Cabo Verde Signals Intent to Join OGP

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 co-chairsThe leadership of the Steering Committee is made up of four co-chairs who provide strategic guidance and support to advance OGP’s overarching priorities. Co-Chairs serve two-year terms beginning on ... have received a letter of intent from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cabo Verde. The letter indicates the government’s interest in joining OGP. Cabo Verde will become a full participant in OGP once it works with civil society to complete its first National Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen....

Alejandra Lagunes Soto Ruiz, government co-chair and National Digital Strategy Coordinator, Office of the President Of Mexico, said:

“As the current lead chair of OGP and on behalf of the 65 member countries, México would like to congratulate the government and civil society of Cabo Verde for showing a profound 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 join the Open Government Partnership. Today, thanks to the effort and leadership of 65 countries, OGP has transcended from a high level political agreement into an effective and horizontal space of co-creation between governments and civil society. I am sure that Cabo Verde’s addition will continue to foster openness in Africa, a region that is crucial for the future of OGP.”

Suneeta Kaimal, civil society lead chair and Deputy Director of the Natural Resource Governance Institute, said:

“I would like to congratulate the Government of Cabo Verde on its expression of interest in joining the Open Government Partnership. Cabo Verde will be a strong addition to the 65 countries who have already signed up to use OGP as a vehicle to make progress on opening up government and working with civil society. It is particularly exciting to see OGP growing in Africa, shortly before South Africa takes over from Mexico as the lead government chair. Cabo Verde has consistently performed well on governance measures, including in the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, and I look forward to OGP catalysing even more open government reform in the country.”

The Government of Cabo Verde has released the following statement:

The Ministry of Foreign Relations informs that, by a decision of the Government, and in a letter sent on July 13, 2015 Cabo Verde requested to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

Launched in 2011, the OGP is a multilateral international initiative whose objective is to globally disseminate and encourage government practices related to government 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 pub... More, access to public information and social participation. With more  than 60 member countries, the OGP’s goal  is to ensure that governments are more open, efficient and responsible, and they make concrete commitments which promote government transparency.

It should be recalled that it was during Prime Minister Dr. Jose Maria Neves’  visit to the United States of America in 2013 and during a meeting with President Barack Obama that the idea of Cabo Verde joining this important  Institution which promotes worldwide democracy was brought about.

This membership makes Cabo Verde the 66th country to join the Open Government Partnership.