Putting People First In The Post-2015 Development Framework

Introduction

This post sets out what open government is and why it matters, explains the relevance of open government to the post-2015 development framework, and poses some questions about whether and how the principles of open government might feature in the post-2015 development framework. Timed to coincide with the meeting in London of the UN High Level Panel on the post-2015 development framework it makes the case that that framework must, if it is to put people first, have transparency, participation and accountability at its heart.

What is Open Government and Why Does it Matter?

Open Government is about governments working with citizens to better meet people’s needs. The Open Government Partnership – the clearest expression of Open Government on a global scale – is a multilateral initiative which brings together governments and civil society to make governments and governance better. Launched in 2011 – with this amazing video – it aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. Open government is built on three key principles...