By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, May 23, Mana: Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet,  Janet Banda, has called on government , civil society and private sectors to ensure commitment and willingness to support the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative in the country.

She made the remarks on Friday in Lilongwe during the orientation meeting for the members of the newly constituted National Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups .

She stated that as the country prepares to implement the successor National Action Plan (NAP) for 2025–2028 under the Open Government Partnership (OGP), it is crucial to ensure citizen empowerment and inclusive governance for all.

“Since Malawi joined OGP in 2013, the country has made notable strides to institutionalise open government practices across the public sector, we have grown stronger in building institutions that citizens can trust and that operate with integrity,” she said.

Banda further stated that the new NAP prioritises some thematic areas which will help to promote openness and transparency  will include, anti - corruption, digital governance, fiscal openness, open parliament, natural resources and climate and environment.

“ These thematic areas are not just technical policy priorities but they are the building blocks for sustainable developments and meaningful citizen engagement,  as members you must ensure that you are tracking progress, providing technical support and engaging with stakeholders,” said Banda.

In his remarks, Co- Chairperson of the National Steering Committee who also represented Non Governmental Organizations (CSOs) said they are impressed with the OGP  as it gives a room of openness about everything which government is doing.

He added that they will continue to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the plan to fulfill its mandate.

The National Action Plan for OGP helps to guide in the implementation of open governance in Malawi.