The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

In advance of the Steering Committee Meeting of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a group of nearly 60 governments that have committed to promote more transparency to improve oversight by citizens and civil society groups, NDI’s Dan Swislow reflects on the role parliaments can play in making sure OGP commitments are being implemented. While OGP has engaged both civil society and the public in developing its guiding principles, and is aimed primarily at the executive branch of government, members of parliament (MPs) also need to be engaged in the conversation “if the goal of OGP is not only to improve the quality of government service delivery, but also to improve the quality of our democracies.”

“When the OGP’s Steering Committee meets this week to plan future OGP work and to consider options for overseeing the implementation of OGP commitments, it will also have an opportunity to begin thinking about creative ways of broadening the growing coalition for open governments — and open parliaments. The range of options for increased dialogue with and engagement of parliamentarians are broad and, eventually, will need to be developed in partnership with parliaments and the associations that represent them. However, it is not too early to begin to strengthen this conversation.”