Brussels – The European Union (EU) and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) have jointly unveiled the Partnership for Democracy and Accountability, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fortifying democracy and enhancing the well-being of citizens worldwide by promoting open, inclusive, and accountable governance. Backed by a substantial €3 million contribution from the EU spanning 40 months, and with operational support from OGP, this partnership will spearhead global open government initiatives, focusing on critical areas such as anti-corruption, accountability, gender equality, youth engagement, inclusivity, civic space preservation, and increased citizen participation. The initiative’s scope extends to partner countries, including Colombia, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and the Philippines.
Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, expressed the EU’s unwavering commitment to democratic values, which lie at the core of its international collaborations and the Global Gateway investment strategy. Commissioner Urpilainen affirmed, “The EU is firmly dedicated to collaborating with our partners to cultivate inclusive, resilient democratic societies. I am delighted to introduce the Partnership for Democracy and Accountability, in which we collaborate with the Open Government Partnership, governments, and civil society to promote accountability, women’s and youth participation, and a world where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.”
Sanjay Pradhan, CEO of the Open Government Partnership, emphasized the crucial role that partners like OGP and the European Union play in supporting government and civil society reformers striving to strengthen democracy and open governance within their nations. He lauded the EU’s global leadership and expressed his satisfaction with the program’s launch, highlighting its potential to empower open government champions to amplify their reforms and confront the challenges they encounter. Pradhan conveyed his eagerness to continue the collaboration with the EU to transform this vision into a reality.
The Partnership for Democracy and Accountability’s objectives encompass national, regional, and global levels. At the national level, it seeks to foster robust alliances and mutual accountability between governments and civil society, fostering open, inclusive, and participatory co-creation approaches and driving ambitious policy reforms aligned with each country’s unique priorities. On the global and regional fronts, the partnership aims to facilitate cross-regional peer learning, coalition building, and the dissemination of thematic knowledge pertaining to accountability, anti-corruption measures, civic space preservation, inclusivity, and citizen participation.
The Partnership for Democracy and Accountability forms a vital component of the Team Europe Democracy initiative, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the European Commission and involving 14 EU Member States.
