Tallinn, Estonia – The Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit, a gathering of over 2,000 participants from approximately 130 nations, including heads of state, civil society organizations, and policymakers, concluded today in Tallinn, Estonia. The summit’s highlight was the transition of leadership, with Estonia, the previous leading co-chair, passing the role of government chair to Kenya.
The 8th OGP Global Summit delved into the potential of cutting-edge digital governance and its fusion with open government principles of transparency, accountability, and participation to rejuvenate democracies and counter autocratic challenges.
“In this era of multifaceted crises, we may not be able to anticipate every challenge, but we can build a resilient and cohesive society. To depend on civil society during times of crisis, we must network and collaborate during periods of stability,” emphasized Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop.
Estonia has been an OGP member since 2011, leveraging its membership to share expertise in e-governance solutions and civil society engagement with global partners. During its tenure, Estonia has crafted six national OGP Action Plans, achieving notable milestones in open governance, including the creation of the “rahvaalgatus” (Citizens’ Initiative) digital platform, the My Local Government dashboard, and the establishment of a lobby registry.
Estonia assumed the role of government chair of the OGP Steering Committee last year, alongside civil society co-chair Anabel Cruz, Founder and Director of the Communications and Development Institute in Uruguay. The OGP Global Summit also marked the conclusion of Estonia and Anabel Cruz’s tenure as Co-Chairs. They will be succeeded by the Government of Kenya and Blair Glencorse, Co-CEO of Accountability Lab, who will jointly preside over the OGP Steering Committee for a one-year term commencing on October 1, 2023.
“When governments and civil society organizations collaborate to tackle challenges, the solutions are more ambitious, and the outcomes for citizens are notably stronger,” remarked Cruz. “I am honored to have co-led the Partnership alongside the Government of Estonia during a pivotal time for democracies worldwide, and I eagerly anticipate the new leadership of the Steering Committee.”
The Open Government Partnership, a multilateral initiative, unites 76 countries, 104 local governments, and thousands of civil society organizations in a shared commitment to accountable and inclusive governance.
