On 10 to 14 October, the World Congress and Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Daejeon, South Korea, will gather mayors, presidents of associations, local elected officers, and practitioners from around the world to chart a path for the future of humanity. In the interconnected world we live in, global problems must be resolved at the local level. From a global health crisis, to climate change and migration, we have seen time and time again the importance of local governments in tackling these challenges, and providing solutions to mitigate risks and safeguard citizens’ lives and livelihoods.
However, local governments cannot solve current and the future challenges alone. It must work with residents, organized civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector. We also need to rebuild trust between these local stakeholders to work together effectively. We need local governments to be open. Open to sharing knowledge, data, and information that empower residents to take part in decisions and allow businesses to support the delivery of public services. Open to sharing decision-making responsibilities to residents and civil society organizations and jointly identify priorities and solutions. Open to receiving constructive feedback to improve where is needed and praise where it is due.
The World Congress and Summit of Local and Regional Leaders is a great opportunity to renew the commitment for more open local governments. For this reason, OGP Local, the Open Government Partnership’s local program, is pleased to be part of the Congress where local open government leaders will share their experiences and call for more open governments. From Bogotá, to South Cotabato, from Paris to Kaduna State, there are over 100 local governments leading the way by taking action and implementing innovative open government practices as part of OGP Local. Member governments of OGP Local bring together citizens, civil society organizations and private sector partners, to co-create an action plan of ambitious open government reforms. OGP Local is a global platform for local action on open government that can be used to make the ambition and promises that will come out of The World Congress a reality.
By Open Government Partnership
