The School of Government participated in the launch of the second phase of the project to train municipalities in Open Government and Citizen Participation. The initiative is being carried out in conjunction with the European Union, the Open and Digital Country Foundation, and the municipality of Bahía Blanca.
Our university hosted the launch of the second phase of the project that began in 2024. This is the program «Towards a Participatory Government: Promoting Open Government Policies and Citizen Participation at the Subnational Levell» which is co-financed by the European Union and jointly developed between the Open and Digital Country Foundation (PAD) and our School of Government. During 2024, it began with 10 cities. And this year, 11 more municipalities will be trained. The program aims to reach 30 municipalities within a three-year plan.
The event took place on Monday, April 7, at our University's Buenos Aires campus and included welcoming remarks from Andrés Ibarra, President of the PAD Foundation; Alfonso Santiago, Director of the School of Government; and Ilse Cougé, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation in Argentina. Also present were the Dean and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law, Gabriel M. Astarloa and Celina Cantú, respectively. The European Union Ambassador to Argentina, Amador Sánchez Rico, also addressed the new participants via video message, reaffirming the European Union's commitment to collaborating in the construction of democratic, inclusive, and resilient societies.
During his welcoming and opening remarks, alfonso santiagoHe stated: “We are very pleased to launch this second edition of the program in conjunction with the Open and Digital Country Foundation and the European Union because this project reflects the core values of our School of Government. We define ourselves as strategic allies of the various levels of government, focusing on three key objectives: improving institutional quality, improving the quality of management, and ensuring the effective integration of our countries within the region and the world. This opportunity to work on an open and participatory government project addresses each of these three pillars.”
Moreover, Santiago He added: “On the one hand, open government improves institutional quality and makes democracy more open and participatory; it also improves the quality of management because transparency allows the government to be a learning organization through the feedback it receives from its stakeholders. But it also transforms all the information available to the government—in this case, the municipal government—into an asset for civil society and businesses.”
Andres IbarraThe president of the PAD Foundation also highlighted during the opening: “The collaboration between levels of government, civil society, and the academic sector is key to moving towards more modern, digital, and people-centered management. We are proud to lead this initiative together with the European Union and the Universidad Australpromoting tools that directly impact citizens' daily lives. Each city that joins is another opportunity to build a stronger democracy from the local level. Accompanying them on this path of digital transformation and institutional openness is the heart of this program.”
In this new edition, the municipalities joining are: Pergamino (Buenos Aires), Venado Tuerto (Santa Fe), San Salvador de Jujuy, Merlo (San Luis), Crespo (Entre Ríos), Goya (Corrientes), Río Grande (Tierra del Fuego), Villa Allende (Córdoba), Resistencia (Chaco), San Juan, and Santa Fe. Each of the mayors and representatives of the municipal administrations had an opportunity during the event to share their expectations and experiences regarding Open Government and Citizen Participation.
In this regard, Juan Pablo PolettiThe mayor of the City of Santa Fe stated: “For us, it is a true source of pride and an opportunity to learn and train ourselves so that we can give residents the participation they need. It is important that residents can see our data so that we can be accountable to the community and know how their taxes are being spent and invested.”
“This opportunity allows us to participate and advance on the path of modernization. In our municipal administration, we have made the modernization of the State, both internally and externally, a central focus of our work. Citizen participation and open government are essential to achieving the development and modernization we have envisioned for our city,” he explained. Mariano Hormaechea, mayor of the city of Goya in Corrientes.
