Kathmandu, January 26

A four-member committee formed to conduct a study on Nepal’s membership and participation in Open Government Partnership submitted its report to the government through Chief Secretary Somlal Subedi today.

The committee comprised chief of the National Information Commission Krishna Hari Baskota as the coordinator and Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Shreedhar Sapkota, Freedom Forum chairperson Taranath Dahal and Joint Secretary at the OPMCM Narayan Prasad Duwadi as members.

According to the OMPCM, the committee recommended that it would be appropriate for Nepal to obtain OGP membership and participate in the campaign as the country had already met governance indicators for eligibility and had been promoting right to information, transparency, accountability and participatory processes under the democratic system.

The report states that Nepal has obtained 82 per cent in four key areas  fiscal transparency, access to information, income and asset disclosures and citizen engagement compared to the requirement of 75 per cent.

OGP was launched in 2011 to provide an international platform for domestic reformers committed to making their governments more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens.

Since then, OGP has expanded from eight to 69 countries.

OGP is a campaign run with collaboration between governments and civil societies to carry out the objectives of effective governance.

OGP advocates for a government which is committed to providing opportunities for citizen engagement in public affairs, and building trust between the governments and its citizens.