Open contracting at the OGP Global Summit 2018

Busting myths, challenging vested interests & improving people’s lives

Fighting corruption, engaging citizens and delivering better public services: these themes for the next Open Government Partnership global summit in Tbilisi, Georgia from 17-19 July are also at the core of open contracting.

Better, smarter and fairer government contracting will have a huge impact on citizens’ lives everywhere. Think nutritious school meals, world-class medical equipment and better roads.

No wonder that open contracting will be high on the agenda in Tbilisi and we would love for you to join us and many of our amazing partners.

There be a whole host of open contracting events together with our partners at Hivos, CoST, NRGI, the Contracting 5, and of course our Georgian partners and colleagues.

• Firstly, make sure to join us for some poolside fun and report launch at our Deep Dive into Commercial Confidentiality on 18 June. Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD Mari Kiviniemi will provide remarks. Don’t miss it, space is filling up fast, and register here. Teaser page to get the whole report is here.

And here are the highlights from the agenda. As usual, you can expect sharp & snappy sessions and lots of opportunities for interaction and sharing your experience as well:

Tuesday, 17 July

• We’ll be at the OGP CSO Day and the Point of Contact Day. We’ll have spaces at each to discuss open contracting commitments and ideas.

Wednesday, 18 July

• What makes for ambitious commitments in the extractives sector? 14:00-15:30
  We will be sharing insights on our new report with NRGI on Open contracting for oil, gas and mining rights in this ‘fishbowl’

• Challenging vested interests: Turning open contracting data into systemic open government reforms. 15:30-17:00
  Organized together with the Contracting 5, Lindsey Marchessault will moderate an exciting panel that explores what’s needed to overcome vested interest and build systemic open government contracting reform.

• Effective strategies using open contracting for grassroots health advocacy. 17:30-18:30
  Organized by our partners AFIC and Hivos.

Thursday, 19 July

• Everyone complains but nothing happens: How to implement feedback loops that work. 10:30-12:00
  In this workshop organized together with Hivos, we’ve put together a highly interactive session that explores how reformers can design, implement and measure better feedback loops that result in real fixes from five perspectives, including how to build capacities to use data, connecting contract data to beneficial ownership and spending, making monitoring meaningful, effective multi-stakeholder mechanisms, and how to make the message land.

• Eliminating corruption through e-procurement? 13:00-14:00
  Organized by partners the Georgian Procurement Agency with the World Bank and the EBRD

• Rethinking public procurement systems – past, present and future. 14:00-15:00
  Organized by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information in Georgia

• Better infrastructure and public service delivery. 15:00-16:30
  Organized together with our partners at CoST, we’ll look at open contracting best practices and lessons when building infrastructure, especially high risk, high impact megaprojects.

There’s, of course, so much more also going on at OGP. Check out the full conference program.

There’ll be time to celebrate as well. As long-term friends and partners, we hope to see you at our special open contracting reception Deep Dive into Commercial Confidentiality and night out.

We’d love to have you involved and make open contracting deliver in your country. Get in touch!