An International Commitment to Open Government
The Open Government Partnership is a voluntary international initiative made up of more than 75 countries, 150 local governments and many civil society organisations working together to make governments that are more inclusive, accountable, transparent, and responsive to their citizens and allowing for greater citizen and civil society participation in decision-making processes.
The OGP promotes the values of Access to Information, Civic Participation, Public Accountability, and Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability.
Participation in the OGP requires countries to endorse a high-level Open Government Declaration, deliver a National Action Plan (NAP) developed with public consultation with civil society, and commit to independent reporting on its implementation.
Jamaica’s Commitments Under the OGP
The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) became a member of the OGP in December 2016 and in 2021 established a multi-stakeholder forum, a consortium of government and civil society members with a GOJ Co-Chair and a Civil Society Co-Chair. The first meeting of the MSF was held on August 12, 2021 and in January 2022 the first National Action Plan was produced.
Jamaica’s first OGP National Action Plan was co-created with civil society. The process included an online consultation that received contributions from more than 700 participants. The commitments aligned with Jamaica’s 2030 Development Goals and the strategic priorities the Government of Jamaica outlined.
In November 2023, the Cabinet approved a second National Action Plan cycle. Between November 2023 and June 2024, multiple consultations and working group meetings were held to draft the commitments for Jamaica’s second National Action Plan. The Plan includes commitments within following sectoral areas:
- Anti-Corruption
- Open Data
- Access to Information
- Justice System and Human Rights
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Climate Change Legislation
- Youth Participation and Access to Services
Summary Schedule of OGP Co-Creation Process for Second National Action Plan
Send out invitations for OGP stakeholder consultation groups
December 4-11, 2023
Hold three (3) rounds of meetings of OGP stakeholder consultation groups to develop draft commitments for inclusion in second OGP NAP in the five (5) thematic areas
First Round: December 12-19, 2023
Second Round: January 10-30, 2024
Third Round: May 22-June 13, 2024
Prepare draft second OGP NAP based on inputs from implementing agencies and stakeholder consultation groups, and publish draft second OGP NAP online for review and feedback by stakeholders and the public
February 5-19, 2024
Prepare revised draft second OGP NAP based on inputs from implementing agencies and stakeholder consultation groups, and publish revised draft second OGP NAP online for review and feedback by stakeholders and the public
June 27 – July 12, 2024
Complete final draft second OGP NAP based on feedback from MultiStakeholder Forum, stakeholders, implementing agencies and the public, and submit to Cabinet
July 15-19, 2024
Approval of second OGP NAP and submission of second OGP NAP to OGP
July 22-26, 2024
Useful links
- How Does the Open Government Partnership Work?
- National Action Plans
- How to Participate
