UK National Action Plans for Open Government
Information on the co-creation, commitments, implementation and review of UK National Action Plans for Open Government.
Introduction
The UK’s National Action Plans for Open Government (NAPs) set out commitments to promote the open government values of transparency, accountability and public participation. They are developed through a collaborative process of co-creation between representatives of civil society and government. The implementation of each NAP currently lasts for two years.
Government participation is coordinated by the Cabinet Office, whilst civil society participation is coordinated by the UK Open Government Civil Society Network (UK OGN). The UK OGN is a coalition of civil society and active citizens committed to promoting greater transparency, civic participation and accountability in public policy and service delivery.
The NAPs provide a focal point for ambitious commitments to significantly move the open government agenda forward. In addition, open government efforts also happen outside the NAP process, and many past developments are now embedded as business as usual.
UK National Action Plan for Open Government 2024-2025
The UK’s Sixth National Action Plan for Open Government 2024-2025 (NAP6) has been developed through a co-creation process between civil society and government. The current NAP6 builds on the previous five UK National Action Plans for Open Government, and has been coordinated by the Central Data and Digital Office, part of Cabinet Office, alongside the UK Open Government Civil Society Network (UK OGN) through the UK’s Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Open Government.
NAP6 has 4 commitment areas: open contracting, aid transparency, civil society engagement on anti-corruption and the country review mechanism for the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The plan also contains sections on monitoring NAP6 implementation and capacity building for the future of open government.
UK National Action Plan for Open Government 2021-2023
The fifth UK National Action Plan for Open Government was published on 31st January 2022. This plan set out commitments to open government in the UK and the ambitions of the UK Government for 2021-2023. This NAP was coordinated by Cabinet Office and initially included 6 commitments on: open contracting, open justice, algorithmic transparency and accountability, health, and anti-corruption and international illicit finance. There was also a section on developing local transparency commitments. The plan was amended on 23rd August 2023 to add an additional three commitments covering aid transparency, diversity and inclusion, and freedom of information.
This plan was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and involved a shift to online only engagement between civil society and government.
The devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales develop their own local action plans for open government. In addition, the local authority Glasgow City Council has launched their own local action plan.
Open Government Action Plan for Glasgow 2021-23
UK Open Government National Action Plan 2022-2024: Welsh Government commitments
UK National Action Plan for Open Government 2019-2021
The fourth UK National Action Plan for Open Government was published in May 2019. This plan sets out commitments to open government in the UK and the ambitions of the UK Government for 2019-2021. This NAP was coordinated by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and included eight commitments on grants data, public participation, open policy making, open contracting, natural resource transparency, the innovation in democracy programme, open government knowledge sharing, and local transparency.
This updated version of the fourth Open Government National Action Plan includes new commitments from each of the devolved administrations: the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.
Open Government National Action Plan 2016 to 2018
The third UK Open Government National Action Plan was published in May 2016. This plan sets out commitments to open government in the UK and the ambitions of the UK Government for 2016 to 2018. This NAP was coordinated by Cabinet Office and included thirteen commitments on beneficial ownership, natural resource transparency, anti-corruption strategy, anti-corruption innovation hub, open contracting, grants data, elections data, enhanced transparency requirements, core data assets, data user and open data, better use of data assets, GOV.UK, and collaboration on open government reform.
This updated version of the third Open Government National Action Plan includes new commitments from each of the devolved administrations: the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.
Open Government Partnership: UK National Action Plan 2013 to 2015
The second UK National Action Plan for Open Government was published in June 2013. This plan sets out commitments to open government in the UK and the ambitions of the UK Government for 2013 to 2015. This NAP was coordinated by Cabinet Office and included five commitments on open data, government integrity, fiscal transparency, empowering citizens, and natural resource transparency.
UK Open Government National Action Plan 2011 to 2013
The first UK National Plan for Open Government was published in September 2011. The plan sets out commitments to open government in the UK and the ambitions of the UK Government during 2011 to 2013. The NAP was coordinated by Cabinet Office and included three commitments on open data, aid transparency and the ICT strategy.