5th March 2018
Ruchir Shah from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations explores why we need to #reimaginedemocracy for 2018 On Thursday March 15th next week, a stramash of people frustrated with the way political decisions are made will descend on the Mac in Belfast. They will be binded by their concern for democracy, and the way in…
26th February 2018
Written by Colm Burns There are many perceptions of our Executive and Assembly; one of them probably isn’t that they are transparent or accountable. Yet in 2016 our Executive signed up to four commitments to help them become more open: Commitment 1: Develop & trial effective open policy-making and public engagement methods Commitment 2: Promote…
16th February 2018
Written by David McBurney The NI Open Government Network is collecting ideas to improve transparency, participation and accountability. We are looking for proposals that the Northern Ireland Executive should commit to in its 2018-2020 Open Government Action Plan. We would like to hear from citizens, community groups, civil society organisations, and anyone interested in greater transparency,…
14th February 2018
Written by Jonathan Bell UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. This Goal implies a link between strong and accountable Institutions and the realisation of sustainable…
2nd February 2018
Written by Colm Burns & David McBurney “We are the dupes of those who shape the content of our beliefs, who introduce us to each other as enemies and competitors, and who stand exalted on the shambles they create.” (Common Sense: Occupation, Assembly, and the Future of Liberty” by Dan Hind) The Street lights are…
24th January 2018
(via the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland) The Community Foundation has added its support to plans for a Northern Ireland Citizens’ Assembly with funding of £30,000. Since 1979 the Foundation has been supporting innovative initiatives, focused on the role that ordinary citizens can play in dealing with the issues that matter most to them. The…
1st November 2017
(via UKSSD) By Robin Hinks The Sustainable Development Goals offer us an opportunity to challenge a food system in the UK that is unhealthy, unfair and unsustainable. In this blog Robin Hinks from the Food Foundation explains why and how. Less healthy food products, calorie for calorie, are three times cheaper than healthier food products.…
1st November 2017
(via UKSSD) By Colin Curtis There’s a lot of talk about why businesses need to get behind the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I’ve read countless articles on the economic opportunity associated with the goals, or the importance of industry support. The business case for supporting the SDGs is incredibly compelling. Improved brand, better customer relationships,…
1st November 2017
To view the October 2017 issue of the UKSSD Partner Update, click here…
31st October 2017
The NI Open Government Network is working in partnership with networks in England, Scotland and Wales to build the capacity of citizens and civil society to use open government approaches to progress the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A new website has been launched to support this initiative, please visit globalgoalsni.org for more information.