The Cabinet Office has invited civil society organisations, other bodies and members of the public to share ideas to inform the next UK national action plan for open government (NAP).
Last week, the Cabinet Office issued a call for evidence for the seventh UK NAP, which will be coordinated by the department’s civil society strategy unit.
Launched in 2011, UK NAPs are developed through collaboration and co-creation between representatives of civil society and government.
“UK NAPs provide a focal point for ambitious commitments to significantly move the open government agenda forward, and in doing so will contribute to fulfilling our aspirations under the new Civil Society Covenant,” the Cabinet Office said.
“In addition, open government efforts also happen outside the NAP process, and many past developments are now embedded as routine in government.”
The seventh UK NAP aims to “significantly advance the open government values of transparency, accountability and participation”.
‘Better government through transparency’
Civil society participation in the NAP is coordinated by the UK Open Government Civil Society Network (UK OGN), a coalition of active citizens and civil society organisations.
The civil society strategy unit and UK OGN work together to oversee the NAP through the UK multi-stakeholder forum for open government.
Kevin Keith, chair of the UK OGN and co-chair of the multi-stakeholder forum, said: “Open government is about better government through transparency, accountability and crucially the involvement of civil society in policymaking.
“Not only does this add lived experience and expertise into the process, but it builds relationships and helps with the defining challenge of our time: trust.
“This call for evidence is the first step on that journey and I urge organisations to submit ideas.”
Keith added that UK OGN would be running an information session in the next few weeks for interested organisations.
The call for evidence closes at 10am on 11 May 2026, with the initial finalised commitments due for publication by the end of the year.
