In September 2011, the Republic of Armenia joined the Open Government Partnership initiative.
The initiative seeks achieve improved governance based on active involvement of civil society, as well as enhance public management efficiency through increased level of transparency, mutual trust and accountability in State-citizen relationship.
The initiative is coordinated by an intergovernmental commission, which consists of eight founder States: the United States of America, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Armenia Action Plan in Open Government Partnership Initiative
On April 5, 2012, the Standing Ministerial Committee on Institutional-Legal Affairs approved the protocol decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia “On approval of Republic of Armenia program of action under Open Government Partnership initiative.”
The program was developed by a Ministry for Foreign Affairs-led working group consisting of Armenian public agency and civil society representatives. The program’s main provisions are aimed at improving public administration efficiency, transparency and accountability in Armenia.
The Open Government Partnership Armenia Action Plan was officially presented to the international community by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Ashot Hovakimyan during a session on South Caucasus States on the sidelines of the annual high-level conference of the Open Government Partnership initiative on April 17-18, 2012 in Brasilia (Brazil).
Activities under the Open Government Partnership initiative are being coordinated by a Deputy Minister-Chief of Government Staff Tigran Gevorgyan-headed task force (set up by Republic of Armenia Prime Minister’s decree, numbered 931-A, dated 29.09.2012).
In addition to government agencies, the working group features civil society organizations, including the Center for Freedom of Information NGO, the “Transparency International” anti-corruption center, the “Asbarez” Journalists Club of Gyumri.
www.ogp.am is the official website of the Open Government Partnership in Armenia.
OGP Second Action Plan for Armenia
On July 31, 2014, the Government approved Armenia’s second action plan under the Open Government Partnership initiative.
Of around 50 proposals submitted by the Government and civil society, 11 have been selected for inclusion in the Action Plan, which meet the values and format of the OGP project.
The Action Plan has gone through several stages of public consultations, as well as repeatedly discussed at the OGP task force meetings.
The obligations set out in the document are aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in mining, healthcare, education, local government, and other areas, as well as promoting public participation, strengthening public integrity, enabling greater access to information.
The Government has expressed readiness to discuss with civil society the mechanisms for the implementation of those recommendations not included in the Acton Plan outside the OGP initiative.
OGP Second Action Plan of for the Republic of Armenia
The English version of the Action Plan is available at the OGP official website
