Voices of Open Government

Empower Civil Society, Strengthen Democracy Apr 11, 2023

Strengthening civil society and citizen participation is of utmost importance. Anabel Cruz, Founding Director of the Communication and Development Institute (ICD), has spent three decades doing that work.

In the last episode of Voices of Open Government, Anabel tells us how her experience fleeing her home country of Uruguay as a political refugee inspired her to work on democratic initiatives and why strengthening civil society is crucial in our current political climate.

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On A Quest to Raise Young Voices Mar 28, 2023

Young people have become increasingly influential in the government space, pushing campaigns and leveraging powerful tools such as social media.

Ebenezar Wikina has spent his life advocating for positive change.

Today Ebenezar tells us how he has managed to engage young people in civic and governmental issues that affect their everyday lives.

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Stand Up for Democracy: Lessons from Estonia Mar 14, 2023

Today we’ll take a look at Estonia, a country that is successfully building open government initiatives after being occupied by Russia for over half a century.

Our guest is Taimar Peterkop, the country’s Secretary of State and he tells us how he was inspired to dedicate his life to public service after his country reclaimed its independence in 1991.

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To Protect the Environment, Protect the Defenders Mar 01, 2023

We are experiencing unprecedented heat waves, floods and droughts in many places around the world. The Escazu Agreement aims to address the lack of environmental democracy in the region and protect environmental defenders.

Today’s guest is Felipe Pino, an environmental lawyer based in Chile. He explains how his organization is working to implement Escazu and why this agreement is so significant to advance environmental democracy.

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A Mission to Record and Remember Victims of Gender-Based-Violence Dec 13, 2022

Gender-based violence and femicide are serious global problems, but they are especially acute in Latin America. The region is home to 14 of the 25 countries with the highest rates of femicide in the world, according to the United Nations. Yet, official government data on gender-based violence and femicide is often absent or incomplete.

Today’s guest is gender activist and researcher Helena Suárez Val. She created a publicly available database that compiles lethal gender-related violence cases in Uruguay . In our conversation, Helena takes us back to Latin America’s history of women’s activism and shares what led her to create her own database. We also discuss the role of the state on gender-based violence and why data is important to change public perception and policy.

If you want to learn more about Helena Suárez Val’s work visit feminicidiouruguay.net and datoscontrafeminicidio.net

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A Lawyer’s Journey to Unmask Anonymous Companies Dec 06, 2022

Transparency about beneficial ownership prevents companies from operating in secrecy. Yet, most countries don’t require the disclosure of beneficial owners.

Today’s guest is Andrej Leontiev, Managing Partner of Taylor Wessing in the Slovak Republic, and one of the main leaders of this movement.

You can learn more about Andrej’s work and other initiatives his law firm is working on here.

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From Civil Servant to Global Advocate Nov 15, 2022

The right to access information is a critical component of open government and democracy. Citizens armed with information can participate in decision-making. And they can make governments more efficient and accountable.

Aruna Roy has dedicated her entire life to ensuring citizens are empowered by public information. She is the founder of a non-party political organization that mobilizes collective action in order to secure the rights of the rural poor called MKSS.

In today’s episode Aruna tells us how she contributed to passing the Right to Information Act in India and why her fight isn’t over.

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From Uncovering Corruption to Facing Conviction: One Journalist's Story Nov 01, 2022

Civic space is the underpinning for open government, allowing people to - among other things - speak freely and advocate for change without fear of government reprisal or violence. Yet, it is eroding globally. According to CIVICUS–a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening civil society–only 3.1 percent of the world’s population now live in countries with open civic space.

Investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova has spent her career shedding light on corrupt practices in her home country of Azerbaijan. In this episode, Khadija shares how her reporting on government corruption led to blackmail, intrusive surveillance, and unjust imprisonment. We also learn about what we can do to create a space for journalists to hold power to account without fear of retaliation.

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We Believe in Victory, We Plan for the Future of Ukraine Oct 18, 2022

When Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, the country was leading many promising open government reforms to fight corruption and give citizens a voice. Civil society reformers are meeting with government leaders to defend democratic values and plan for the country’s post-war future. Today’s guest is one of those reformers.

Viktor Nestulia is the Head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Open Contracting Partnership, an organization that ensures public contracts are open, fair and efficient. In this episode Viktor talks about the democratic history of Ukraine, how the war has impacted his family and community. And importantly, about need for open government values to lead the country’s reconstruction.

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Democracy in Afghanistan: Past, Present, and Future Oct 04, 2022

In October 2021, I traveled to Skopje, North Macedonia to meet with open government reformers who had managed to escape Afghanistan just a few months earlier.

Today, we speak with Erfan Erzaz, one of the activists who have now resettled in Canada. We speak about the reasons why Afghanistan’s democracy fell and look back to the country’s history to provide context. On the show, we also discuss the contributions of open government work and the lessons we can all learn from Afghanistan’s democratic efforts.

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To Build Transparent Algorithms, Focus on the Why Apr 19, 2022

As governments around the world use more algorithms and AI to create and influence policy, how can government agencies ensure algorithmic transparency and accountability?

In this episode, we’ll learn what France has done to increase algorithmic transparency using citizen input while raising awareness about the use of algorithms.

