Oct.​ ​2017 

  Governance​ ​Structure 

    The​ ​Open​ ​Data​ ​Charter​ ​is​ ​overseen​ ​by​ ​a​ ​governance​ ​structure​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​reflect​ ​our​ ​position​ ​as​ ​a  trusted​ ​space​ ​that​ ​guides,​ ​connects​ ​and​ ​enables​ ​governments​ ​and​ ​organisations​ ​to​ ​deliver​ ​impact  from​ ​open​ ​data.     These​ ​structures​ ​support​ ​the​ ​delivery​ ​of​ ​our​ ​mission​ ​and​ ​include​ ​a​ ​multi-stakeholder​ ​Advisory​ ​Board,  with​ ​responsibilities​ ​for​ ​running​ ​the​ ​initiative​ ​and​ ​providing​ ​oversight​ ​for​ ​the​ ​performance​ ​of​ ​the  Charter​ ​Network​ ​Team;​ ​and​ ​a​ ​broader​ ​group​ ​of​ ​Charter​ ​Stewards​ ​who​ ​inform​ ​the​ ​direction​ ​of​ ​the  initiative,​ ​and​ ​support​ ​the​ ​delivery​ ​of​ ​the​ ​strategy.     From​ ​its​ ​inception,​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​has​ ​collaborated​ ​with​ ​governments​ ​and​ ​expert​ ​organisations​ ​working  to​ ​open​ ​up​ ​data,​ ​based​ ​on​ ​a​ ​shared​ ​set​ ​of​ ​principles.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​reflected​ ​in​ ​the​ ​governance​ ​structure​ ​that  includes​ ​highly​ ​committed​ ​governments,​ ​multilaterals​ ​and​ ​civil​ ​society​ ​organizations​ ​representatives  in​ ​our​ ​Advisory​ ​Board​ ​helping​ ​guide​ ​and​ ​shape​ ​the​ ​work,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​broader​ ​Charter​ ​Stewards​ ​group  whose​ ​participation​ ​is​ ​central​ ​to​ ​deliver​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​mission.  

 

In​ ​summary:     ● Power​ ​to​ ​appoint​:​ ​existing​ ​members​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Advisory​ ​Board​ ​appoint​ ​new​ ​or​ ​replacement  board​ ​members,​ ​on​ ​the​ ​recommendations​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Executive​ ​Director​ ​through​ ​an​ ​open​ ​call​ ​and  nominations​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​Stewards.​ ​The​ ​Advisory​ ​Board​ ​appoint​ ​and​ ​oversee​ ​the  Executive​ ​Director,​ ​who​ ​hires​ ​and​ ​manages​ ​the​ ​Network​ ​Team.     ● Accountability​:​ ​the​ ​Executive​ ​Director​ ​is​ ​accountable​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Advisory​ ​Board.​ ​The​ ​Executive  Director,​ ​together​ ​with​ ​the​ ​host​ ​organisation,​ ​Fund​ ​for​ ​the​ ​City​ ​of​ ​New​ ​York,​ ​is​ ​accountable  for​ ​commitments​ ​made​ ​to​ ​funders.     ● Responsibility​ ​to​ ​deliver​:​ ​the​ ​Advisory​ ​Board​ ​is​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​providing​ ​strategic​ ​advice​ ​to  ensure​ ​the​ ​team​ ​is​ ​equipped​ ​to​ ​deliver​ ​the​ ​business​ ​plan​ ​and​ ​mission,​ ​the​ ​team​ ​is  responsible​ ​for​ ​delivery,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Open​ ​Government​ ​Partnership​ ​Open​ ​Data​ ​Working​ ​Group  (ODWG)​ ​forms​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​delivery​ ​mechanism.    ● Leveraging​ ​the​ ​network​:​ ​the​ ​governance​ ​reflects​ ​the​ ​collaborative​ ​nature​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​and  its​ ​community​ ​of​ ​adopters​ ​and​ ​endorsers.​ ​It​ ​supports​ ​the​ ​strategy​ ​of​ ​working​ ​with​ ​partners  and​ ​leveraging​ ​the​ ​network,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​by​ ​chairing​ ​the​ ​Open​ ​Government​ ​Partnership​ ​Open  Data​ ​Working​ ​Group​ ​(ODWG),​ ​as​ ​a​ ​key​ ​part​ ​of​ ​delivering​ ​the​ ​mission​ ​and​ ​work​ ​plan​ ​of​ ​the  initiative.  

