Open Government Partnership Local Initiative

In October 2020 Banská Bystrica became one of 56 places in the world taking part in the prestigious OGP Local (Open Government Partnership) programme. The initiative aims to promote transparent, accountable, participatory and collaborative governance – this time at the local level too.

What is the Open Government Partnership?

It is an international initiative that connects reformers in public administration, civil society organisations and citizens in order to build trustworthy and inclusive institutions. It was founded in 2011 on the initiative of US President Barack Obama.

Why involve local governments?

Local governments have a direct impact on citizens' everyday lives. Their involvement in OGP Local strengthens transparency, cooperation and trust between citizens and the city. The initiative comes at a time when we face complex challenges – such as the pandemic – and partnerships are crucial.

How did Banská Bystrica get involved?

After consultations at the conference of the Office of the Plenipotentiary for the Development of Civil Society (ÚSV ROS) in summer 2020, the city decided to apply. After a successful two-round selection, it became part of OGP Local.

The three phases of the OGP Local project

1. Preparation phase (Jan – Mar 2021): introductory training, webinars and building partnerships with citizens.
2. Drafting the action plan (Mar – Aug 2021): a participatory process with the public and experts.
3. Implementation and evaluation (Sep 2021 – end of 2022): putting it into practice, gathering experience and feedback.

Related events

• Event 1 – Opening dialogue and presentation of the platform (11 March 2021)
• Event 2 – Tasks of the Core+ group and proposed areas (31 March 2021)

Action plan

The result of the participatory process is the Open Government Action Plan for Banská Bystrica.