Action plan – State of Goias, Brazil, 2024 – 2026

At-a-Glance

Duration

Dec 2026

Date Submitted

29th November 2024

Foreword(s)

Since 2019, the State of Goiás has been working to promote open governance that is responsive to the needs of its citizens. Integrated into the Office of the Comptroller General of the State of Goiás, this unit has played a central role in implementing policies that enhance access to information and social accountabilityTransparency of public service delivery is not enough on its own; giving citizens opportunities to monitor progress on the ground and hold their governments accountable improves the quality of these s..., aiming to increase citizen participationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to m... More and strengthen trust between the government and society.

The presentation of Goiás’ First Open Government Action Plan represents a significant step toward consolidating a more transparent and participatory model of public administration. This milestone reflects not only the maturity of ongoing Open Government initiatives but also Goiás’ ambitionAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should “stretch government practice beyond its current baseline with respect to key areas of open government.” Ambition captures the po... to position itself as a local reference in promoting best practices in transparency, citizen engagement, and public innovation. By joining 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 (OGP), Goiás reaffirms its commitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... to transforming Open Government principles into concrete actions that generate positive and sustainable impacts for society.

The plan is the result of a plural and democratic process that brings together the voices and interests of representatives from the government, civil society, universities, and partner institutions. Through a collective effort coordinated by the Open Government Forum of Goiás, these diverse stakeholders work to align demands and objectives around concrete commitments. The forum stands out as a dynamic and democratic space that fosters practices geared toward Open Government and enhances the co-creation of solutions for complex social challenges. With this plan, Goiás commits to advancing transparency, strengthening channels for social participation, and innovating in the delivery of public services. More than that, the State of Goiás invites every citizen to actively participate in this cultural transformation, grounded in mutual trust, open dialogue, and shared responsibility.

Open Government Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Vision

This subsection details the Open Government Strategic Vision in your local area that should guide the commitments for the action plan period.

What is the long-term vision for open government in your context and jurisdiction?

The long-term vision of the State of Goiás emphasizes the importance of institutionalizing the open government ecosystem as a solid and continuous public policy, integrated with new technologies, and the citizens’ needs.

The goal is for government data to be easily accessible to citizens, providing them with sufficient information to claim their constitutional rights and, foster an enlightened self-interest. In this context, the public sphere is understood as a common good that enhances the quality of life and promotes a culture of collaboration and public trust.

The aim is for the State of Goiás to be recognized for its quality and agility in meeting citizens’ demands, strengthening active participation in governmental decisions, and the responsive capacity to provide solutions to civil society’s needs. Thus, it is expected to consolidate a participatory and effective governance, where citizen participation is a common and valued practice.

What are the achievements in open government to date (for example, recent open government reforms)?

After the creation of the Sub-Controller of Open Government and Citizen Participation, Goiás has made significant progress in open government, standing out in promoting citizen participation initiatives, strengthening transparency, and innovating in mechanisms of public governance.

Among the main advancements are two citizen participation initiatives: “Students of Attitude” and “Citizenship Ambassadors.” Both projects have been fundamental in engaging citizens, especially young people, in social accountability practices through gamified methodologies.

Additionally, Goiás was the only Brazilian state to meet 100% of the public transparency criteria established by the Association of Audit Courts of Brazil (ATRICON). This milestone, although coordinated by CGE-GO, reflects the joint effort of all state agencies, demonstrating the integrated commitment of the government structure to transparency.

Another highlight is the encouragement of data usage, with tools such as the “Construction Map,” which allows the population to access information about infrastructure projects, and the “Public Transport Portal,” where citizens can track real-time mobility data.

Lastly, noteworthy is the creation and consolidation of the Open Government Forum, a collaborative and dynamic space that promotes co-creation, ensuring the active participation of various social actors in the development and monitoring of public policies.

What are the current challenges/areas for improvement in open government that the jurisdiction wishes to tackle?

The challenges faced by Goiás in Open Government are:

• Maintaining Goiás at the top of transparency rankings;
• Institutionalizing the Open Government Ecosystem;
• Strengthening the Ombudsman Office to address citizens’ demands with greater agility and resolution;
• Aligning public policies with the Sustainable Development GoalsOGP countries are experimenting with open government innovations to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16+ which includes peaceful, just and inclusive societies... (SDGs);
• Expanding Open Government policies, such as “Estudantes de Atitude and Embaixadores da Cidadania,” to other national and international jurisdictions;
• Adopting innovative technological tools that continuously emerge to improve the quality of public services.

