Skip Navigation

Open Opportunities: Making the Most of 2021 Global Summits

Oportunidades abiertas: Aprovechar al máximo las cumbres mundiales de 2021

Abigail Bellows|

As the world looks to a post-pandemic future, a number of global fora in 2021 offer opportunities to chart the course toward building back better and renewing our democracies. Civil society champions and government reformers can use these summits to build international momentum around key policy goals, with the support of OGP. 

A Full Calendar

The remainder of 2021 is packed with relevant international gatherings:

  • G7 Summit, hosted by the UK in June, will include discussions on anti-corruption and the release of an Open Societies Charter
  • UNGASS, hosted by the United Nations (UN) in June, the first ever UN General Assembly Special Session on corruption, followed by the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July, will focus on pandemic recovery, inclusion, and tackling inequality
  • G20 Summit, hosted by Italy in October, will address corruption in sports, organized crime (with links to procurement and beneficial ownership), corruption measurement, and corruption in times of crisis
  • OGP Global Summit, hosted by South Korea (in-person and virtually) in December, will emphasize anti-corruption, civic space and public participation, and digital governance
  • Summit for Democracy, which U.S. President Biden has committed to hosting in December 2021 or January 2022, will focus on anti-corruption and kleptocracy, human rights, and countering authoritarianism

Below is a visual overview of the 2021 calendar.

Summits to Advance Democracy and Anti-Corruption in 2021 include:

  • UNGASS (UN General Assembly Special Session against corruption): June 2-4
  • G7 Summit: June 11-13
  • HLPF on Sustainable Development (High Level Political Forum): July 6-15
  • G20 Summit: October 30-31
  • COP26 (United Nations Climate Change Conference): November 1-12
  • OGP Global Summit: December 13-17
  • UNCAC (UN Convention Against Corruption): December 13-17
  • U.S. Summit for Democracy: TBD

Act Globally, Think Locally

International convenings offer three significant opportunities to OGP stakeholders. First, international gatherings can help increase ambition domestically. Local actors  crafting new action plans can highlight to government officials the opportunity they have to receive global recognition for announcing bold summit deliverables – especially at the OGP Global Summit and the Summit for Democracy. Given over 100 OGP national and local members are co-creating new plans this year, this is a major opportunity.

Second, the convenings can advance global norms on areas where progress is needed at the national or local levels. Key policy topics – such as beneficial ownership – could receive a boost, particularly if summit hosts advance new benchmarks and drive positive competition. Outside-in pressure could bolster bottom-up advocacy. OGP is paying particular attention to the thematic priorities of our co-chairs: anti-corruption, civic space and public participation, and digital innovation.

Third, these gatherings can provide a valuable opening for stakeholders to access the lessons learned they need to deliver on new reform commitments. Especially at the OGP Global Summit, targeted thematic exchanges can provide vital input to shaping implementation of action plan commitments.

OGP as a Force Multiplier

OGP’s Steering Committee and staff are working to maximize the opportunities of the 2021 calendar. OGP has started by providing coordination support to civil society groups working to influence these summits, so that they can share information and align strategies.

All too often, global summits are “talk shops” that generate warmly worded communiqués but little follow through. To help avoid this and advance local accountability, OGP will be encouraging summit attendees to enshrine summit commitments in their OGP action plans, which are then monitored by the Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM).

We also plan to engage with summit hosts to offer lessons from OGP’s experience of hosting participatory convenings so that citizen voices can be meaningfully incorporated before, during, and after the gatherings. For instance, consultations underway as part of action plan development can provide valuable input to government officials who are crafting deliverables for these summits. Throughout the year, we will also seek to draw connections between different summits, so they build on each other’s momentum and achieve greater impact.

Got ideas for how you could leverage 2021 summits to advance your open gov work? Suggestions for how the OGP can support you in doing so? Please let us know and contact summit@opengovpartnership.org!

Comments (2)

Balqiaz khan Reply

Rural Infrastructure & Human Resource Development Organization (RIHRDO) is registered with Social Welfare Deportment under voluntary social welfare act 1961.the organization has implemented many projects/activities in Girls Education,Health,Women Empowerment,and Provision of clean drinking water in KPK since 2006 on self-help and with support of donors.The Organization is also active in All Districts KPK.
We expect that you and we could work together.We could resolve the basic issues of KP such like the issues of basic human rights and local village Problems.We have single purpose to serve the humanity.We can produce better results if we dedicate our Services for the welfare of down Trodden community.
In the current Situation we want to work with you in health Activities regarding Corona i.e Covid 19.we also run a health care clinic in nothia Peshawar.we have health staff.our organization work on health in this critical time vigorously.therefore we will like to participate in any project/activity if you please give us an opportunity to do.
we will work at our best according to your guide lines.Hope you will consider our request to work with you,and will be very grateful for your kindness.we will be waiting for your response regarding any work or activity given to us by your office.
Please enlist our organization RIHRDO (Rural Infrastructure and human Resource development organization) Lakki marwat in your Membership/ Cluster contact.we express interest to become member.Please inform us about future opportunities.
Contact Person Detail:
Name : Balqiaz khan marwat ( Executive Director )
Cell / Whatsapp: 03018082785
Email : rihrdo@gmail.com
we hope you will response our email at your earliest.
Please stay safe and take good care.

jose gutierrez Reply

El departamento de La Libertad ,en Peru . deseo saber si pertence al proyecto piloto subnacional de gobierno abierto en la lucha contra la corrupcion ? como lo reactivamos ???
las pagians estan desactividas .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

Thumbnail for 2021 OGP Global Summit: Seoul, Republic of Korea

2021 OGP Global Summit: Seoul, Republic of Korea

Thanks for joining us at the 2021 OGP Global Summit. Find recordings, announcements, new publications, and more.

Thumbnail for Towards a Summit for Democracy

Towards a Summit for Democracy

OGP and partners will share lessons learned from our ongoing work to support democracy worldwide and discuss outcomes and activities to start the pave the way towards a Summit for…

Thumbnail for Democracy Beyond the Ballot Box: The Biden Imperative Challenges and Solutions

Democracy Beyond the Ballot Box: The Biden Imperative

The nation and the world breathed a giant sigh of relief as Joe Biden assumed the Presidency declaring “Democracy has prevailed.” Despite months of disinformation, culminating in the dangerous attempted…

Open Government Partnership