The first day of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Estonia was filled with inspiring discussions that challenged thoughts and ideas about how to shape tomorrow’s democracies through open government. Sessions covered a wide range of topics, from the state of democracy in an era of crisis to the opportunities presented by digital governance.
The opening panel of the summit featured insightful remarks from prominent leaders and experts, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities democracies are facing worldwide. It set the tone for the rest of the discussions.
“We cannot be ready for all types of crises,” said Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Perekop. “What we can do is build a cohesive society together with our citizens to be ready to address crises. But we have to remember that to rely on civil society in times of crisis, you need to start building that trust and cooperation during peacetime.”
One discussion that captured everyone’s attention was a panel of Ukrainian officials and civil society leaders discussing Ukraine’s path to recovery after the war. It was inspiring to hear about an innovative solution: DREAM, an end-to-end digital platform that shows all the steps involved in the reconstruction process, from funding to building. “It’s important to make sure that the reconstruction process takes into account the voices of all Ukrainians, including those who have been displaced,” said Viktor Nestulia, the Head of Ukraine Support at Open Contracting Partnership. “That’s why we’re using e-democracy to allow people to join teams and vote on the ideas.”
Other discussions covered the opportunities for technologies to address global challenges, focusing on how to create a society where citizens benefit from the use of technology to exercise their civil rights and to hold governments accountable. There was also a roundtable discussion that brought together high-level anti-corruption champions from government, civil society, and international partners, including those leading or engaged in collective action initiatives.
A panel explored the role that technology and e-solutions play in improving education and developing strong and resilient democracies. “I think we really need to rethink what school is,” said Estonia’s former president Kersti Kaljulaid. “Back in the day, teachers gave kids the knowledge they never had. But today, that’s not the same because 30 kids in a classroom all have different levels of knowledge. We also have to teach kids social skills – empathy, critical thinking, and debating. Schools have to be reformed – if you look outside it’s not the 18th century, but if you look inside a classroom, it is.”
The last panel discussed building resilience through open government partnerships. “During a crisis, people trust government more than usual and it’s the time when you need civil society the most,” said Salil Shetty, Vice President of Open Society Foundations. The panel also included an interesting debate set up between Estonian High School Debating Champions.
“In times of peace, the government’s goals and those of civil society often do not align. For example, civil society groups may call for more openness and reforms to better include them in decision-making, which takes time and effort for governments. However, in times of crisis, these two groups often unite to solve the problem,” added Steph Mucai, the program director for Governance and Anticorruption at the International Lawyers Project.
The OGP summit will continue tomorrow with more inspiring discussions that challenge prevailing thoughts and ideas, set to shape the governments of tomorrow. Follow the schedule for Day 2 of the OGP Global Summit here: https://www.avpeesti2023.ee/en/ajakava
