From October 6th to 10th, the Open Government Summit took place in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. The event gathered more than2,000 representatives from national, regional, and local governments, civil society organizations, academia, and international organizations to discuss the importance of open government in strengthening democracy.
UNDP SDG Local Action participated in the summit and, in alliance with OGP Local and UCLG, launched the campaign “Building Bridges, Empowering Citizens”, which highlights the dialogue between two key agendas: sustainable development and open government. This bridge is built through initiatives taking place at the territorial level, where local and regional governments implement transparent, participatory, and collaborative actions that address specific development challenges. Through a series of infographics featuring impactful data, collaborative, co-created, and transparent local solutions will be shared throughout October and November, culminating on December 9th — International Anti-Corruption Day.
During the summit, several sessions focused on the crucial role of local governments in advancing the open government agenda. Mayors and government representatives from local governments across Spain, Nigeria, Ghana, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the Philippines, and others participated in these discussions, showcasing local innovations, collaborative initiatives, and digital transformations taking place at the territorial level. Below are some key discussions and conclusions from the event.
OGP local afternoon: connect, learn, and lead
On Monday, October 6th, the summit opened with the OGP local afternoon: connect, learn, and lead session. The event began with welcoming remarks from Maria Ubarretxena, Governance Advisor of the Basque Country Regional Government, and Ana Aguirre, Director of Open Government and Good Government. Both emphasized the importance of open government in building strong multistakeholder alliances, including collaboration with the private sector.
Some key actions:
- Currently implementing its second Open Government Action Plan (2025–2028), focused on strengthening the quality of democracy.
- A new Transparency Law is under discussion in the Regional Parliament.
Jose Maria Marín, OGP Local Lead, followed by underscoring that this event demonstrates how democracy endures, even amid declining trust in institutions. He highlighted that open government is not merely a technical issue but a political one. In 2020, OGP Local expanded the Open Government Partnership to include local governments, recognizing their essential role in innovation, transparency, participation, and collaboration. The initiative started with 50 members and now includes over 150 local and regional members worldwide, showcasing how governments are giving voice to citizens, building trust, fostering inclusion, and demonstrating tangible impact.
A series of panels and de-conferences followed, offering local insights and experiences.
Highlights from cities
The discussion initiated with the experience of OGP Euskadi emphasized the importance of who is involved in local open government initiatives. Representatives from the Regional Government of Gipuzkoa and Bilbao City highlighted the relevance of multilevel governance and coordination among diverse administrations.
Bilbao showcased two of the four commitments from its local open government plan:
- A commitment to youth, developed in collaboration with the Youth Council of the Euskadi Region.
- A commitment to childhood and adolescence, developed in partnership with UNICEF.
Both aim to amplify the voices of children and young people in shaping local public policy. The commitments also incorporate a gender perspective, migrant inclusion, and actions targeting rural areas.
Cities such as Osasco (Brazil), Leova (Moldova), South Cotabato (Philippines), Bogotá (Colombia), Tarkwa Nsuaem (Ghana), and Jalisco (Mexico) also presented their experiences.
Alexandru Bujoreanu, Mayor of Leova, Moldova, shared that through its participatory budgeting program, citizens have helped decide on investments in solar energy, public parks, waste management, and other local priorities. The local government also implemented digital tools for participation while maintaining door-to-door dialogues. As a result, 70% of the population participated in the voting process.
“Participation takes time, but it creates human bonding.”
Alejandra Rodas Gaiter, Subsecretary of Institutional Strengthening from Bogotá, Colombia, addressed the challenge of rebuilding citizen trust, noting that 91% of the population had previously not engaged in any political organization or civic activity. The city began by co-creating its government plan with citizens—over 80%of whom had never taken part in a government process before. To support this effort, Bogotá developed “Chatico,” an AI-powered chatbot designed to inform and listen to citizens. Its name comes from “Chato,” a friendly nickname used in Bogotá. The first issue Chatico helped address was the water crisis of 2024, gathering citizens’ input on solutions. Participatory budgeting was also facilitated through the chatbot, complemented by in-person initiatives and the use of open data. This year, citizen participation informed the city’s waste management strategy.
“Bogotá exemplifies how new forms of local participation can be simple.”
Hon. Ebenezer Cobbinah, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, Ghana, shared how open government has been instrumental in tackling climate change-related challenges. Through a multistakeholder platform, the city co-created solutions for climate-smart agriculture, reforestation, waste management, and river clean-up projects — including the planting of 5,000 trees to restore degraded land. Youth engagement was strengthened through environmental education.
“The experience of our city shows the importance of strong political leadership.”
