Promoting good governance and a positive business climate in the OSCE region through digitalization and the use of open data

(OSCE)

Description

This multi–year, cross-regional project (2021-2025) is supporting good governance and anti-corruption efforts of OSCE participating States through training, education, and awareness raising activities on the use of open data and digital tools.

The project aims to leverage open data — government information that is accessible and reusable — as a powerful tool to fight combat corruption, support economic recovery, and foster a positive investment climate in the OSCE region. This is particularly crucial in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the war against Ukraine, and the security situation in Afghanistan.

Open data offers numerous benefits, including transparency, accountability, improved public services, and increased efficiency, innovation, and economic value. Despite its transformative potential, the adoption of open data policies and practices varies across the OSCE region, presenting opportunities for learning and sharing best practices.

Beneficiaries of this project include practitioners and government officials involved in digitalization and anti-corruption efforts, open data coordinators, public administration academies, civil society organizations (CSOs), media, business associations and international and regional organizations working on open data initiatives.

The first project goal is to build and enhance the capacities of government authorities, civil servants, the civil society, media representatives and the private sector on the use of open data and digital means.

The second project goal is to facilitate the efforts of governments, businesses and CSOs in implementing anti-corruption and digitalization strategies.

The third project goal is to establish dialogue and best practice exchange platforms enabling practitioners to network, foster peer engagement, enhance knowledge on the use of open data.

In line with OSCE's commitment to gender mainstreaming and gender equality, the project also supports the digital empowerment of women entrepreneurs, underscoring the Organization's dedication to promoting women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth across the OSCE region.

Implemented in collaboration with a wide range of national stakeholders and in close co-ordination with relevant international partners such as OECD and OGP, OSCE executive structures and field operations, the project will leverage strategic partnerships and synergies to promote a positive business climate, good governance and transparency throughout the OSCE region.