Open Government Partnership
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An update on our trust and transparency work from Juliet Swann, Co-chair of the Open Government Steering Group
17th October 2025 by Open Government Team
Why do people trust or distrust government? At the last Open Government Steering Group meeting we tried to figure out how we might find answers to this question. We want to know what makes people feel they can trust a person or an institution. We also want to learn how distrust develops and grows, and...
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Involving people in developing, designing, and improving health and care services in Scotland: an introduction
12th September 2025 by Open Government Team
Rachel Dowle from the Office of the Chief Designer tells us what it is like being part of the team driving forwards the very first Open Government commitment for Health and Social Care in Scotland. This piece is the first of a number of posts that Rachel and the team will publish, exploring different aspects...
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A conversation with Sarah Davidson on trust and the First Minister’s Democracy Gathering
7th August 2025 by Open Government Team
Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive of Carnegie UK, spoke on the importance of trust in politics and institutions to an audience of civil society representatives, faith leaders, trade unions, and politicians at the First Minister’s democracy gathering in April. This event saw a commitment to taking action to safeguard Scotland’s democracy. We had a chance to...
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Open Data: Working Together and Innovating for Impact
4th August 2025 by Open Government Team
Earlier this year, the Scottish Government’s Open Data Team worked with a group from the University of Edinburgh’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation MSc programme. Louise Meikleham, Senior Data Policy Officer, reflects on the project and its impact. Open data is often seen as a tool to fuel innovation, grow the economy, empower communities and drive transparency....
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Hope plus delivery equals trust
6th June 2025 by Open Government Team
Following the First Minister’s Democracy Gathering in April, we asked if the speakers from the event could contribute their reflections to our blog. Juliet Swann, from Transparency International UK and co-chair of the Open Government Steering Group is the first to offer their thoughts. Reflections from Juliet Swann When the First Minister announced he was...
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Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund: year three
29th May 2025 by Open Government Team
The Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund is part of our commitment to public participation in the Open Government Action Plan 2021-2025. Read about what’s been happening in it’s 3 years and the impact the fund has had on communities in the North East of Scotland. The Just Transition Participatory Budgeting (JTPB) Fund, supported through the...
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What a year as Co-chair of the Open Government Steering Group
13th May 2025 by Open Government Team
It’s been roughly a year since I took on the role of Minister for Parliamentary Business. With that has come my role as Co-Chair of the Open Government Steering Group in Scotland. When I think about the past year as part of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), I’m really impressed by the innovative ideas, ambition,...
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My journey to the Open Government Civil Society Committee
24th March 2025 by Open Government Team
Innes Morgan, Founder and Director of Act with Purpose shared his journey from feeling unheard and under-represented in decision making, to having direct and strategic input into the Scottish Open Government Civil Society Committee and government Steering Group. Read about his experience below. The journey to government “I grew up closer to the International Space...
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Reflections from an Open Government Climate Change Commitment Coordinator
11th February 2025 by Open Government Team
The Open Government team caught up with our Open Government Climate Change Commitment Coordinator to hear about his thoughts on the role he plays in the Open Government Partnership. “I wasn’t aware of the work of Open Government within the Scottish Government before taking on my role in the Climate Change Public Engagement Team. There’s...
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Participation Framework Feedback Workshops with Deciding Matters – Part 1
26th August 2024 by Neisha Kirk
Approach, learnings and reflections In Spring 2023, Scottish Government’s Open Government team commissioned Deciding Matters to deliver a series of workshops with the public. Deciding Matters are a small, neutral, non-partisan participatory democracy organisation based in Scotland (Highlands & Edinburgh). Deciding Matters work with governments and organisations to ensure representational voice is heard and directly informs...
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