Pretoria – The Open Government Partnership Africa Regional Conference, which kicks off this morning in Cape Town, is to explore ways in which the OGP can support the implementation of Africa’s Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Public Service and Administration Minister, Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi, is expected to deliver the key note address at the opening of the two-day conference.
The OGP is an international voluntary effort to improve government performance, encourage civic participation and enhance government responsiveness to people.
It aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. It achieves this by bringing together governments and civil society organisations as true partners in the process.
On Wednesday, ahead of the conference, Public Service and Administration Deputy Minister and Chairperson of the OGP, Ayanda Dlodlo, chaired the OGP Steering Committee meeting in Cape Town.
Represented at the Steering Committee were Ministers from France, UK, Georgia and Croatia, as well as senior government representatives from Chile, Indonesia, Mexico and Romania.
Yesterday’s meeting focused on the status of the Partnership, and allowed for an introspection and reflection on the next five years, as well as a consideration of the Support Unit sub-committees on Governance and Leadership, Peer Learning and Support and Criteria and Standards reports.
On Friday, South Africa will officially launch its 3rd OGP National Action Plan on the sidelines of the Africa Regional Meeting 2016 at Century City, Cape Town. – SAnews.gov.za
