Open Government: The Eurasia Dimension
16 February–17 February 2017
Government officials, international organizations and civil society representatives will participate in a regional event on open government jointly organized by the government of Ukraine and NRGI, with support from the International Renaissance Foundation and the Open Government Partnership (OGP), in February in Kiev.
Though Eurasian countries were active joiners of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), not all have signed on to OGP. The event will facilitate exchange between OGP member and non-member countries and thus assist the latter group in attaining eligibility and eventual membership. Representatives from 10 Eurasian countries are expected to attend.
“Open Government: The Eurasia Dimension” is the first such meeting of its kind in the region. It will focus on best practices in Eurasia and the role and importance of OGP there. Participants will share experiences of ensuring accountability in public service delivery and fiscal transparency, as well as fighting corruption and the extractive industry.
Launched in 2011, OGP’s aim is “to provide an international platform for domestic reformers committed to making their governments more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens.” OGP has grown from eight participating countries to 75. It now enjoys direct support from many governments and international organizations.
Because good governance of natural resources is fundamental to management of the sector and ensures social and economic benefits and sustainable development, OGP has established the Openness in Natural Resources Working Group, chaired by the governments of Indonesia and Mexico, NRGI and the World Resources Institute.
The Kiev event will highlight examples where OGP has been used to support transparent state procurement systems; underscored the importance of beneficial ownership and contract disclosure; built strong collaboration with civil society organizations; and contributed to the enhancement of public service delivery systems. The meeting’s multi-stakeholder format will allow for open discussion between government and civil society on reforms being implemented or planned and common challenges faced, including a potential roadmap forward for participating nations.
For more information about the event, contact NRGI Eurasia senior officer Fidan Bagirova at [email protected].