Open Government Explained
The core principles of open government — transparency, participation and accountability — and what they mean in practice.
Open government is a way of governing built on three principles: transparency, participation and accountability. When these principles are put into practice — often with the help of technology — governments become more responsive and citizens gain more influence over public decisions.
The three pillars
Transparency
Making information about decisions, spending and operations openly available so the public can understand and scrutinize how power is exercised.
Participation
Creating meaningful opportunities for citizens to contribute to policy and decision-making, beyond periodic elections.
Accountability
Ensuring institutions and officials can be held answerable for their decisions and actions.
The role of open data
Open data is a practical foundation for open government. When public-interest data is published in reusable formats, journalists, researchers and citizens can analyze it, build on it and hold institutions to account.
Open government in MENA
Several countries in the region have joined open-government initiatives and published access-to-information laws. Civil society organizations play a central role — monitoring commitments, building tools and keeping the momentum going.
Explore the open government topic and the transparency topic to learn more.