What are the medium-term open government goals that the government wants to achieve?

In the medium term, the State of Goiás aims to:

• Strengthen public policies for civic educationAccountability within the public education system is key to improving outcomes and attainment, and accountability is nearly impossible without transparent policies and opportunities for participation ....
• Increase citizen participation through gamified social technologies.

To achieve this, the State plans to enhance the entire ombudsman structure to ensure that citizens’ demands are addressed with greater agility and effectiveness. Furthermore, Goiás seeks to consolidate its position as a benchmark in public transparency, having achieved first place in ATRICON’s transparency index in 2024. The State also aims to innovate with a new concept of transparency—proactive transparency—where citizens will receive information about public services without needing to access online portals. Lastly, Goiás intends to align its public policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to foster open governance powered by innovative technologies.

How does this action plan contribute to achieve the Open Government Strategic Vision?

The action plan is the result of a collaborative process between civil society and the public administration. The commitments and actions were developed based on citizen contributions gathered during two public consultations. The methodology for drafting the action plan was led by the Open Government Forum of the State of Goiás.
During the first public consultation, 50,390 contributions were received through two forms, and these suggestions were consolidated into 18 commitments during a workshop. In the second public consultation, citizens were invited to prioritize these commitments and actions, resulting in an additional 55,607 contributions.
Following this stage, the Forum validated the texts and finalized Goiás’ First Open Government Action Plan. The joint execution of the action plan with civil society reflects Goiás’ responsive approach to reforming its structures to ensure citizen participation. By strengthening access to quality information and services, the State aims to foster a democratic environment that enables citizens to fully exercise their rights.

How does the open government strategic vision contribute to the accomplishment of the current administration’s overall policy goals?

The State of Goiás’ strategic vision for open government is deeply aligned with the overarching goals of the current administration, which prioritize efficient, transparent, and citizen-centered public management. By institutionalizing the Open Government Ecosystem as an ongoing public policy, Goiás fosters an administrative culture that strengthens the pillars of transparency, innovation, and social engagement.
The strengthening of the Open Government Forum and the implementation of social technologies and gamified practices maximize citizen participation, making the government more responsive and agile. Proactive transparency has the potential to improve service delivery and foster public trust. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goiás seeks sustainable development by ensuring solutions that meet societal demands. In this way, the strategic vision for open government becomes an essential tool for transforming the administration’s goals into concrete and lasting results, ensuring a more modern, inclusive, and efficient public management.

Engagement and Coordination in the Open Government Strategic Vision and OGP Action Plan

Please list the lead institutions responsible for the implementation of this OGP action plan.

• State Comptroller General of Goiás (CGE-GO)
• Open Government Forum of Goiás
• State Council for Public Transparency and Anti-Corruption
• State University of Goiás
• School of Administration, Accounting, and Economics of the Federal University of Goiás
• State Council for Internal Control of Goiás
• Municipal Audit Court of the State of Goiás
• Legislative Assembly of the State of Goiás (ALEGO)
• Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil – Seção Goiás (OAB-GO)
• Sindicato das Entidades Mantenedoras de Estabelecimentos de Educação Superior do Estado de Goiás (SE

What kind of institutional arrangements are in place to coordinate between government agencies and departments to implement the OGP action plan?

To implement the OGP action plan, the Open Government Forum of the State of Goiás was created, a collaborative space that brings together organized civil society, academia, and public administration entities, aiming at the co-creation of the State’s 1st Action Plan.

In addition to the Forum, the existing institutional arrangements include:

• The Council for Public Transparency and Anti-Corruption (CTPCC), as a permanent structure composed mainly of civil society entities, will address, in its bimonthly regular meetings, the monitoring of the commitments of the Open Government Action Plan.
• The State Council for Internal Control of Goiás (CONECI), as an association, promotes cooperation among internal control bodies of the state and municipalities and is a strategic arrangement for executing the fourth commitment of the action plan, assisting Goiás municipalities participating in the Municipal Compliance Program in the process of joining OGP Local.

What kind of spaces have you used or created to enable the collaboration between government and civil society in the co-creation and implementation of this action plan? Mention both offline and online spaces.

• Meetings within the scope of the Open Government Forum of the State of Goiás;
• Two public consultations;
• Meeting among government sectors responsible for open government activities;
• Open Online Meeting to discuss the development of the 1st Open Government Action Plan.