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Oct.​ ​2017  Figure​ ​1:​ ​Open​ ​Data​ ​Charter​ ​Governance​ ​Structure 

 

Advisory​ ​Board     Description​:     ● A​ ​diverse,​ ​multi-stakeholder​ ​board,​ ​comprised​ ​of​ ​representatives​ ​of​ ​government,​ ​civil  society,​ ​private​ ​sector​ ​who​ ​provides​ ​oversight​ ​of​ ​the​ ​initiative.     Responsibilities:     ● Appointing,​ ​advising,​ ​and​ ​providing​ ​oversight​ ​of,​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​Executive​ ​Director​ ​(ED)  ● Approving​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​strategy​ ​and​ ​ensuring​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​team​ ​is​ ​equipped​ ​to​ ​deliver​ ​its  business​ ​plan​ ​and​ ​mission,​ ​through​ ​periodic​ ​calls​ ​and​ ​annual​ ​meetings.   ● Ensuring​ ​there​ ​are​ ​systems​ ​of​ ​accountability​ ​and​ ​a​ ​culture​ ​of​ ​commitment,​ ​collaboration,  learning,​ ​and​ ​accepting​ ​responsibility  ● Commissioning​ ​periodic​ ​external​ ​and​ ​independent​ ​reviews​ ​of​ ​governance  ● Approving​ ​the​ ​formation​ ​of​ ​new​ ​Working​ ​Groups  ● Fixing​ ​the​ ​maximum​ ​term​ ​of​ ​appointment​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Board   ● Appointing​ ​a​ ​Chair​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Advisory​ ​Board,​ ​whose​ ​responsibilities​ ​include:   ○ Carrying​ ​out​ ​the​ ​Board’s​ ​oversight​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Executive​ ​Director  

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Working​ ​with​ ​ED​ ​to​ ​propose​ ​agendas​ ​for​ ​advisory​ ​board​ ​meeting  Chairing​ ​AB​ ​meetings​ ​and​ ​guiding​ ​the​ ​group​ ​through​ ​the​ ​call  Ensure​ ​decisions​ ​made​ ​at​ ​meetings​ ​are​ ​implemented  Maintaining​ ​communications​ ​with​ ​the​ ​board​ ​members  

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Oct.​ ​2017  ○

Coordinating​ ​member’s​ ​feedback​ ​on​ ​budgets​ ​and​ ​financial​ ​planning  ● Appointing​ ​a​ ​government​ ​host​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Charter,​ ​aligned​ ​with​ ​the​ ​International​ ​Open​ ​Data  Conference,​ ​whose​ ​responsibilities​ ​include:  ○ Supporting​ ​on​ ​advocacy​ ​and​ ​diplomacy  ○ Acting​ ​as​ ​an​ ​ambassador​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Open​ ​Data​ ​Charter​ ​at​ ​key​ ​events  ○ Coordinating​ ​on​ ​strategic​ ​alignment​ ​with​ ​the​ ​IODC​ ​agenda    ● It​ ​is​ ​noted​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Fund​ ​for​ ​the​ ​City​ ​of​ ​New​ ​York​ ​board​ ​provides​ ​legal​ ​accountability,​ ​so​ ​the  Chair​ ​will​ ​not​ ​have​ ​these​ ​legal​ ​requirements     Roles​ ​(not​ ​exhaustive):     ● Providing​ ​advice​ ​to​ ​the​ ​ED​ ​on​ ​strategy​ ​and​ ​direction;​ ​organisational​ ​issues​ ​including​ ​HR,​ ​and  finance;​ ​and​ ​providing​ ​further​ ​support​ ​and​ ​advice​ ​as​ ​requested   ● Providing​ ​feedback​ ​and​ ​support​ ​on​ ​fundraising,​ ​partnership​ ​development​ ​and​ ​broader  governance​ ​issues   ● Promoting​ ​/​ ​connecting​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​to​ ​potential​ ​adopters,​ ​endorsers,​ ​funders,​ ​partners    Composition:     ● The​ ​Chair​ ​will​ ​conduct​ ​review​ ​every​ ​12​ ​months​ ​to​ ​check​ ​the​ ​Board​ ​composition​ ​still​ ​meets  criteria,​ ​and​ ​with​ ​a​ ​simple​ ​majority​ ​vote,​ ​or​ ​by​ ​request​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Chair,​ ​agree​ ​to​ ​refresh​ ​or  reconfirm​ ​existing​ ​membership.  ● New​ ​appointments​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Advisory​ ​Board,​ ​are​ ​approved​ ​by​ ​existing​ ​members,​ ​on​ ​the  recommendation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Executive​ ​Director​ ​through​ ​an​ ​open​ ​call​ ​and​ ​nominations​ ​from​ ​the  Charter​ ​Stewards.    ● The​ ​board​ ​is​ ​comprised​ ​of​ ​at​ ​least​ ​9​ ​members;​ ​appointment​ ​of​ ​members​ ​will​ ​seek​ ​to  maintain​ ​regional​ ​and​ ​gender​ ​diversity​ ​and​ ​fit​ ​board​ ​member​ ​criteria,​ ​including​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure  that​ ​there​ ​is​ ​expertise​ ​to​ ​carry​ ​out​ ​roles​ ​and​ ​responsibilities.  ● Criteria​ ​for​ ​board​ ​members​ ​include:​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ODC​ ​mission​ ​and​ ​passionate​ ​about  its​ ​goals,​ ​available​ ​time​ ​to​ ​commit​ ​to​ ​concrete​ ​roles​ ​and​ ​responsibilities,​ ​highest​ ​integrity​ ​and  willingness​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with​ ​other​ ​members.  ● Board​ ​members​ ​will​ ​ordinarily​ ​act​ ​as​ ​individuals,​ ​except​ ​where​ ​they​ ​have​ ​been​ ​specifically  selected​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​their​ ​government​ ​or​ ​organisation.​ ​In​ ​all​ ​instances,​ ​board​ ​members​ ​will  work​ ​in​ ​and​ ​for​ ​the​ ​best​ ​interests​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Charter.   ● The​ ​Chairperson​ ​will​ ​be​ ​selected​ ​via​ ​a​ ​call​ ​for​ ​self-nominations,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​vote​ ​in​ ​a​ ​case​ ​where  there​ ​is​ ​more​ ​than​ ​one​ ​nomination.  Current​ ​Advisory​ ​Board​ ​members 

