Local Roundup | October 2023

Here’s our monthly roundup of updates from the OGP Local community for October 2023.

OPEN GOVERNMENT PROCESSES

• Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, opened a call for initiatives for their first action plan aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in the development of the city.
• Montevideo, Uruguay, held its Second Open Government Discussion, involving citizens in shaping their first local action plan. The event encouraged proposals related to data-driven decision-making and community engagement in various areas.
• Rosario, Argentina, is organizing climate change workshops in various districts to engage citizens in assessing risks, vulnerabilities, and local solutions as part of their Local Climate Action Plan 2030, promoting community engagement and resilience.
• Osasco, Brazil, held a public consultation for its first Open Data Plan, a transparency initiative designed to encourage citizen engagement and prioritize data releases based on genuine community needs.
• Hamburg, Germany, presented its first Voluntary Report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting its engagement in OGP Local as a part of its efforts to advance Goal 16.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• The Secretary of Citizen Participation in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, was honored with the Democratic Innovator of the 21st Century award for her contributions to public innovation and citizen engagement. Congratulations!
• Chihuahua, Mexico, has achieved a 100% rating from Citizens for Transparent Municipalities (CIMTRA) for its innovative Citizen Observer program, emphasizing transparency and citizen involvement in government processes.

RECENT EVENTS

• Valencia, España, joined the International Day for Universal Access to Information, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and open government through the GVA Oberta transparency portal and the Dades Obertes data portal.
• The International Seminar on Local Open Government, organized by CEPAL, fostered the exchange of experiences implementing open government principles at the subnational level in Latin America and the Caribbean to promote regional development.
• More than 7,000 people participated in over 220 workshops at the European Week of Regions and Cities to promote cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance.

SAVE THE DATE

• The “Spirit Unbroken: Empowering Local Democracy for Ukraine’s Renewal” conference, will take place in Brussels, Belgium from November 8-10, 2023.
• The International Congress on Open State and Governance, hosted by UNA, CEPAL, and RAGA, will take place in Costa Rica on June 26, 2024.

DON’T MISS 

• The Chilean NGO, Ciudadania Inteligente, has released “Democraciakit” a beta version of their toolkit for public innovation and citizen participation in local government. Check it out here.

REMINDER

The application process to join OGP Local is open until January 12, 2024. Access all the relevant information you need to prepare your application and watch the latest recording of our informational sessions.

If you missed any of the previous roundups, you can now find them here!