What measures did you take to ensure diversity of representation (including vulnerable or marginalized populations) in these spaces?

To ensure diversity in the co-creation processCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders (e.g., citizens, academics, private sector) is at the heart of the OGP process. Participating governments must ensure that a dive... of the First Open Government Plan, the Open Government Forum of the State of Goiás developed a comprehensive public consultation and outreach action plan, enabling citizens from all 246 municipalities in Goiás to actively contribute.

To guarantee diverse participation in the co-creation process of the Open Government Action Plan, strategies for broad dissemination and inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... were implemented. The Open Government Forum used multiple channels including communication through newspapers, news portals, and external social media platforms, to reach different audiences and the general population. Specific initiatives were also undertaken to engage the school community, involving students and teachers, to increase the participation of groups traditionally underrepresented in public policy discussions.

As a result, two stages of public consultations were conducted, gathering a total of 105,997 contributions from all 246 cities in the state. This process ensured that the diverse realities and needs of Goiás society were represented, fostering truly inclusive and plural participation.

Who participated in these spaces?

• State Executive Branch Employees
• State Legislative Branch Employees
• Students
• Court of Accounts Employees
• Researchers
• Teachers
• NGO Representatives
• Unions
• Universities
• Bar Associations
• Professional Councils
• Journalists
• Retirees
• General Citizens

How many groups participated in these spaces?

50

How many public-facing meetings were held in the co-creation process?

6

How will government and non-governmental stakeholders continue to collaborate through the implementation of the action plan?

Governmental and non-governmental actors will remain involved in the implementation of the First Action Plan of the State of Goiás, as they are part of the Open Government Forum. In addition to the permanent structure, during the second Forum meeting, which validated the action plan, the various entities assumed responsibility for implementing the actions. Thus, considering the high value placed on active participation, the activities outlined in the actions will all be carried out within a permanent structure co-created through a collaborative execution process.

Please describe the independent Monitoring Body you have identified for this plan.

The agreed monitoring entity is the Support Foundation for Research (FUNAPE), a private, non-profit organization with administrative and financial autonomy. FUNAPE was established to support the management of research, teaching, and extension projects, as well as institutional development and technological innovation. However, to carry out the practical activities of the monitoring process, FUNAPE designates Professor Daniela Rosim as the coordinator for the activities to be performed.

Provide the contact details for the independent monitoring body.

• FUNAPE, Support Foundation for Research, contato@funape.org.br
• Daniela Rosim, Professor of Higher Education Teaching, danielarosim@ufg.br

What types of activities will you have in place to discuss progress on commitments with stakeholders?

These discussions will include workshops for aligning indicators and seminars to present identified progress or stagnation.

How will you regularly check in on progress with implementing agencies?

Currently, communication is conducted via email, phone contacts, and instant messaging apps. Additionally, a tracking spreadsheet is being developed and will be shared through Google Drive.

How will you share the results of your monitoring efforts with the public?

It is planned to take place in three ways:

• In-person, at a venue provided by the local OGP during their meetings;
• Through the OGP/local implementer’s website;
• On the local OGP website itself.

The possibility of using the local implementer’s official social media channels is also being considered.

Endorsement from Non-Governmental Stakeholders

• Cláudio Curado Neto, President, Union of Professional Journalists in the State of Goiás – SINDJOR
• Alessandra dos Santos Paz Esteves Scartezini, Sociocultural Director, Union of Government Managers of Goiás – SindGestor
• Eduardo Aires berbert Galvão, Director of Institutional Articulation, Union of Government Managers of Goiás – SindGestor
• Daniel Henrique de Souza Guimarães, Legal Director, Federation of Commercial, Industrial, Business, and Agricultural Associations of the State of Goiás
• Luiz Antonio Ribeiro de Souza, Director of Education and Culture, Economic, Sustainable, and Strategic Development Council of Goiânia – CODESE
• Edmar Godoy Viggiano Pererira, Strategic Management Superintendency, Regional Pharmacy Council of the State of Goiás (CRF-GO)
• Wesley Davi Gil, Vice-President, Association of Sub-Lieutenants and Sergeants of the State of Goiás – ASSEGO

Commitments:

• Promoting Civic Education and Increasing Social Participation
• Strengthening the Ombudsman Ecosystem
• Consolidating the State of Goiás as a reference in public transparency
• Strengthening open governance, and aligning public policies with the SDGs

Letter of Support
Consulta Publica, Governo Aberto