Madrid, 14 April 2015 – Transparency, accountability and participation must be at the heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Financing for Development (FfD) agenda according to a position paper published today by the Transparency, Accountability and Participation in Post-2015 (TAP) Network, which was supported by Access Info Europe and 26 other civil society organisations from around the world.

According to the TAP Network, a lack of transparent and accountable governance has cost developing and emerging economies $6.6 trillion USD (€5.5 trillion) over the past decade alone.

The TAP Network paper, disseminated to all UN Missions on 9 April 2015, but still open for sign-on by civil society groups, sets out six key recommendations in order to ensure effective, transparent, and accountable governance as part of a post-2015 sustainable development agenda:
»  Full transparency of revenues, allocation, spending, contracting and results data and statistics, at all levels.
»  Ensure inclusive and meaningful public participation at all stages of financing and governance processes.
»  Promote a common standard for reporting sustainable development resource flows at all levels, and establish a global and national tracking system to report spending and results achieved towards each of the SDGs.
»  Ensure effective and accountable institutions and enhance delivery of public goods and services through progressive tax measures and commitments to end illicit financial flows.
»  Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all its forms and support accountable institutions at all levels.
»  Invest in equipping citizens, legislators, public servants, entrepreneurs, and civil society to understand and use financial and development data effectively.

Access Info Europe considers that the right of access to information is essential for citizens to fully realise their own development and defend their fundamental rights and basic freedoms.

The recommendations made by the TAP network are fully in line with Access Info’s Open Government Standards on transparency, participation, and accountability, which aim to define what an “open government” really is.

You can read a full copy of the position paper sent to all UN Missions here.