OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP
Counterpart strengthens the capacity of individuals, organizations, and networks to take an active role in shaping the development of their communities and countries. We recognize the power of local ownership and support efforts to enhance transparency and accountability to build collaboration between different sectors of society.
Counterpart’s ultimate goal is to leave behind civil society capable of presenting evidence-based solutions to address accountability, transparency, and citizen security issues; citizen-centered government entities with improved service provision and open government reforms and oversight mechanisms to foster greater citizen participation, transparent processes and accountable governance; and better-informed communities actively exercising their civic rights and duties.
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) brings together government and civil society leaders to create national action plans geared towards citizen-centered needs and priorities of the country. By joining OGP, the participating countries declare their commitment to increase the availability of information about governmental activities; promote civic participation; implement the highest standards of professional integrity; and increase access to new technologies for openness and accountability.
Since 2011, Counterpart International has supported the OGP initiative in five countries as part of USAID-funded projects: Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Morocco.
Counterpart has supported various stages of the OGP National Action Plan process, including co-creation, implementation and monitoring. Counterpart’s interventions, in support of the OGP framework, have contributed to organizational and institutional strengthening by promoting constructive dialogue and collaborative efforts in citizen participation mechanisms, as well as the development of transparency and corruption prevention systems. Our approach is multi-dimensional and multifaceted in that it incorporates interventions towards:
- Strengthening the institutional capacity of the government institutions to effectively respond to citizens’ demands;
- Promoting civil society organizations and other civil society actors to more responsibly and constructively advocate for accountable governance; and
- Increasing public awareness and civic participation in political and socio-economic process by formulating informed and legitimate demands for more accountable, transparent, and citizen-centered government.