National–Local collaboration on open government
On Tuesday, October 7th, a session on national–local collaboration in open government was held. The event showcased several experiences that demonstrated how cooperation between different levels of government strengthens transparency, participation, and the localization of open government principles.
From the Philippines, the Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government explained how national–local dialogues have supported the localization of the national open government plan. These dialogues help to contextualize national priorities at the local level, translating strategic objectives into concrete local actions. By focusing on policies related to infrastructure deployment, local governments become active partners in monitoring and implementing national commitments.
“We work to raise ambition — taking local governments to the next level.”
From Ukraine, the Secretary of the OGP Coordinating Council and Deputy Director of Information and Communication highlighted that the country’s sixth national action plan was developed through online consultations and public co-creation processes, ensuring that local communities —including those facing physical or geographic barriers— could participate. As a result, local and regional engagement became a central priority in Ukraine’s open government strategy.
From Ghana, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly shared how collaboration between the national and local levels is maintained through a joint platform that brings together members of the national steering committee and local representatives. This platform builds bridges between distant territories, enabling rural and remote governments to engage in national decision-making processes through virtual participation. A national–local network has thus been established, with the national infrastructure dialogue serving as a main axis of co-creation to address challenges in the infrastructure sector. The use of data has been a key enabler of this dialogue. Moreover, Sekondi-Takoradi emphasized the importance of local–local collaboration within OGP Local, as peer learning among municipalities further strengthens the open government ecosystem.
Local open government to transform democracy
On Wednesday, October 8th, the session “Local open government to transform democracy” took place during the OGP Summit. With opening remarks by Aidan Eyakuze, CEO of OGP, and moderation by Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG, local governments discussed how they are strengthening and sustaining democracy through concrete local solutions.
Mukhtar Mohammed Ahmed, Commissioner of Planning and Budget from Kaduna State, Nigeria, explained how the state is advancing rural transformation through citizen participation, focusing on access to education and health services. Participatory processes have also informed decisions regarding infrastructure investment, housing construction for displaced persons, and social protection measures.
“Regional governments demonstrate the importance of continuity between rural and urban areas when we talk about the local level.”
Joy Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City, Philippines, shared the city’s experience of working closely with the People’s Council, which represents various sectors — including children, women, LGBTQ+ groups, and farmers — all with a meaningful voice in city planning. Quezon City has committed to institutionalizing participation and reinforcing the role of data in governance. To this end, the city integrated sectoral data into a digital platform, particularly focused on infrastructure spending, in order to enhance public trust and accountability.
“We use data to make participation meaningful and inclusive.”
Luis Martínez-Sicluna Sepúlveda, Secretary General of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, emphasized that open government is not only about publishing data but about transforming the way institutions communicate with citizens. He highlighted the Network for Citizen Participation, which places citizens at the core of municipal management. Since 2016, the Federation has developed a range of tools to strengthen local ownership of open government principles, including:
- A transparency law and an open government law;
- Guidelines on open government;
- A working group on transparency and access to public information;
- A best practices award;
- A program on open public procurement.
Félix Taberna Monzón, Vice-President and Minister of the Presidency and Equality of the Government of Navarra, Spain, focused on initiatives that amplify citizen participation in policies related to climate change and sustainability.
“In Navarra, we are showing that climate action and citizen participation go hand in hand. Local democracy is the foundation of a green transition.”
Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), presented the Schools of Democracy initiative, which promotes local democracy and strengthens local communities. She underscored the importance of innovation through a multistakeholder approach. Examples of ALDA’s work include supporting municipalities in Ukraine to prepare young women for political participation, engaging women in Uganda, and promoting youth involvement in the Western Balkans.
“When local governments, civil society, and citizens innovate together, democracy becomes tangible.”
Seydina Issa Laye Sabe, Mayor of Yoff, Senegal, shared how the municipality implemented a digitalization process to improve management efficiency and institutionalize citizen participation. The city created a digital application to enhance communication and interaction between citizens and local authorities.
“Digital transformation is about connecting citizens and institutions in real time.”
Cinthia Cantero, Minister of Planning and Citizen Participation of the State of Jalisco, Mexico, shared that 125 municipalities within the state have implemented digital mechanisms for participation. These initiatives have generated more than 675,000 participatory contributions, addressing local challenges and priorities with a strong focus on youth engagement. Over 25,400 children and adolescents have actively participated in these processes.
“In Jalisco, we believe participation starts early with children and young people.”
Finally, Tomás Vodanovic, Mayor of Maipú, Chile, reflected on how the municipality has defined its priorities and action plan through participatory processes. The city is now entering a second phase, focused on designing and building the model of the city its citizens envision.
“We are no longer designing policies for citizens — we are designing the city together with them.”
