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SARAJEVO, February 12 (FENA) - Only direct cooperation between the government and non-governmental sectors can advance democratic processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was underlined today at the Open Government Conference, organized to showcase the benefits that the country and its citizens can have from the Open Government Partnership Initiative (OGP).
The conference was organized as part of the Program for Strengthening Public Institutions in BiH, implemented by the GIZ on behalf of the United Kingdom and Germany, and attended by key stakeholders implementing the initiative and its first Action Plan, adopted by the BiH Council of Ministers for the period 2019-2020.
Project Manager at Transparency International BiH and Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Open Government Partnership initiative Emsad Dizdarević argues that cooperation between the governmental and non-governmental sectors is one of the basic principles for advancing democracy in society.
“I believe that equal treatment of authorities and civil society organizations in the work of the Advisory Council of the Open Government Partnership initiative can serve as an excellent example of cooperation,” said Dizdarević, pointing out that such cooperation can enhance democratic processes in BiH and can serve as a model of cooperation that is applicable in other fields.
The most visible benefit of OGP to citizens is to provide better access to the information needed to make judgments about the political decisions of the authorities, but also to improve the efficiency and quality of public services and goods, to ensure greater citizen participation in policy-making and policy implementation.
The First Secretary of the British Embassy in BiH, Alfred Le Prevost, emphasized that, in partnership with the GIZ, in implementing the Program for Strengthening Public Institutions and Supporting Public Administration Reform in BiH, as one of the key preconditions for the EU integration, they support public institutions in BiH in order to become more transparent, more responsible and effective.
“Improved sharing of information and involvement of the public can enhance policy-making and results, and thus open government can contribute to citizen-oriented reforms, that is, reforms that we all want to see in the country,” said Prevost, adding that it is very important for the process that all segments of society have an equal opportunity to contribute.
Expert advice and support for the open government reforms and the work of the Advisory Council were provided by the Program for Strengthening Public Institutions in BiH, which, on behalf of the governments of Germany and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is implemented by the German GIZ.
The topic of the conference was the successful implementation of open government initiatives that promote cooperation and partnership between governments and civil society and create opportunities for citizens to become involved in policy development and government’s work.
(FENA) S. R.