 

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Fabrizio​ ​Scrollini​ ​(ILDA)   Jose​ ​Alonso/Craig​ ​Fagan​ ​(Web​ ​Foundation)   Sander​ ​van​ ​der​ ​Waal​​ ​(Open​ ​Knowledge​ ​International)  Martin​ ​Tisne​ ​(Omidyar​ ​Network)   Richard​ ​Stirling​ ​(Oxford​ ​Insights)  Sumandro​ ​Chattapadhyay​ ​(The​ ​Centre​ ​for​ ​Internet​ ​and​ ​Society)   Fernando​ ​Perini​ ​(OD4D​ ​/​ ​IDRC)   Allison​ ​O'Beirne​ ​(Government​ ​of​ ​Canada)  

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Oct.​ ​2017 

 

9. Enrique​ ​Zapata​ ​(Government​ ​of​ ​Mexico)   10. Thom​ ​Townsend​ ​(Government​ ​of​ ​the​ ​United​ ​Kingdom) 

Executive​ ​Director​ ​and​ ​Charter​ ​team  Description:     The​ ​ED​ ​is​ ​appointed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Advisory​ ​Board,​ ​to​ ​whom​ ​they​ ​are​ ​solely​ ​accountable   The​ ​ED​ ​appoints​ ​and​ ​manages​ ​the​ ​staff,​ ​which​ ​currently​ ​includes​ ​a​ ​Strategy​ ​and  Programmes​ ​Director,​ ​a​ ​Partnerships​ ​and​ ​Communication​ ​Director,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​Programme​ ​Officer   ● The​ ​team​ ​is​ ​hosted​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Fund​ ​for​ ​the​ ​City​ ​of​ ​New​ ​York,​ ​which​ ​provides​ ​financial​ ​and​ ​legal  oversight     Responsibilities​:     ● Delivering​ ​the​ ​strategy​ ​in​ ​line​ ​with​ ​the​ ​mission​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Charter  ● Driving​ ​the​ ​strategy​ ​development​ ​process​ ​and​ ​overseeing​ ​day-to-day​ ​operations  ● Raising​ ​funds,​ ​managing​ ​finances​ ​and​ ​reporting​ ​on​ ​funding  ● Recruiting​ ​new​ ​network​ ​participants,​ ​signing​ ​memoranda​ ​of​ ​understanding​ ​with​ ​participants    Roles​ ​(not​ ​exhaustive):   ● ●

 

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Supporting​ ​effective​ ​implementation​ ​of​ ​commitments​ ​through​ ​connecting​ ​adopters​ ​with​ ​the  expertise​ ​that​ ​will​ ​help​ ​them​ ​achieve​ ​their​ ​objectives  Managing​ ​and​ ​connecting​ ​with​ ​network,​ ​coordinating​ ​activities,​ ​supporting  cross-organisational​ ​activities,​ ​facilitating​ ​a​ ​community​ ​of​ ​practice  Partnering​ ​with​ ​sectors​ ​to​ ​integrate​ ​the​ ​principles​ ​of​ ​open​ ​data​ ​into​ ​their​ ​work  Managing​ ​multi-stakeholder​ ​and​ ​sectoral​ ​conversations​ ​by​ ​convening​ ​meetings,​ ​workshops,  conferences,​ ​or​ ​other​ ​global​ ​events  Convening​ ​key​ ​players​ ​around​ ​core​ ​projects,​ ​since​ ​the​ ​work​ ​itself​ ​is​ ​carried​ ​out​ ​through  partnerships​ ​with​ ​the​ ​network    Leveraging​ ​the​ ​Open​ ​Government​ ​Partnership​ ​platform​ ​through​ ​a​ ​thematic​ ​partnership 

