1. Partnership in Developing OGP in Georgia
Giorgi Kldiashvili
Institute for Development of
Freedom of Information (IDFI)
Georgia

2. Supporting Involvement of the Parliament of Georgia in Open Government Partnership (OGP)
Funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
Main Objective of the Project - to promote Openness and Transparency of the Parliament of Georgia through citizen participation in legislative processes
Within the scopes of the project the Open Parliament Georgia Action Plan was adopted

3. Engagement of the Parliament with the Civil Society
The Inter-Factional Group of the Members of the Parliament (MPs) of Georgia was established
The Civil Society Working Group represented by the Non-governmental and International Organizations was formed
The Memorandum on Cooperation between the Parliament of Georgia and the Civil Society Working Group was signed
The Declaration on Parliamentary Openness was signed

4. Supporting Involvement of the Parliament of Georgia in Open Government Partnership (OGP)
Objectives achieved:
Study on the issues of Parliamentary Openness was prepared
Public Consultations were held for finalizing the Action Plan (for these purposes social network was actively used)
Public awareness campaign was launched (meetings were held in the universities and in the municipalities)
Joint meetings of the MPs and Civil Society were commonly held

5. Mechanism of cooperation of
Inter-Factional Group (11 MPs)
The Georgian Dream
The Georgian Dream – Republicans
The Georgian Dream – National Forum
The Georgian Dream – Entrepreneurs
The Georgian Dream – Conservatives
Free Democrats
The United National Movement
The National Movement – Regions
The National Movement Majoritarian
Independent Majoritarian – for
Powerful Regions
Non-party, Independent Majoritarian
Civil Society Working Group
UNDP, EU, IDFI, USAID, NDI, Transparency International Georgia, Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association,, Open Society Georgia Foundation, Civil Society Institute, GIZ, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum-Georgian National Platform, CiDA, JumpStart Georgia, Economic Policy Research Center

6. Cooperation in Developing the Legislative Openness
Signing the Memorandum between the Parliament of Georgia and the Civil Society Working Group regarding OGP
Signing the Declaration on Parliamentary Openness

7. Open Parliament Georgia Action Plan 2015-2016
Adopted on July 17, 2015
18 commitments (16 were recommended
from the civil society)
Based on Initiatives of Civil Society and
the Parliament of Georgia and the best
practices from OpenGovGuide
Action to be implemented through

8. Open Parliament Georgia Action Plan
Citizen
Engagement
Access
to Information
Accountability
Technologies
&
Innovation

9. Content & its Process of development
Starting Point
Step 1: Research
Step 2: Formation of Working Group
Step 3: Involvement of the Administration of the Parliament
Step 4: Joint Meeting & Workshops conducted regularly
Step 5: Involvement of Citizens in Elaboration of Action Plan
Step 6: Finalizing the Initiatives and the draft version of the Action Plan
Step 7: Refinement of the Commitments
Step 8: Action Plan is approved by the Inter-Factional Group
Step 9: Action Plan is adopted by the Bureau of the Parliament
Step 10: Implementation of the Action Plan

10. Meetings of the Working Groups and Approving the Action Plan by the Bureau of the Parliament of Georgia

11. OGP Global Legislative Openness Week Tbilisi, September 14-15

12. Civil Society Day in Mexico, Parliament of Georgia winning the OGP Government Champions Award!

13. Creation of the Parliamentary Council – 1st Implemented Commitment!
Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open and Transparent
Governance is created
Legislative Amendments regarding the Parliamentary Council
are implemented
The Charter of the Parliamentary Council is adopted
The Chair of the Parliamentary Council is appointed
Consultative Group comprised of Civil Society representatives
is formed
The Chair Organization of the Consultative Group is elected

14. Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open and Transparent Governance
2 branches (MPs&NGOs)
Mechanism
Elaboration of the OGP Action Plan
Implementation & Monitoring
Functions
SUSTAINIBILITY

15. Meetings of the Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open and Transparent Governance

16. Meetings of the Consultative Group

17. The Process of Implementation of the Open Parliament Georgia Action Plan
From January till May 2016:
Four Joint Workshops were held
Three individual meetings of the Parliamentary Council and the Consultative Group were held
Four concepts of the commitments (allowing comments on draft legislation, submitting legislative proposals and initiatives electronically, easing access to the Parliamentary Information for Persons with disabilities, posting documents on the website of the Parliament of Georgia in an editable format) were adopted
Draft Amendments, covering & enforcing 10 commitments, to the Parliament’s Rule of Procedure are elaborated
Draft Code of Ethics is developed
Parliament of Georgia is the first and still the only Parliament among OGP member countries, that has endorsed OGP declaration on SDGs

18. Commitments Reflecting the Engagement of the Parliament with the Civil Society & the Public
Ensuring Easiness of Procedures for Physical Access in the Parliament Building for citizens
The information is posted on the web-page of the Parliament of Georgia
Raising Public Education and Awareness on Activities, Role and Mission of the Parliament of Georgia with different groups
Awareness Raising activities are permanently performed
Easing Access to the Parliamentary Information for Persons with Disabilities
The concept is elaborated and approved by the Parliamentary Council

19. Commitments Reflecting the Engagement of the Parliament with the Civil Society & the Public
Conducting Annual Meeting of the Parliament of Georgia and
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) -> The meeting will be conducted during
the Parliamentary Openness Week
Developing and Approving the State Concept of CSO
Development
The concept is elaborated and approved by the Parliamentary Council
Updating the List of Public Information to be Proactively
Published by the Parliament of Georgia
MPs’ inquiries, questions and responses are already uploaded to the web-page of the Parliament of Georgia and are ready to be published

20. Commitments Reflecting the Technological Innovations of the Open Parliament Georgia Action Plan
Posting Changes and Edits Made to Initial Draft Legislation on the Website of the Parliament of Georgia in a Visible and Timely Manner
Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Georgia are ready for the further initiation
Parliament of Georgia made visible the initiated legislation and its all attached documents (including reports of various civil organizations) in a timely manner
Allowing Comment on Draft Legislation
The concept is elaborated and approved by the Parliamentary Council

21. Commitments Reflecting the Technological Innovations of the Open Parliament Georgia Action Plan
Submitting Legislative Proposals and Initiatives Electronically
The concept is elaborated and approved by the Parliamentary Council
Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Georgia are ready for the further initiation
Posting Documents on the Website of the Parliament of Georgia in an Editable Format
Implementing New Technologies and Innovative Approaches; Increasing Level of Involvement of Youth, Ethnic Minorities and Other Stakeholders in Parliamentary Work -> still ongoing

22. Joint Meetings of the Permanent Parliamentary Council and the Consultative Group

23. Director, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU!
Giorgi Kldiashvili
Director, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)