The document discusses e-participation and open data. It defines e-participation as using information and communication technologies to enable and strengthen citizen participation in democratic decision-making processes. Some benefits of e-participation include increasing government transparency, enhancing citizen involvement, and improving quality of public opinion. Open data sits at the heart of a global movement facilitated by technology and social media that can create more accountable and effective governments. While governments collect large amounts of data, they do not always share it in accessible, usable ways. The document lists some examples of technologies and tools that enable e-participation, as well as some criticisms such as the digital divide limiting participation.

1. Diplo E-Participation Day
Geneva, 19 June 2013
Guy Girardet
guyg@diplomacy.edu
@guy.girardet

2. What is E-Participation?
e-Participation means the use of ICT for enabling and
strengthening citizen participation in democratic
decision-making processes
 increasing the transparency of the political
process;
enhancing the direct involvement on
participation of citizen;
improving the quality of opinion formation by
opening new spaces of information and
deliberation
Source: E-Participation Guide (UNDP)

3. Mechanics of E-Participation
 Increased government transparency and openness
 Real-time public two-way communication and
interaction.
 Involvement of the service deliverers in design.
 Improved efficiency – collaboration of public and private
sector
 Bidirectional information and communications
technologies
 Government as provider, convener and enabler
 Open data provides new possibilities for finding problems
and solutions
 Citizen engagement moves beyond political elites
Source: From Government 2.0 to Society 2.0Harvard Kennedy School

4. Open Data Charter – June 18 2013
The world is witnessing the growth of a global movement
facilitated by technology and social media and fuelled by
information – one that contains enormous potential to
create more accountable, efficient, responsive, and
effective governments and businesses, and to spur
economic growth.
2) Open data sit at the heart of this global movement.
3) Access to data allows individuals and organisations to
develop new insights and innovations that can improve
the lives of others and help to improve the flow of
information within and between countries.While
governments and businesses collect a wide range of data,
they do not always share these data in ways that are
easily discoverable, useable, or understandable by the
public.

5. Technology as agent of change

6. Citizen protests

7. Protest Maptivism in Turkey

8. Civil Society Online Petitions

9. Citizen <-> Local Government

10. Pin Responder

11. International Organisations

12. MY World Global Survey - Voting

13. Survey - Results

14. Honest Government

15. Phone and Internet
Access

16. World We Want Discussion

17. G-Everyone - Crowdsourcing

18. Transparency

19. World Bank – Mapping Projects

20. Criticisms
 Limited to Connected - Digital Divide
 Skews results to online, educated. Socio-
economic bias
 Polarization: undue influence of special interest
groups
 Clictivism

21. Thank you
Be sure to follow OpenGov OpenData Panel this
afternoon @timdavies, @svbroc, @gquaggiotto
Further information from guyg@diplomacy.edu