About OGPOGP commitments will be structured around a set of five “grand challenges” that governments face. In year one, countries will choose at least one of these grand challenges and develop concrete commitments around open government to address it. OGP welcomes and encourages countries to tackle more than one challenge in year one.The Open Government Partnership will formally launch in September 2011, when the governments on the Steering Committee will embrace the Open Government Declaration and announce country action plans. We invite you to stand with us in September, signal your intent to join OGP, and deliver your own commitments when we meet again in Brazil in March 2012.Open Government PartnershipOGP_86a8abc8-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2aThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global effort to make governments better. Citizens want more transparent, effective and accountable government—with institutions that empower people and are responsive to their aspirations. But this work is never easy. It takes political leadership. It takes technical knowledge. It takes sustained effort and investment. It takes collaboration between government and civil society. The Open Government Partnership is a new multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. In the spirit of multi-stakeholder collaboration, OGP is overseen by a Steering Committee of governments and civil society organizations. The OGP portal is the initiative’s online presence. It is the primary repository for all OGP country action plans as well as the declaration of principles.OGP Steering CommitteeThe OGP is overseen by a multi-stakeholder International Steering Committee, comprised of governments and leading civil society representatives.NorwayMember of the Steering CommitteeUnited KingdomMember of the Steering CommitteeUnited StatesMember of the Steering CommitteeMexicoMember of the Steering CommitteePhilippinesMember of the Steering CommitteeBrazilMember of the Steering CommitteeIndonesiaMember of the Steering CommitteeSouth AfricaMember of the Steering CommitteeNational Security Archives (US)Member of the Steering CommitteeInternational Budget Project (Intl)Member of the Steering CommitteeMKSS (India)Member of the Steering CommitteeTransparency and Accountability Initiative (Intl)Member of the Steering CommitteeRevenue Watch Institute (Intl)Member of the Steering CommitteeAfrica Center for Open Governance (Kenya)Member of the Steering CommitteeTwaweza (Tanzania)Member of the Steering CommitteeInstituto de Estudos Socioeconômicos (Brazil)Member of the Steering CommitteeMember CountriesTo become a member of OGP, participating countries must: * deliver a concrete action plan, developed with public consultation and feedback * embrace an Open Government Declaration * commit to independent reporting on their progress going forward. Country Action Plan -- Governments will develop OGP country action plans that elaborate concrete commitments. Governments should begin their OGP country action plans by sharing existing efforts related to their chosen grand challenge(s), including specific open government strategies and ongoing programs. Action Plans should then set out governments’ OGP grand challenge commitments, which stretch government practice beyond its current baseline. These commitments may build on existing efforts, identify new steps to complete on-going reforms, or initiate action in an entirely new area. OGP recognizes that all countries will be starting from different baselines. Countries are charged with selecting the grand challenges and related concrete commitments that most relate to their unique country contexts. Concrete Commitments -- All OGP commitments should reflect four core open government principles: Transparency, Citizen Participation, Accountability, and Technology and Innovation. Minimum Eligibility Criteria -- In order to participate in OGP, governments must exhibit a demonstrated commitment to open government in four key areas, as measured by objective indicators and validated by independent experts._86a8bb72-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2apromoting transparency, empowering citizens, fighting corruption, and harnessing new technologies to strengthen governance_86a8bd48-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2a TransparencyTransparency: Information on government activities and decisions is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the public and meets basic open data standards (e.g. raw data, machine readability).Citizen ParticipationCitizen Participation: Governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to more responsive, innovative and effective governance.AccountabilityAccountability: There are rules, regulations and mechanisms in place that call upon government actors to justify their actions, act upon criticisms or requirements made of them, and accept responsibility for failure to perform with respect to laws or commitments.Technology and InnovationTechnology and Innovation: Governments embrace the importance of providing citizens with open access to technology, the role of new technologies in driving innovation, and the importance of increasing the capacity of citizens to use technology.Fiscal TransparencyThe timely publication of essential budget Citizen Engagement documents forms the basic building blocks of budget accountability and an open budget system. (Key Measurement Indicator Area)Access to InformationAn access to information law that guarantees the public’s right to information and access to government data is essential to the spirit and practice of open government. (Key Measurement Indicator Area)Disclosures Related to Elected or Senior OfficialsRules that require public disclosure of income and assets for elected and senior public officials are essential to anti-corruption and open, accountable government. (Key Measurement Indicator Area)Citizen EngagementOpen Government requires openness to citizen participation and engagement in policymaking and governance, including basic protections for civil liberties. (Key Measurement Indicator Area)Effectiveness EmpowermentResponsivenessPolitical LeadershipSustained Effort Investment CollaborationNew TechnologiesPeer ConsulationTo encourage the sharing of best practices and innovation and maintain high standards, all OGP countries will participate in working level sessions with other participating countries and the OGP Steering Committee during the commitment development phase.Independent Reporting MechanismAll governments will publish a progress report approximately three months after the end of the 12-month OGP implementation cycle. As a complement to the self-assessment, an independent assessment report will be written by well-respected local governance experts from each OGP participating country.NetworkingOGP Networking Mechanism -- OGP offers a ready-made network of governments and non-governmental actors that have remarkable track records and experience tackling these challenges in innovative ways. All OGP countries will benefit from a networking mechanism—a technical assistance facility established to connect countries with the networks, expertise, and resources they need to develop truly innovative open government initiatives.Public ServicesImprove Public Services_86a8be88-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2a1Improving Public Services: the full spectrum of citizen services including health, education, criminal justice, water, electricity, telecommunications and any other relevant service areas, by fostering public service improvement or private sector innovation_86a8bfa0-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2aPublic IntegrityIncrease Public Integrity_86a8c07c-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2a2News MediaIncreasing Public Integrity: corruption and public ethics, access to information, campaign finance reform, media and civil society freedom_86a8c158-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2aPublic ResourcesEffectively Manage Public Resources_86a8c220-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2a3More Effectively Managing Public Resources: budgets, procurement, natural resources and foreign assistance_86a8c2fc-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2aSafe CommunitiesCreate Safer Communities_86a8c3ce-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2a4CommunitiesCreating Safer Communities: public safety, the security sector, disaster and crisis response, environmental threats_86a8c4aa-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2aCorporate AccountabilityIncrease Corporate Accountability_86a8c57c-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2a5CorporationsCommunitiesConsumersIncreasing Corporate Accountability: corporate responsibility on issues such as the environment, anti-corruption, consumer protection, and community engagement_86a8c658-ad6d-11e0-965d-886a7a64ea2a2011-09-302011-07-13http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/168257.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net