Following consultations and a vote by the Working Group - comprising elected officials, municipal staff, and civil society representatives - WeOpenGov was selected to serve as the Multistakeholder Forum for the Municipality of Athens' participation in OGP Local.
What is a Multistakeholder Forum?
Multistakeholder Forum is a participatory space for the development, implementation, and review of the action plan, bringing together public officials and non-governmental stakeholders. It serves as a permanent advisory body that assists throughout the action plan cycle. While the structure of each forum may vary based on local contexts and conditions, all forums are responsible for ensuring that the OGP Local process remains open and inclusive of all stakeholders. Depending on the commitments outlined in the action plan, additional entities or groups may be selected to serve as the Multistakeholder Forum in the future.
What is WeOpenGov?
WeOpenGov: Civil Society – Public Sector Network for Open Governance is implemented under the Active Citizens Fund program, led by Transparency International Greece, in partnership with the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology – GRNET S.A., and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens / Digital Media for Participation Research Group (NKUA dmPart).
The WeOpenGov project develops a fully functional multistakeholder network that will co-design actions based on the principles and practices of Open Governance. It aims to cultivate a culture of multistakeholderism among all involved parties, which is essential for the effective implementation of National Action Plans for Open Government and any other action plans (e.g., National Anti-Corruption Action Plan). Additionally, it aspires to contribute multidimensionally and effectively to the national effort for Open Governance, Transparency, and Integrity.
It also addresses needs such as:
- Continuous coordination among Civil Society Organizations on public participation, transparency, and accountability issues.
- Establishing stable contact points between the Government and Civil Society on Open Governance matters.
- Providing policymakers and public administration officials with knowledge and education on the value of civil society participation throughout the public policy design and implementation cycle, and skills for implementing public policies collaboratively.
- Raising awareness within Civil Society about Open Governance.
Following the selection of WeOpenGov as the Multistakeholder Forum, the Deputy Mayor for Education, Digital Governance, Property, and Construction, and Chair of the Working Group for OGP Local, Mr. Panagiotis – Paris Charlaftis, sent the following letter/invitation on February 5, 2025:
Letter/Invitation to WeOpenGov for the Role of Multistakeholder Forum
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To: Transparency International Greece |
Dear Dr. Kaskanis,
With this letter, the Municipality of Athens wishes to express its interest in collaborating with the WeOpenGov project within the framework of our participation in the OGP Local program. Our inclusion in OGP Local in April 2024 marks a significant step toward promoting open governance, transparency, and citizen participation in decision-making processes.
According to the guidelines of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), the establishment of a Multistakeholder Forum significantly contributes to the development, implementation, and monitoring of action plans, ensuring collaboration between public entities and civil society.
The main responsibilities of a Multistakeholder Forum include:
- The development, implementation, and monitoring of the Municipality of Athens' Action Plan within the framework of OGP Local, ensuring that the process remains open and participatory.
- Facilitating communication and collaboration among municipal entities, civil society, the academic community, and the private sector, aiming to enhance accountability and transparency.
- Acting as a mediator between citizens and the Municipality, ensuring that societal needs and proposals are recorded and integrated into policy formation.
- Systematically monitoring the implementation of the Municipality’s commitments, providing regular feedback and recommendations for improvement.
We recognize that WeOpenGov, implemented by Transparency International Greece in partnership with the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology – GRNET S.A. and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens / Digital Media for Participation Research Group (NKUA dmPart), aims to create a nationwide, permanent, and fully functional Network of Stakeholders for Open Governance, modeled after an OGP Multi-Stakeholder Forum.
Furthermore, the objectives of WeOpenGov - such as enhancing coordination among civil society organizations, establishing stable contact points between public entities and civil society, and promoting participation throughout the entire public policy design and implementation cycle - are fully aligned with the goals of the Municipality of Athens, particularly in the context of its participation in OGP Local.
Based on the above, the Municipality of Athens considers WeOpenGov a suitable and reliable partner for the operation of the Multistakeholder Forum. Therefore, we would like to explore the possibility of collaborating with WeOpenGov to establish and leverage a Multistakeholder Forum in our Municipality. We believe that this collaboration will contribute to the effective implementation of our commitments under OGP Local and will strengthen transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance processes - objectives that are also at the core of WeOpenGov itself.
Best regards,
Panagiotis – Paris Charlaftis
Deputy Mayor for Education, Digital Governance, Property and Construction