Other sessions highlighting the role of local governments
Across the OGP Summit, local and regional governments were at the center of key dialogues that demonstrated how openness, collaboration, and innovation are transforming public governance from the ground up. In different corners of the European Palace of Vitoria-Gasteiz, conversations unfolded about trust, transparency, data, and community power — all converging in a shared conviction: democracy is renewed locally.
On October 7, the session Local Solutions, Bold Reforms: Advancing Transparency and Climate Resilience through Care and Community-Driven Governance brought together national, local governments and civil society from Nigeria — among them Connected Development (CODE), Joinbodi, and the OGP Nigeria Secretariat. They showed how communities are driving reforms that bridge anti-corruption, care economy, and climate resilience, turning participation into a tangible tool for accountability. The dialogue revealed a new generation of initiatives where citizens co-design and monitor policies, blending empathy and evidence in the governance process.
That same day, the roundtable Intermediate Local Governments and Transparency, organized by the Fundación Democracia y Gobierno Local, examined the often invisible yet essential role of smaller municipalities. Drawing on the experience of the Province of Barcelona, the discussion focused on how to make transparency viable for localities with limited resources, transforming compliance into a genuine culture of openness. Participants insisted that transparency must be understood as “a collective right and not a bureaucratic burden.”
On October 8, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) shared the work of its Network of Local Entities for Transparency and Citizen Participation, where hundreds of cities collaborate to co-create methodologies and share lessons learned. The exchanges illustrated how peer learning among municipalities is helping to consolidate local open government ecosystems, where participation is part of daily decision-making rather than a one-time exercise.
That evening, the discussion Towards a Local Data Commons Ecosystem, organized by the Open Knowledge Foundation, PARI, Decidim, and the Inter-American Development Bank, invited participants to think of data as a shared infrastructure — a common good that sustains collaboration and accountability. Drawing on projects like Decidim, the session emphasized that digital infrastructures must be designed not only to share information, but to strengthen collective intelligence and democratic innovation.
On October 9, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of the Philippines presented the Global Launch of the Philippine Agenda for the Localization of the OGP. With the participation of more than 170 local government units, the initiative represents a decisive step toward embedding open government principles in local planning, transparency, and resilience strategies. Participants celebrated it as one of the most ambitious localization efforts within the OGP network — a model for how national frameworks can grow stronger through local ownership.
That same day, the session Open Government is Learned: Public Training to Transform from Local to Global, organized by INAP, the Association of Women in the Public Sector, and GIGAPP, brought together experts to discuss the power of learning and capacity-building as catalysts for open government. Drawing from Spain’s Second Open Government Training Plan, participants co-designed ideas for a third edition, reaffirming that “open government is not a skill to be acquired once, but a practice to be cultivated over time.”
Together, these sessions revealed the strength and creativity of local governments around the world — from Africa to Latin America and Europe — and reaffirmed that the most transformative reforms often begin in the territories where citizens and institutions meet face to face.
Conclusions and lessons learned
The OGP Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz made one thing clear: the renewal of democracy begins locally. From Nigeria to Navarra, from Bogotá to the Basque Country, the experiences shared throughout the week showed that open government is not only a set of tools or commitments — it is a way of building trust and reimagining how public institutions relate to people.
Three key lessons emerged across the dialogues.
- First, local leadership matters. Cities and regions are demonstrating that openness is not dependent on scale, but on political will. Whether through participatory budgeting in Moldova, digital participation in Senegal, or youth-driven governance in Jalisco, local leaders are transforming democratic values into everyday practices that reach citizens directly.
- Second, collaboration across levels of government is essential. The sessions on national–local coordination revealed that open government works best when it is shared — when national frameworks provide direction but local actors bring them to life. Platforms that connect ministries, municipalities, and communities are helping to bridge distances, align policies, and ensure that transparency and participation are not isolated initiatives but systemic approaches.
- Third, data and learning are emerging as the backbone of modern governance. From Spain’s open data commons to the Philippine agenda for localization, participants underlined that knowledge sharing, digital transformation, and training are indispensable to sustain transparency, accountability, and inclusion. Open government must evolve into an ecosystem — one that combines evidence, empathy, and innovation to serve the public good.
Ultimately, the Summit reaffirmed that democracy is strengthened when citizens are co-authors of their future. The campaign Building Bridges, Empowering Citizens, launched by UNDP SDG Local Action in alliance with OGP Local and UCLG, captured this spirit: that open government and sustainable development are not parallel agendas, but two sides of the same bridge.
In the voices of mayors, ministers, and citizens, a shared message resonated — openness is not an end in itself, but a path toward fairer, greener, and more resilient societies.