It is not enough that institutions such as the anti-corruption agencies, internal audit, judiciary functions, and other checks and balance mechanisms already exist in many governments. That misses the point. We need to keep these institutions active and strong. By strengthening the capacity and voice of citizens to participate in public policy making and working together with traditional oversight institutions, increased governance gains can be made and overall development outcomes improved. Mobilizing resources for open government reform are still seen as a cost rather than an investment. Given that a more transparent and accountable government can help save money, the cost incurred to bring about better governance should be viewed as “smart money,” invested in building checks and balances, improved institutions, and developing national trust. We need more support for open government in Asia and the Pacific. NAPs require substantial financial and technical resources...

— blogs.adb.org/blog