Open Government Forum
What is it?
The Open Government Forum is a space for participation and permanent dialogue between public administrations (state, regional and local) and representatives of civil society, whose objective is to promote collaboration, transparency, participation and accountability. Public administrations and civil society participate with an equal number of representatives.
Created and regulated by the Royal Decree 371/2026, of 6 May, which creates and regulates the Open Government Forum.
Origin
The Open Government Forum was born as one of the commitments of the III Open Government Plan of Spain (2017-2019), with the aim of establishing a stable space for collaboration between public administrations and civil society. Its creation responded to the need to strengthen citizen participation in open government policies and consolidate a permanent framework of dialogue, consultation and cooperation.
Actuality
The approval of Royal Decree 371/2026, of 6 Mayit has strengthened the institutionalization of the Forum, providing it with a stable legal framework and updating its composition, organization and functioning to further promote collaboration between public administrations and civil society in the area of open government. Please see below the buttons for access to information related to the public consultation and the audience and public information:
Composition
The Open Government Forum consists of the Presidency, the Vice-Presidencies, the Vocalías and the Secretariat. Click on each section to consult its composition and functions.
The Chair of the Forum shall be held by the Secretary of State for the Civil Service. He represents the Forum and directs its activities, exercising the functions provided in Law 40/2015, of 1 October.
The Forum has two Vice-Chairs. The First Vice-Presidency is the incumbent of the Directorate-General for Public Governance and supports the Presidency in planning and monitoring the activities of the Forum. The Second Vice-Presidency is exercised, on an annual rotating basis, by one of the spokespersons representing civil society, acting as a channel of participation and dialogue with social organizations.
The plenary of the Forum is composed of sixty-four vocalías, distributed equally between public administrations and civil society. Its composition guarantees the plurality, representativeness and participation of the different actors involved in open government policies.
Vocalías representing associations, public law corporations and non-profit foundations are selected by public call, in accordance with the provisions of the Forum’s Royal Regulatory Decree.
You can consult the information on the selection procedure and related documentation in the following link.
The Secretariat of the Forum is held by the holder of the General Subdirectorate of Open Government. It acts with voice and without vote and performs the functions of technical support, coordination and assistance necessary for the proper functioning of the Forum.
For the fulfillment of its purposes, the Forum carries out its activity in plenary, in the Standing Committee and through working groups.
What do you do?”
The Forum aims to institutionalize collaboration and strengthen permanent dialogue between public administrations and civil society, with the aim of ensuring the active participation of civil society in the processes of elaboration, implementation and evaluation and monitoring of public policies in the field of open government.
- Analyze and debate the initiatives linked to the Open Government Action Plans, in order to formulate recommendations on their strategic orientation.
- Examine the drafts of the Open Government Action Plans and formulate proposals for improvement aimed at strengthening citizen participation, transparency and accountability.
- Know and follow up the development and implementation of the Open Government Action Plans, issuing the recommendations that are deemed appropriate for their proper implementation.
- Analyze the self-evaluation reports of the Action Plans and formulate proposals for the continuous improvement of public policies in the field of open government.
- To know the evaluation reports prepared by third parties in relation to the Open Government Action Plans, contributing to their dissemination and their adequate understanding by the actors involved.
- Promote and strengthen the dialogue between public administrations and civil society in the design, execution and evaluation of open government initiatives, promoting collaboration and co-responsibility.
- To channel, promote and disseminate the open government initiatives promoted by the institutions represented in the Forum, promoting their visibility and replicability.
- To identify and disseminate good practices, both nationally and internationally, in the field of Open Government, by preparing the reports deemed relevant.
- Promote awareness and dissemination actions in the field of Open Government, aimed at citizens and institutional actors.
- Make shared diagnoses and make proposals on the issues that arise within the Forum, within the framework of its competences.
- Inform the public about its activities, deliberations and results, ensuring transparency and accountability in its operation.
- To know, debate and agree on the proposals or initiatives presented at the request of the elected representatives who represent civil society and who are included in the agenda.
- Publish and disseminate the rules that affect the Forum, as well as guidelines on the development and application of the principles of Open Government.