Indian-origin official Sanjay Pradhan to lead Open Government Partnership

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) on 16 December 2015 selected Indian-origin World Bank official Sanjay Pradhan to lead the organization.

Pradhan will help ensure that OGP continues to succeed in its mission to promote government transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizens.

Currently vice president for Change, Leadership and Innovation at the World Bank Group, Pradhan will assume the new charge by mid-2016.

Who is Sanjay Pradhan?

• At present, Sanjay Pradhan leads the overall coordination of the internal reform process, and spearheads the leadership, learning and innovation for development agenda of the World Bank Group.

• Previously, he was the Vice President leading the World Bank Institute where he championed an open development approach centred around knowledge, learning, collaboration and innovation.

• He served as the World Bank’s Director for Governance, where he led the development of the Bank’s Governance and Anticorruption Strategy, and provided strategic directions on improving governance and combating corruption.

• Prior to that, Pradhan has a distinguished research record with extensive experience working in developing countries in South Asia, Europe and Central Asia, and East and West Africa.

• He has authored numerous publications including being a principal author of the 1997 World Development Report, The State in a Changing World.

• He has addressed major high-level forums including the European Parliament, the British House of Commons, the BBC World Debate and the TED Global Conference.

• He holds a PhD and a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

About Open Government Partnership

• Open Government Partnership is an international organization promoting multilateral initiative.

• It was formally launched on 20 September 2011, when the 8 founding governments (Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States) endorsed the Open Government Declaration, and announced their country action plans.

• It seeks strong commitments from participating government institutions to promote transparency, increase civic participation, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to make government more open, effective, and accountable.

• It is overseen by a Steering Committee including representatives of governments and civil society organizations.

• To become a member of OGP, participating countries must endorse a high-level Open Government Declaration, deliver a country action plan developed with public consultation, and commit to independent reporting on their progress going forward.

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