving efficiency and service delivery.

The strategic vision also supports stronger citizen participation by enabling citizens to actively engage in decision-making processes and to monitor the implementation of public policies and projects.

Through participatory mechanisms, digital engagement tools, and improved communication channels, the City aims to place citizens at the center of governance and foster sustained collaboration with civil society and other stakeholdersCivil society organizations (CSOs) are indispensable actors in the OGP process. Governments are required to engage with civil society toward a clear and open process of participation. Civil society ma....

Engagement and Coordination in the Open Government Strategic Vision and OGP Action Plan

Please list the lead institutions responsible for the implementation of this OGP action plan.

• City Office for Digitalization, New Technologies and Technical Affairs
• City Office for Municipal Self-Government, Transport, Communal Services, Civil Protection and Safety
• Office of the Mayor
• City Office for Finance and Public Procurement

What kind of institutional arrangements are in place to coordinate between government agencies and departments to implement the OGP action plan?

The implementation of the OGP Action Plan involves coordination among the city offices responsible for individual measures. To support implementation and monitoring, a Working Group for the Development and Monitoring of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Open Government Partnership Local Program in the City of Zagreb for the period 2026–2029 has been established.

The City Office for Digitalization, New Technologies and Technical Affairs provides technical support and coordination for all four measures, including the digital recruitment system. The City Office for Municipal Self-Government, Transport, Communal Services, Civil Protection and Safety coordinates participatory budgeting activities, the City Office for Finance and Public Procurement is responsible for the contract catalogues, and the Office of the Mayor coordinates the CRM system.

Implementation will be coordinated through regular communication, monitoring, and reporting among the responsible institutions.

What kind of spaces have you used or created to enable the collaboration between government and civil society in the co-creation and implementation of this action plan? Mention both offline and online spaces.

To support collaboration between government and civil society in the co-creation and implementation of the Action Plan, the City of Zagreb used both offline and online engagement mechanisms.

Offline activities included Working Group meetings, workshops, public discussions, consultations with stakeholders, the conference “Local Government Tailored to Citizens – From Open Government to Active Community” (24 April 2026), and a public presentation and discussion at the Zagreb EnergyEnsuring universal access to sustainable, dependable, and affordable energy is critical to every aspect of prosperity. Increasing public oversight and transparency in the energy sector can help to ens... More Center (ZEC) on the draft OGP Action Plan 2026–2029.

Online collaboration was supported through digital communication channels and the sharing of working materials and proposals.

Cooperation with stakeholders will continue throughout implementation through regular meetings, consultations, and participatory activities.

What measures did you take to ensure diversity of representation (including vulnerable or marginalized populations) in these spaces?

To ensure diversity of representation, including vulnerable or marginalized populations, the City of Zagreb enabled inclusive and publicly accessible participation activities involving civil society organizations, local communities, public institutions, and interested citizens.

As part of the co-creation process, representatives of the City participated in the conference “Local Government Tailored to Citizens – From Open Government to Active Community”, which brought together local and regional governments, civil society organizations, and citizens to discuss open government and participatory practices. The City also organized a public presentation and discussion at the Zagreb Energy Centre (ZEC) on the draft OGP Action Plan 2026–2029, where stakeholders and citizens provided feedback and proposals.

These activities aimed to encourage dialogue, exchange of experiences, and participation of different stakeholder groups throughout the co-creation process.

Who participated in these spaces?

Participants in the co-creation process included representatives of City of Zagreb administrative bodies, particularly the City Office for Digitalization, New Technologies and Technical Affairs, the City Office for Municipal Self-Government, Transport, Communal Services, Civil Protection and Safety, the Office of the Mayor, and the City Office for Finance and Public Procurement.

The process also involved representatives of civil society and professional organizations working in areas such as open government, public finance, evaluation, and public administration reform, including GONG, the Croatian Evaluation Society, the Institute of Public Finance, and Coglobal – European Strategies and Networks.

Representatives of academic institutions, including the University of Zagreb and the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law, also participated in the co-creation process. Additional stakeholders and interested citizens contributed through workshops, discussions, conferences, and other activities.

How many groups participated in these spaces?

