Open Governance and Social Accountability in Changing Times

Today’s environment is palpably different from that which inspired the creation of major social accountability and open government initiatives, such as the GPSA, the Open Government Partnership and Making All Voices Count. Both the priorities and policy environments in donor countries as well as the realities on the ground in which these initiatives are implemented have changed, posing new challenges for the implementation of openness and accountability interventions. On the other hand, the new Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework and a rationale for increasing participation and engagement of citizens, as a goal in itself, and as a means to achieve all other development goals. This session brings together leaders in the field – all deeply engaged as practitioners – to share their thoughts and experiences of navigating changing times and ensuring the continued relevance of open governance and social accountability initiatives for the foreseeable future.

This session is part of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Global Partners Forum, which brings together more than 250 practitioners and thought-leaders from civil society organizations, governments, academia and businesses, to provide a unique space to reflect on social accountability. This year, the Forum aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 16 and focuses attention on the role of citizen action in building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. It features a variety of high-level panel discussions, interactive workshops, and networking sessions. To learn more and view the agenda, visit: bit.ly/GPSAforum17