Open Government Partnership - Armenia

On 21 November 2014, a working discussion on “Open Governance Partnership – Armenia: civil society cooperation” took place in Yerevan, aimed at concerting civil society efforts in the area of Open Government Partnership. The event was organized by the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia by the support of British Embassy in Armenia.

Around 30 NGO representatives came together to discuss the scopes of cooperation within the framework of OGP processes in Armenia, as well as possibilities for conducting joint monitoring of various stages of the implementation of OGP Second Action Plan. With view to achieving this, the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia, suggested to create a permanent OGP civil society network, whose members will regularly exchange information, update each other about the implementation of various initiatives, in order to remain involved, avoid duplications and eventually, act stronger.

The participants were divided as per 4 main groups of OGP Action Plan commitments, which are:

1. Ensuring Transparency and Accountability;
2. Promotion of Public Participation;
3. Strengthening Public Integrity;
4. Promoting Access to Information.

An expert in each group presented relevant commitments, the process of their implementation and possible future steps, which will be directed at conducting joint monitoring and implementing joint projects.

As a result, the representatives of the participating NGOs expressed readiness to unite in working groups focusing on their respective directions and to jointly monitor and assess the process of OGP Action Plan’s implementation. The participants welcomed the idea of creating a CS network. A decision was made to include other NGOs as well and to subsequently sign a Memorandum on the network’s establishment and membership. The FOICA expressed readiness to assume activities aimed at the coordination of the works of the OGP Civil Society network.

The representatives of respective NGOs will exchange information, views and comments about OGP processes electronically afterwards. Documents pertaining to the implementation of OGP commitments, OGP/Armenia newsletter and other relevant materials will be exchanged electronically as well.

Hence, with the help of the civil society network, the NGOs will have an opportunity to firstly exchange views, ideas and information about the implemented activities and projects, then to conduct monitoring as per a unified monitoring model and submit the implementation practice monitoring results to the government and the society.