Local Roundup | December 2024

Here’s our monthly roundup of updates from the OGP Local community for December 2024. If you missed any of the previous roundups, you can find them here!

OGP Local had an incredible year! Fifty-five new members joined and 24 members co-created open government action plans with citizens. Inclusion, climate action, and innovation surfaced as high priorities and we strengthened the global open government ecosystem by fostering regional networks and local exchange. Watch the wrap-up video.

EVENTS

This month, OGP Local members connected online and in person to share experiences and strengthen regional networks. From forums in Khmelnytskyi to regional events, members showcased collaboration, creativity, and shared successes, driving open government forward.

• Open America | During America Abierta, 26 governors, mayors, and civil society leaders shared their efforts and vision to build an open, just, and sustainable future in their communities. Explore this and other key highlights from local participation at the regional meeting.

• Africa-MENA Network of Open Local Governments | On Anti-Corruption Day, members in the region came together in the first of a series of knowledge-sharing webinars to explore how Kaduna State is transforming service delivery through infrastructure transparency initiatives.
• Good Governance Forum in Ukraine | Khmelnytskyi hosted a forum with Kyiv, Zviahel, Orzhytsia, Vinnytsia, and Ternopil to share ideas on youth engagement, e-services, and open governance, showcasing creativity and a shared drive for impactful local action.
• OGP Local End of the Year Virtual Meeting | At our annual meeting, we reflected on our collective achievements over the past year and inspired each other by sharing almost 20 open government stories and successes.
  

NEW ACTION PLANS

This month, ten new members delivered their ambitious first action plans, while Austin (United States) and Aragon and Madrid (Spain) reaffirmed their dedication to open government.

• Six months ago, 55 new members started co-creating their first action plans. Check out the first 10 delivered from: Kakamega (Kenya), Dar Chabaane el Fehri (Tunisia), Pichincha (Ecuador), Goiás (Brazil), Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Zagreb (Croatia), Gjakova (Kosovo), Pristina (Kosovo), Bar (Montenegro), and Lisbon (Portugal). 
• Meanwhile, long-standing members continue their open government journies—Aragon (Spain) delivered their second action plan, Austin (United States) delivered their third action plan, and Madrid (Spain) their fourth action plan.

OPEN GOVERNMENT IN ACTION

Government and civil society shared some of their latest innovations to improve the lives of their communities, from e-government platforms to participatory tools that aim to promote accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability. 

• Sekondi-Takoradi (Ghana) launched their new e-government platform, called Twin-City Connect, which aims to improve public services and accessibility to information.
• In Kaduna (Nigeria), the NGO YandyTech Community, the Governor, and the State’s House of Assembly worked together to establish the Freedom of Information Act. 
• In Peñalolén (Chile), students of Public Administration from the Faculty of Government of the University of Chile created a tool to monitor the progress of the OGP action plan and shared the results of their study to the Municipality. 
• Beni Mellal-Khenifra’s Regional Council  (Morocco), in partnership with USAID Morocco and NDI, met to present the progress of local projects advancing  inclusivity for vulnerable communities.
• The State of Nuevo León (Mexico) presented the “Manual of Participatory Strategies,” which promotes collaboration between government and citizens.
• Government officials in Dar Chaabane El-Fehri (Tunisia) participated in a training on climate change and carbon footprint held by the National Democratic Institute of Tunisia.
• Don’t miss the latest reels showcasing our members’ initiatives towards participative democracy in São Paulo (Brazil), a more sustainable and green future in Peñalolén (Chile) and in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (Ecuador), and improving public space for the youth in Maipú (Chile).
  

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION & CO-CREATION

Throughout the OGP Local network, members engaged with civil society and various stakeholders in workshops, forums, and public meetings, to collaborate on OGP action plans, public issues, and priorities.

• Yoff (Senegal) co-created their strategic vision and OGP commitments by holding a workshop gathering elected officials, administration, civil society, young people, women, and local authorities.
• Dar Chaabane El-Fehri (Tunisia) held a participatory workshop with local civil society to co-create their OGP Action Plan. 
• Buenos Aires (Argentina) held a co-creation workshop for their fourth OGP action plan, sharing perspectives and focusing on civic participation and open institutions.

• In Ouellé (Côte d’Ivoire), the mayor and key stakeholders met to consolidate four OGP commitments for the 2024-2026 period.
• Antigua (Guatemala) held a workshop for dialogue and collaboration to enhance open government and foster a more transparent and inclusive government.
• Cajamarca (Peru) established a multi-stakeholder public forum and organized a consultation to identify and prioritize problems in the areas of citizen participation, gender and inclusion, and climate change. 

• • In Metsamor (Armenia), the government and civil society discussed priorities for the municipality’s OGP action plan. 
  • Kakamega (Kenya) held a public meeting around civic participation, trust and engagement. 
• In Yerevan (Armenia), the government hosted a public forum and discussion regarding the 2025 city budget, the development program, and open government initiatives.

MEET THE OPEN GOV CHALLENGE

In the spirit of International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December), we invite you to take action and implement frameworks this month to prevent and fight corruption and help monitor risks at the local level following the example of OGP Local members. Lisbon (Portugal) co-created a Transparency and Corruption Prevention Strategy and established a Department of Transparency and Corruption Prevention. In Contagem (Brazil), the establishment of the Contagem Integrity Plan (PIC) fosters a cultural change towards transparency and integrity. It provides access to data, information, and public decisions that directly impact citizens’ lives.