Timor-Leste Joins The Open Government Partnership

Timor-Leste Joins International Partnership on Open Government, vows to advance transparency, accountability, inclusion, and participation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2023

Washington, D.C . – The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has joined the Open Government Partnership,  a global partnership of 75 national members and 105 local jurisdictions working with thousands of civil society organizations to build more open, inclusive, and accountable governments.  

In a letter declaring the country’s intent to join the Partnership, the Timorese Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes, stated that his country understands “that transparency and accountability are essential elements of a democratic and successful society and they have been constant references for policy-making of successive governments. Therefore, Timor-Leste is committed to the principles of the Open Government Declaration, which we support and endorse.”

The country has taken important steps to advance open government through public finance and administration reforms. Recently, the country issued a new state budget framework law which establishes a mandatory national consultation on the annual priorities of the state budget. This law also increases the transparency and public information produced by the Government.

Minister Gomes acknowledges the country still faces a series of challenges but that working with an international platform like OGP, the country can benefit from learning from other members in the Partnership as well as the technical assistance the OGP Support Unit offers.

Sanjay Pradhan, Chief Executive Officer of Open Government Partnership, “warmly welcome[d] Timor-Leste to this broad and diverse community of government and civil society reformers. The OGP Steering Committee and the Support Unit stand ready to provide our support and assistance” to government officials and civil society. 

Stakeholders in the country are now tasked to establish a multi-stakeholder forum to oversee the governance of OGP at the national level and lead the development of Timor-Leste’s first OGP national action plan outlining concrete commitments to advance the open government agenda for the country, in line with national priorities.

Timor-Leste is now the 76th member of the Partnership and joins other countries in Asia-Pacific working with OGP like Australia, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Sri Lanka. In September, Timor-Leste will join several other OGP members in exchanging experiences, best practices, and progress on open government issues and contributing to advancing the new OGP strategy at the OGP Global Summit in Tallinn, Estonia on September 6 and 7. 

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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-six 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 communications@opengovpartnership.org