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Argentina and The B Team’s Robin Hodess Take Helm of International Partnership on Open Government

Argentina y Robin Hodess de The B Team toman el mando de la Alianza Internacional de Gobierno Abierto

Will work to build responsive, accountable and inclusive institutions that improve outcomes for citizens 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2019
Washington D.C. –

The Government of Argentina and Robin Hodess from The B Team assumed their roles as Chairs of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee beginning on October 1, 2019. In their new roles, they will lead an organization of 79 countries, a growing number of local governments, and thousands of civil society organizations working together to transform how government serves its citizens.

The Government of Argentina and Hodess will build on the Partnership’s ongoing work to promote inclusion and the critical role civic space plays in democracy. They will also focus the Partnership on promoting and protecting digital governance and rights, advancing efforts to open institutions beyond the Executive branch to citizen monitoring and feedback, fostering access to justice through an Open Justice Coalition, and continuing to strengthen anti-corruption, transparency, and integrity efforts.

“We are excited to lead a Partnership that is unique and full of opportunity — and whose successes are already delivering for citizens around the globe,” said Deputy Chief of Cabinet and Secretary of Modernization Andrés Ibarra. “OGP has created a space for government and over 200 civil society organizations in Argentina to come together both at the national and local level to address issues like access to justice, gender equality, climate change, the inclusion of indigenous peoples, and water and sanitation.”

Argentina has been a member of OGP since 2012 and has begun implementing its new 2019-2021 action plan. The plan includes 15 reform commitments, such as enhancing transparency in the extractives sector, increased budget accountability, sexual and reproductive rights, and strengthening civic participation.

“Lives will improve if we change how governments meet people’s needs. It’s about dignity and democracy,” said Hodess. “The future we want requires accountable and inclusive governance approaches– and where a range of stakeholders are engaged.”

Hodess currently serves as the Director of Governance and Transparency at The B Team. She has worked on open government issues for over two decades and has been part of the OGP Steering Committee since 2016.

Argentina and Hodess succeed the Government of Canada and Results For Development’s Nathaniel Heller as co-chairs. During their tenure, Heller and the Government of Canada championed citizen participation, gender and the inclusion of underrepresented groups in open government processes, and demonstrating the impact of open government.

“In a geopolitical context of rising authoritarianism and attacks on civic space, we need high-level political leadership to deliver the promise of democracy beyond the ballot box,” said OGP CEO, Sanjay Pradhan. “We would like to deeply thank the Government of Canada and Nathaniel Heller for their leadership and helping advance OGP’s strategic priorities this past year and look forward to Argentina and Ms. Hodess’s leadership starting October 1.”

OGP brings government and civil society together to co-create two-year action plans with concrete commitments across a broad range of issues. This model – which has produced nearly 4,000 commitments – allows civil society organizations and direct citizen engagement to play a role in shaping and overseeing governments.

For example, more than 50 municipal councils were established in Paraguay through OGP so citizens could determine budget priorities and influence projects impacting their communities. In Ukraine, an online platform empowers citizens to oversee procurement processes and submit feedback or report violations across the procurement cycle. In Mongolia, the government used the OGP process to work with citizens to improve schools in communities around the country.

About OGP

In 2011, government leaders and civil society advocates came together to create a unique partnership—one that combines these powerful forces to promote accountable, responsive and inclusive governance. Seventy-nine countries and a growing number of local governments—representing more than two billion people—along with thousands of civil society organizations are members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

For questions or to set up interviews please contact:

Jose Perez Escotto
Communications Officer
jose.perez@opengovpartnership.org.

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