Guest: Soizic Penicaud, independent researcher and consultant, former Head of Capacity and Community Building at Etalab
Co-Host: Ania Calderon, Managing Director at Data and Society

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When the Whole Neighborhood Pitches In, Results are Better Apr 05, 2022

Why is having citizen input so important to create impactful policy? And how do we effectively provide the spaces for citizens to participate?

In this episode, we explore how the Basque Country in Spain has worked to involve all local institutions and citizens in the policy-making process. We also tackle what “neighborhood work” means and how it led to more ambitious results.

Guest: Miren Martiarena Barkaiztegi, Open Government Director at the Basque Government

Co-host: Gotzon Bernaola, General Coordinator of Business Innovation at Basque Innovation Agency-INNOBASQUE

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Hope is Hard Work but Necessary Work Mar 08, 2022

How can new and diverse perspectives help us build governments that look more like the citizens they serve?

In this episode, Patrick Harvie, member of the Scottish Parliament, explains how open, participative, and deliberative approaches to decision-making help turn voices of citizens into concrete actions.

Guest: Patrick Harvie, Member of the Scottish Parliament and Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights.
Co-host: Lucy McTernan, Former Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, and Civil Society Co-Chair of the Scottish OGP Multi-Stakeholder Forum

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Focus on the Reform. And the Reformer! Feb 22, 2022

How does increasing transparency and public participation in procurement lead to better outcomes in health and education?

In this episode, we explore how reformers in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya applied open government principles to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of recognizing the people behind the reforms in government and civil society.

Guest: Timothy Kiprono, Founder and Executive Director of the Open Governance Institute
Co-host: John Maritim, Director of Economic Planning and Budgeting and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Point of Contact for Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya

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Building the Ladder of Citizen Engagement Feb 08, 2022

In Austin, Texas, the local government has taken steps to level the playing field and include historically marginalized groups, including people experiencing homelessness, in open government and policy processes.

Guest: Daniel Culotta, Acting Chief Innovation Officer of Austin, Texas and Austin Civilian Conservation Corps Program Coordinator
Co-Host: Nicole Anand, Political Economist, Participatory Designer, and OGP Civil Society Lead, Los Angeles

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Building Citizen Trust in South Cotabato, Philippines Jan 25, 2022

How are local leaders fighting the pandemic for their constituents?

Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., Governor of South Cotabato, Philippines, explains how the principles of transparency, participation, inclusion and accountability guided their local efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and how placing citizens at the heart of policy-making can rebuild trust in government.

Guest: Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., Governor of South Cotabato

Co-Host: Yanuar Nugroho, Former Deputy Chief of Staff at the Executive Office of the President of Indonesia

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Closing the Gender Gap in Care Services in Mexico Jan 11, 2022

Is care a gendered issue? Why is the business of care a shared responsibility and how can a comprehensive care system help transform our society?

In Mexico, reformers are working to design a national policy on public care services. Through a pilot program, the policy will be monitored by citizens — enabling them to shape these services and reduce the gender inequality gap in Mexico and position the right to care in the public agenda.

Guest: Marta Ferreyra, Director General of the National Policy of Equality and Rights of Women at the Institute for Women in Mexico, INMUJERES

Co-Host: Carolina Cornejo, National Director of Open Government in the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers Office of Argentina

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Innovating New Solutions to Justice in Buenos Aires Nov 30, 2021

What can we do if citizens do not trust the justice system? How can different sectors work together to create a more transparent and accountable judicial branch?

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Council of Magistrates launched the Open Justice and Innovation Lab. In partnership with civil society organizations, the Lab was created to foster exchange and collaboration towards designing solutions in the judicial system.

Guest: Mariano Heller, Secretary of Planning of the Council of the Magistracy of the City of Buenos Aires

Co-Host: Maria Baron, Executive Director of Directorio Legislativo

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Blowing the Whistle on Corruption in Latvia Nov 16, 2021

How do we create safe spaces for whistleblowers?

In Latvia, the government is working with civil society organizations to increase public awareness on reporting breaches, including corruption, and the protections provided under the 2018 Whistleblowing Law. In today’s episode, we explore the systems in place to safeguard the identities of government employees, activists, civil society organizers and other individuals who blow the whistle on illicit activities.

Guest: Inese Taurina, Executive Director of Transparency International (DELNA)

Co-host: Zuzana Wienk, Director of Currents

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When a Government’s “Eyes and Ears” Improve Public Services Nov 02, 2021

How do we ensure that public funds are spent efficiently and not mismanaged? In the State of Kaduna, Nigeria, the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation in the Planning and Budget Commission and Follow Taxes are working on a citizen-led budget monitoring initiative designed to track state-funded projects. The Kaduna Citizen Feedback App, housed under the Eyes and Ears project, has empowered citizens to become the eyes and ears of the government to oversee public spending.

In this episode, we learn about how we can inspire local governments to be more innovative in delivering public services and why incentivizing citizens to collaborate is critical.

Guest: Saied Tafida, Co-Founder of Follow Taxes
Co-host: Aidan Eyakuze, Executive Director of Twaweza

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Introducing: Voices of Open Government Oct 25, 2021

Voices of Open Government is a brand new podcast from the Open Government Partnership. In this podcast, we bring you conversations on how we can do government differently. From anti-corruption advocates to social justice champions and public servants, host Stephanie Bluma talks to leaders who break the mold. And together, explore ways to make governments more transparent, inclusive, participatory, and accountable.

Follow and subscribe to Voices of Open Government on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

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