Northern Ireland

Bitter Sweet Victory for Transparency Campaigners

7th March 2018

The Northern Ireland Open Government Network welcome the intention to create transparency around donations, but are very disappointed that only donations from 1st July 2017 will be published. This goes against the agreement that all donations from January 2014 would be published. Although we welcome the opening of party political donations and see this as…


Why #reimaginedemocracy? Next week’s conference in Belfast will show us the way

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…



Crowdsourcing Commitments for the NI Open Government Action Plan

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,…


NI Open Government Network Blog – Environmental governance and democracy in Northern Ireland

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…



Community Foundation announces funding for NI’s first Citizens’ Assembly

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…


Challenging the UK’s food system to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

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.…


Three ways for businesses to support the Sustainable Development Goals

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,…