Open government and open data a global perspective

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are investing in new technologies and are increasingly working in networks and coalitions (such as Open Parliament, Open Contracting and Open Government) to develop standards for effective accountability through transparency and disclosure. These initiatives hold the promise of transforming the way government and societies work together to improve governance. There is therefore an opportunity to better support those governments seeking to commit to transparency through international eGovernment initiatives. Similarly, there is an opportunity to leverage the increased understanding of the role of technology including the public release of government data in enhancing disclosure and public access to information, and to build the capacity of the CSOs to connect best practice with transparency reforms. However, in line with the vision of open government, the benefits to citizens should always take precedence over other returns when designing and developing software systems, and this involves new and innovative software architectures.