Second Africa-EU Civil Society Forum: Developing ideas for reforming the JAES (Joint Africa-EU Strategy) in the perspective of the upcoming Summit of Heads of State of 2014.

Representatives from 32 African and 36 European civil society organisations (CSO) met on 23-25 October 2013 at the Second Africa-EU Civil Society Forum in Brussels to develop ideas for reforming the JAES (Joint Africa-EU Strategy) in the perspective of the upcoming Summit of Heads of State of 2014. The meeting was opened and closed by high-ranking EU and AU officials.

Open Government 2013 London Summit Concludes with Strong Achievements and Commitments for Transparency and Accountability.

The London 2013 Open Government Summit brought together more than 1500 reformers from government and civil society for the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Established in 2011, OGP is a partnership with 62 member countries where government and civil society develop commitments to make governments more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens. Since becoming members, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Liberia made formal commitments to strengthen fiscal transparency, access to information, accountability and citizen participation.

Zambia: Activists Re-energise APAI Campaign

An Action Conference on Access to Information was opened this morning in Lusaka, Zambia by the Country’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting. He reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to pass an FOI law. This conference- which brings together approximately 150 right to information stakeholders from government, civil society, media, private sector, academia, donor community, regional and international organisations- aims to reflect on the domestication of the African Platform on Access to Information (APAI), Open Government Partnership (OGP) and other initiatives on the African continent.

Open Contracting: Rwanda’s Private Sector See Real Benefits

Disclosure and participation by ordinary people and civil society in public contracting has for long been questioned as to whether it is relevant and beneficial. These questions have often arose following frustration with under performing contract through delays, cost escalation, technical failures and blame game between private contractors and  the client (public agencies). Whereas no consensus has been reached in this debate, private sector experiences from Rwanda bring an important dimension in the discussion.

Lack of legislation hampering access to information in Africa

Gilbert Sendugwa,
Head of Secretariat at the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC).

Lack of relevant legislation and political will is the biggest hindrance to access to government data by the media and the private sector.

Head of Secretariat at the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC), Gilbert Sendugwa told the Connected Kenya conference in Mombasa that only 11 countries in the entire continent have a law ensuring freedom of information, with many in the draft stages.

OGP: Africa's First Regional Meeting kicks-off in Mombasa

The Open Government Partnership Africa Regional Meeting is currently underway at the Serena Beach Hotel, Mombasa, with representatives from 16 countries in attendance. This is the first OGP Africa Regional Meeting that has attracted a wide variety of Participants and Speakers who include OGP participating governments,Civil society activists, Academia, Multilateral institutions and other interested actors and the Media.

Africa: First Outreach Meeting rallies Support for OGP.

The first Open Government Partnership (OGP) Africa regional meeting was hosted by the Government of Kenya from May 29-30, 2013 at the Coastal City of Mombasa. The meeting aimed at outlining an Africa agenda for open governance, promoting OGP in Africa and sharing and learning from experiences in open governance from different parts of the continent and beyond. Another key objective was to mobilize non OGP member Governments to consider joining OGP.