The Asian Development Bank (ADB)has partnered with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to launch a digital innovation challenge for Government Accountability and Responsiveness during Covid-19.
The winning solution will have potential funding of USD 10,000 or more from the ADB for selected pilots in ADB’s developing member countries. The OGP Support Unit is expected to provide the assistance needed in connecting the teams to OGP stakeholders and processes, where required, to explore how the ideas might be taken forward through national or local OGP platforms.
Deputy Director, Thematic Policy Areas of Open Government Partnership, OGP, TonusreeBasu who made the disclosure, said plans are also in the offing for a webinar on the programme soon.
The thrust of the challenge, according to the organisers, is to explore how technology can be leveraged to strengthen the monitoring of COVID-19 related spending and improve feedback and grievance redress mechanisms.
Participants to the programme are also encouraged to include in their proposals the aspect of accessibility. Participants may also consider bridging the digital divide for those with limited access to the internet.
Entries should ideally be open-source solutions that can be adapted and replicated elsewhere.
Since its global intrusion, COVID-19 continues to threaten lives and livelihoods throughout the Asia Pacific region.
In response, governments have taken economic measures to safeguard the health of its citizens and support the economy. Stimulus and safety net packages have been distributed, intended to reach citizens and businesses in need.
Governments also continue to plan and allocate significant additional resources to fund COVID-19 response and recovery.
It is in this light that the spotlight is being beamed on the need to ensure the transparency of public spending.
“Thus, public spending must be transparent and monitored. Institutions must be made accountable to manage the economic impacts effectively, as well as duly respond to citizens’ needs,’’ the organisers stated.
Accordingly, the potential concepts identified include:
- Tools or applications that allow citizens to track budgets, disbursements and expenditures on COVID-19 related stimulus measures, safety net packages, public procurement, or sectoral budgets, expenditures and spending
- Tools or applications that provide easy-to-understand and accessible information on target beneficiary groups (individuals, specific communities, or businesses including small and medium enterprises), and on specific assistance or relief provisions (eligibility criteria and process for assistance)
- Tools or applications that create mechanisms for targeted beneficiaries to provide feedback and complaints on government assistance and programs, and access redress or complaints mechanisms
Tools or applications which expand the reach and accessibility of underserved and/or marginalized populations to government programmes, including but not limited to informal settlers, minority ethnic groups, LGBTQIA+ individuals and groups, people with disabilities, etc.
Eligible Participants to the programme are individuals from ADB member countries. Organizations are particularly encouraged to designate individuals to join the challenge as team members.
Individuals from different organizations may also team up to work together to submit entries. Teams, with 1-10 members, are encouraged to have representatives from different backgrounds with the expertise and ability to continue to develop the prototypes beyond the duration of the challenge.
All entries must centre on solutions that can be implemented in ADB’s developing member countries. All entries must be submitted on or before November 3, 2020 with a deadline set at 1700 hrs [GMT +8].
Shortlisted teams will be invited to proceed to the next round of the challenge which will include mentoring and refining the solutions, to be considered for a final pitch meeting.
Meanwhile, the deadline for the ADB-OGP Digital Innovation Challenge for Government Accountability and Responsiveness during Covid-19 has been extended to December 6, 2020.
More information on the challenge, eligibility, timelines and process can be found on the challenge website.