3

How many public-facing meetings were held in the co-creation process?

5

How will government and non-governmental stakeholders continue to collaborate through the implementation of the action plan?

Government and non-governmental stakeholders will continue to collaborate throughout the implementation of the Action Plan through regular communication, meetings, consultations, and monitoring activities coordinated by the Working Group for the Development and Monitoring of the Action Plan.

Civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders will be involved in discussions related to the implementation and evaluation of the measures, particularly in areas of participatory governance, transparency, fiscal openness, and digital governance. Cooperation will also continue through public discussions, participatory activities, conferences, and other events related to open government and citizen participation.

Please describe the independent Monitoring Body you have identified for this plan.

The Independent Monitoring Body for the City of Zagreb’s OGP Action Plan 2026–2029 will be an external independent evaluator selected through a public procurement procedure.

The Independent Monitoring Body will oversee the implementation of the Action Plan by monitoring progress, reviewing implementation reports and activities, and providing independent assessments and recommendations. Its role includes conducting an initial assessment of the co-creation process and Action Plan design, evaluating the implementation and results of individual measures, and preparing a final learning assessment at the end of the implementation period.

The Independent Monitoring Body will contribute to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement of the Action Plan implementation process.

Provide the contact details for the independent monitoring body.

• Ivona Mendeš, Evaluator, [email protected]

What types of activities will you have in place to discuss progress on commitments with stakeholders?

Progress on the implementation of the Action Plan commitments will be discussed through regular communication and coordination activities involving government and non-governmental stakeholders.

The City of Zagreb will organize regular meetings of the Working Group for the Development and Monitoring of the Action Plan, as well as consultations and discussions with civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders. Communication and exchange of information will also be supported through email and online collaboration tools, enabling the sharing of updates, implementation progress, challenges, and feedback.

In addition, public discussions, presentations, participatory activities, and events related to open government and participatory governance will provide opportunities to discuss progress, gather stakeholder input, and monitor the implementation of commitments throughout the Action Plan period.

How will you regularly check in on progress with implementing agencies?

The results of monitoring activities will be shared with the public through regular publication of implementation updates, reports, and relevant information on the City of Zagreb’s official website and other communication channels.

The City will monitor the implementation of commitments through meetings, coordination activities, and regular reporting by the responsible administrative bodies. Monitoring activities will include tracking progress indicators related to participatory budgeting, transparency of public procurement and city asset management, implementation of digital systems, and communication with citizens.

The Independent Monitoring Body will also prepare independent assessments and evaluation reports during different phases of the Action Plan implementation. Public discussions, presentations, and stakeholder meetings will provide additional opportunities to present results, discuss progress, and gather feedback from citizens and stakeholders throughout the implementation period.

How will you share the results of your monitoring efforts with the public?

The results of monitoring activities will be shared with the public through implementation updates, reports, and relevant information published on the City of Zagreb’s official website and other communication channels, including quarterly reports on the implementation of the Action Plan submitted to OGP.

The City will monitor the implementation of commitments through meetings, coordination activities, and regular reporting by the responsible administrative bodies, including progress related to participatory budgeting, transparency of public procurement and city asset management, implementation of digital systems, and communication with citizens.

Public discussions, presentations, and stakeholder meetings will provide opportunities to present results, discuss progress, and gather feedback throughout the implementation period.

The Independent Monitoring Body will also prepare independent assessments and evaluation reports during different phases of implementation.

Endorsement from Non-Governmental Stakeholders

• Jasmina Džinić, Professor, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law
• Oriana Ivković Novokmet, Executive Director, GONG
• Marijana Sumpor, Coordinator of the Croatian Evaluators Network, CEN – Croatian Evaluators Network
• Mihaela Bronić, Researcher, Institute of Public Finance, IPF – Institute of Public Finance
• Alisa Aliti Vlašić, Director of European Strategy and Networks, Coglobal

• Plan Razvoja Grada Zabreba Za Razdoblaje do Kraja 2027.Development Plan for the City of Zagreb for the Period Until the End of 2027
• Zagreb-Smart-City Plan
• Local Self-Government Tailored to Citizens – From Open Government to an Active Community.