Response policy, OGP summit prep and action plan rules on Steering Committee agenda

Next week Mexico will host the first OGP Steering Committee Meeting of 2015. This ministerial level meeting will take place over three days.

The Criteria & Standards session might be the most interesting part of the agenda this time around.

Items worth watching:

1. The announcement of five additional new members of the International Expert Panel of the IRM. They will have a role focused on quality control the first year and take over the steering role in their second when the original batch of IEP members step down. The list of five is very impressive I must say, and they represent a diverse background and track record.
2. An update on the response policy. This will include sharing with the Steering Committee the agreed procedures of how to practically handle requests for inquiry as well as an update on the first case submitted, that of concerns raised about civil society operations in Azerbaijan. 
3. A proposal – for discussion – clarifying the rules on how to deal with delays in developing new Action Plans. What are the key dates, which actions do they trigger, when does a country become “inactive” and how can it become an active participant again. The proposal describes this for countries not meeting OGP process requirements and for countries that might be listed as inactive as a result of the response policyThe Response Policy is used when an OGP participating country appears to be taking actions that undermine the values and principles of OGP, as articulated in the Open Government Declaration, in a way .... It is a pre-decisional document, so not included in the public pack.
4. An update on several countries, including the ones that received letters at the end of last year for being late with their Action Plans

The Peer Learning and Support session will have updates on the Africa Regional Meeting (May 19-21 in Tanzania) and the one in Georgia for European government Points of Contact in early June.

A more substantial discussion is to be expected on two topics. First, on a recently completed review of the Working Group model including recommendations to improve. Second, on sharing examples of peer learning and support by 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... members and a discussion on what else can be done.

The Summit session will be the kickoff for the six months prep leading to the 2015 OGP Global Summit at the end of October.

By the end of next week we should have clarity on the exact dates, theme and location. Hopefully we can then also indicate the how and when on registration and call for proposals.

On the ministerial day the Support Unit will provide an update on how OGP countries are doing around the world, including what types of support they need.

This session will also highlight some preliminary new IRM findings. The rest of the day is spent discussing four important strategic topics and trends:

• research on the impact of open government – outlining priorities for the OGP research agenda
• public safety and access to justiceAccessible justice systems – both formal and informal – ensure that individuals and communities with legal needs know where to go for help, obtain the help they need, and move through a system tha... More – discussing how OGP can advance this agenda
• 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... – discussing opportunities and challenges for sustainable national open data programs and the International Open Data Charter
• subnational open government innovations – recognizing the importance of local open government reform and discussing how OGP can play a role

The final session will discuss the transition and strengthening of OGP leadership.

The transition includes both the rotation of government Steering Committee members later this year as well as the candidates for the government and civil society 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 ... after Mexico and Suneeta Kaimal rotate off. Important to note is that civil society will skip a rotation this year, as last year brough us six new members. The strengthening includes the fleshed out proposal on “OGP ambassadors” that were agreed to last time.

Mexican civil society has added a fourth day after the official Steering Committee ends.

It will start with a peer learning side-event with all (civil society) Steering Committee members and speakers from Mexico, the UK and the Philippines. Emphasis will be on understanding how these countries have successfully used the OGP platform to tackle policy issues of great relevanceAccording to the OGP Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should include a clear open government lens. Specifically, they should advance at least one of the OGP values: transparency, citizen partic..., how to develop commitments around open government at the local level, and to talk about the challenges of collaboration with government – especially in a chairmanship and Summit year. The afternoon will be used to strategize on making the most of the Summit from a civil society perspective.

So that’s what’s on the agenda in Mexico. Definitely not a light program, but I wasn’t expecting that! Do get in touch if you have any additional questions, comments or inputs after reading the prep docs.

Photo Credit: Anirudh Koul via Compfight cc