OGP Steering Committee Government Candidates Announced
In 2014, the Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More Steering CommitteeThe Steering Committee is OGP’s executive decision-making body. Its role is to develop, promote and safeguard OGP’s values, principles and interests; establish OGP’s core ideas, policies, and ru... will rotate both the government and civil society members simultaneously for the first time since OGP was launched in September 2011. In 2013 three new civil society representatives joined the Steering Committee, but 2014 will be the first time new government members are elected to join the main governing body of OGP. As the number of countries participating in OGP has grown – from the founding 8 to 64 today – it is vital to offer leadership opportunities to a wider group of government and civil society actors. Beginning in 2014, annual elections and selection processes will ensure that the Steering Committee rotates regularly.
For the 2014 government elections there are 10 candidates standing for 8 available seats. All current Steering Committee members are eligible to run for a second term, with 5 taking up that option. [SC members are limited to 2 consecutive terms.] 3 current Steering Committee members do not need to stand in this election as they occupy a current or future co-chair position.
The candidates organized by OGP electoral region are:
Africa: Sierra Leone*, Tanzania
Americas: Brazil, Honduras*, United States
Asia-Pacific: Georgia*, Philippines
Europe: Croatia*, France*, United Kingdom
* = Running for first term on OGP Steering Committee
Each candidate has submitted an application letter which can be found on the OGP website, along with further details on the process for Steering Committee rotation in 2014 on both the government and civil society side.
Canada originally applied to join the OGP Steering Committee, but withdrew on July 10.