Five Takeaways from the First OGP Local Assembly Meeting

OGP Local is the fastest-growing community within OGP, highlighting local governments’ dedication to embracing open government practices. That is why OGP officially launched the OGP Local Assembly at the OGP Global Summit, bringing together more than 90 local heads of government and civil society leaders to showcase the thriving 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 of open government initiatives at the local level. 

Aligning with OGP’s 2023-2028 strategy, the Assembly provided a unique platform for reformers to share their insights on how local government and civil society can accelerate the impact of open government. Here are five takeaways from this gathering.

1. Local leadership to empower communities: Committed mayors, governors, and local administrators must lead the way inside and outside their administrations to help build a broader community of open government champions. Their comprehensive perspective of government policies, as well as their 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 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, accountability, and citizen engagement, is vital to fostering vibrant, empowered communities.

2. From rhetoric to action: Reformers must leverage OGP to translate words into actions to have a positive impact in their communities and build trust with citizens. Only then can 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 m... More, inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... More, or climate action become a reality. In Nandi County, Kenya, a toll-free call center is enabling citizen participation by facilitating prompt service feedback from residents in rural areas. Quintana Roo, Mexico, is co-creating a strategic plan alongside marginalized groups, including youthRecognizing that investing in youth means investing in a better future, OGP participating governments are creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in government processes. Technical ... More, women, and indigenous communities, and engaging over 11,000 individuals for more inclusive policies. Khmelnytskhyi, Ukraine, is co-creating the Green City 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..., promoting climate action and sustainability at the grassroots level.

3. Institutionalize open government for stronger results: Across different governments, there is a concerted effort to institutionalize open governance practices. These endeavors go beyond surface-level transparency and strive to create mechanisms for transparent decision-making, meaningful citizen engagement, and robust accountability. Open government principles are becoming integral to the very fabric of local governance, ensuring their longevity and integration into the governance framework.

4. Measuring impact and accountability: The Assembly featured numerous examples of tangible improvements in communities. Gathering evidence to identify failures and successes is vital to accelerate impact and to be accountable to citizens and demonstrate that the promises made are being carried out. Examples of lessons learned from recent open government initiatives can be found in the latest IRM Report on Local Action Plans 2021-2022.

5. Storytelling and inspiration: To strengthen democracy worldwide, successful open government initiatives need to be scaled and replicated. It is important for reformers to share what has worked and hasn’t, and truly learn from each other to inspire and encourage communities to aim higher, innovate boldly, and collectively shape a more impactful open government.

The first OGP Local Assembly reminds us that local governments are empowering communities, fostering innovation, building partnerships, and achieving measurable impact by adopting open government practices. These takeaways provide valuable guidance on how open government initiatives empower and transform communities while a new call of expressions of interest is being launched for local governments to join OGP Local and be part of the largest global community of open government leaders.