OGP Asia Pacific: Peer-to-Peer Learning for Open Government

Strengthening Democratic Governance Across the Region

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia Pacific Peer-to-Peer Learning Program, designed and facilitated by CRPG, brings together government reformers and civil society activists from across the Asia Pacific region. Through collaborative workshops, multi-stakeholder forums, and knowledge exchange, the program strengthens institutional capacity for transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.

About the Open Government Partnership

Since its founding by 8 countries (Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States) in 2011, the OGP has grown to 75 member countries including 75 subnational governments, producing over 2,500 commitments towards open government.

Several multilateral organizations—including the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, and the OECD—have formalized partnerships with the OGP, demonstrating the global momentum for transparent and accountable governance.

OGP in Asia Pacific

Eleven countries in the Asia Pacific region are OGP members:

• Afghanistan - Action plan development
• Armenia - Implementation phase
• Georgia - Implementation phase
• Indonesia - Implementation phase
• Jordan - Action plan development
• Mongolia - Implementation phase
• Pakistan - Action plan development
• Papua New Guinea - Implementation phase
• Philippines - Implementation phase
• South Korea - Implementation phase
• Sri Lanka - Action plan development

Countries at various stages of the OGP cycle—from developing national action plans to implementing and evaluating reforms—face shared challenges: building political will, empowering internal reformers, and fostering effective civil society engagement.

Why Open Government Matters in Asia Pacific

The demand for openness in the Asia Pacific region parallels its remarkable economic growth. As countries head toward stronger economies, there is intensifying pressure for more efficient, transparent, and accountable institutions. The OGP facilitates this institutional strengthening through country-led action plans addressing:

Budget Transparency

Making government budgets accessible, comprehensible, and participatory—enabling citizens to understand how public funds are allocated and spent.

Access to Information

Establishing legal frameworks and practical mechanisms for citizens to request and receive government data, documents, and decision-making records.

Income and Asset Disclosure

Requiring public officials to disclose financial interests, reducing conflicts of interest and corruption risks.

Citizen Engagement

Creating formal channels for civil society participation in policy design, implementation, and oversight.

Countries can only join the OGP if they satisfy eligibility criteria across these four dimensions. Thus, aspiring member countries must improve their scores before joining.

The OGP Theory of Change

The Open Government Partnership operates on a "theory of change" requiring three essential elements for successful reforms:

1. High-Level Political Commitment: Leadership from heads of state, ministers, and senior officials championing openness
2. Empowered Government Reformers: Internal advocates with mandate and resources to drive change
3. Effective Civil Society Engagement: Independent organizations holding government accountable and co-designing solutions

This program reinforces all three elements by creating spaces for peer learning, cross-country collaboration, and multi-stakeholder dialogue.

CRPG's Peer-to-Peer Learning Program

Program Goal

Enhance the capacity of government reformers and civil society activists in both OGP member and non-member countries across Asia Pacific through peer-to-peer learning exchange.

Target Participants

• Government Reformers: Officials championing transparency, open data, and civic participation within ministries and agencies
• Civil Society Activists: NGO leaders, advocates, and watchdog organizations monitoring government performance
• Aspiring OGP Countries: Actors from Nepal, China, and other non-members interested in joining the OGP learning community

Program Components

1. Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshops

Open Budgeting and Open Contracting (Jakarta, December 13, 2017)

An intensive workshop bringing together practitioners from across the region to share experiences, tools, and strategies for:
- Participatory budgeting processes
- Contract transparency and public procurement monitoring
- Data standards for budget and procurement information
- Civil society oversight mechanisms

Participants engaged in case study analysis, hands-on tool demonstrations, and collaborative problem-solving around shared challenges.

2. Asia Pacific Leaders Forum (APLF)

Breakout Session: "Rebuilding Trust in Government" (Jakarta, December 14, 2017)

A high-level dialogue exploring how open government reforms can restore public trust in institutions. Sessions addressed:
- Evidence on the trust deficit across Asia Pacific democracies
- Reform success stories demonstrating measurable trust gains
- Political strategies for sustaining open government momentum
- Multi-stakeholder partnership models

See event documentation →

3. Access to Information Workshop

(In collaboration with the OGP Support Unit)

Designed for countries developing or strengthening Right to Information (RTI) laws and implementation frameworks. Topics include:
- Legislative design: Balancing transparency with privacy and national security
- Institutional architecture: Independent information commissions vs. ministry oversight
- Proactive disclosure: Moving beyond reactive request systems
- Digital platforms: Online portals and open data standards

4. Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Open Government

A regional convening creating space for government-civil society co-creation. The forum facilitates:
- Joint problem diagnosis across sectors
- Collaborative action planning
- Trust-building through structured dialogue
- Learning from regional and international good practices

Impact and Outcomes

Knowledge Exchange

Participants gained exposure to diverse approaches to open government challenges—learning what works in different political, cultural, and institutional contexts.

Network Strengthening

The program created a regional community of practice connecting reformers and activists who continue collaborating beyond formal program activities.

Reform Momentum

Several countries reported that program insights informed their OGP action plan development and implementation strategies, demonstrating tangible policy influence.

Eligibility Improvements

Non-member countries participating in the learning community (Nepal, China) gained understanding of pathways to OGP eligibility, including specific reforms to prioritize.

Program Partners

Implementing Organization

Center for Regulation, Policy and Governance (CRPG)
Program design, facilitation, and coordination

Funding Partner

Ford Foundation
Financial support enabling regional workshops and forums

Collaborative Partners

OGP Support Unit - Technical guidance and global network connection
Indonesian Ministry of Planning (Bappenas) - Co-host for Jakarta events and policy liaison

Looking Forward

The demand for open government in Asia Pacific continues growing. As countries face challenges from climate change to digital transformation to pandemic response, transparent and participatory governance becomes ever more critical.

CRPG remains committed to supporting government reformers and civil society activists through:
- Ongoing peer learning opportunities
- Technical assistance for action plan development
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) capacity building
- Multi-stakeholder facilitation and dialogue design

Get Involved

For Government Reformers

Join the Asia Pacific open government community. Share your experiences, learn from peers, and access tools for advancing transparency in your institution.

For Civil Society Organizations

Connect with regional networks advocating for accountability. Collaborate on cross-country campaigns and access resources for effective government oversight.

For Aspiring OGP Countries

Understand the pathway to OGP membership. Learn what reforms can improve your eligibility score and connect with countries who have successfully navigated the process.

For Funders and Partners

Support the expansion of peer learning programs across Asia Pacific. Contact CRPG to explore collaboration opportunities.

Contact

Program Officer: Muhammad Maulana
Email: maulkhan(at)gmail(dot)com

For general inquiries about CRPG's open government work, visit our team page.

Resources

• Asia Pacific Leaders Forum 2017 Documentation
• OGP Global Website
• Indonesia OGP Action Plans
• Events Archive

Advancing transparency, accountability, and participation across Asia Pacific.