Charter​ ​Stewards   Description​:     ● A​ ​group​ ​of​ ​representatives​ ​from​ ​governments​ ​and​ ​organisations​ ​who​ ​support​ ​the​ ​Charter  principles  ● Charter​ ​Stewards​ ​were​ ​formed​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Open​ ​Data​ ​Working​ ​Group​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Open​ ​Government  Partnership,​ ​though​ ​membership​ ​is​ ​open​ ​to​ ​non-OGP​ ​members    Responsibilities:    

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Oct.​ ​2017  Providing​ ​feedback​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​team’s​ ​strategy​ ​and​ ​planning​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​ambitious,  impactful​ ​and​ ​realistic   ● Supporting​ ​the​ ​delivery​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Charter’s​ ​business​ ​plan​ ​through​ ​the​ ​“Implementation”​ ​and  “Progress​ ​and​ ​Measurement”​ ​working​ ​groups​ ​(and​ ​other​ ​task​ ​groups​ ​as​ ​they​ ​are​ ​formed),​ ​the  delivery​ ​of​ ​Open​ ​Up​ ​Guides​ ​and​ ​other​ ​products   ● Providing​ ​feedback​ ​to​ ​support​ ​robust​ ​open​ ​data​ ​commitments​ ​in​ ​OGP​ ​National​ ​Action​ ​Plans.  ● Implementing​ ​the​ ​Principles​ ​in​ ​their​ ​respective​ ​organisations​ ​and​ ​governments   ● Promoting​ ​and​ ​connecting​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​to​ ​potential​ ​adopters,​ ​endorsers,​ ​funders​ ​and​ ​partners    Roles​ ​(not​ ​exhaustive):     ● Participate​ ​in​ ​working​ ​groups,​ ​peer​ ​support​ ​of​ ​other​ ​adopters,​ ​sector​ ​pilot​ ​projects​ ​etc.   ● Participate​ ​in​ ​time​ ​bound​ ​task​ ​groups​ ​to​ ​deliver​ ​Charter​ ​programmes​ ​and​ ​projects    ● Offer​ ​advice​ ​on​ ​ODC​ ​consultations​ ​including​ ​around​ ​individual​ ​programmes​ ​of​ ​work     Composition:     ● Individuals​ ​from​ ​governments​ ​and​ ​organisations​ ​that​ ​support​ ​the​ ​Charter.    ●

Working​ ​Groups   Description:     ● The​ ​Charter’s​ ​Working​ ​Groups​ ​(WGs)​ ​are​ ​a​ ​time-bound​ ​way​ ​of​ ​convening​ ​members​ ​of​ ​the  Charter’s​ ​network​ ​to​ ​discuss​ ​issues​ ​of​ ​common​ ​concern​ ​and​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​shared​ ​resources.   ● They​ ​are​ ​driven​ ​by​ ​the​ ​interests​ ​of​ ​their​ ​members,​ ​in​ ​line​ ​with​ ​the​ ​overall​ ​Charter​ ​strategy.  Each​ ​group​ ​has​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​objective​ ​it’s​ ​working​ ​towards.     Responsibilities:     ● The​ ​groups​ ​have​ ​co-chairs​ ​who​ ​help​ ​to​ ​set​ ​the​ ​agenda​ ​and​ ​facilitate​ ​discussion.    ● The​ ​Charter​ ​team​ ​provides​ ​support​ ​to​ ​the​ ​chairs​ ​in​ ​setting​ ​up​ ​the​ ​calls,​ ​taking​ ​notes​ ​and  engaging​ ​with​ ​group​ ​members.   ● In​ ​collaboration​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​team,​ ​the​ ​members​ ​of​ ​the​ ​working​ ​groups​ ​agree​ ​on​ ​annual  work​ ​plans​ ​with​ ​clear​ ​deliverables​ ​and​ ​objectives​ ​which​ ​will​ ​also​ ​identify​ ​the​ ​resources  needed​ ​to​ ​support​ ​this​ ​work.   ● Resources​ ​created​ ​by​ ​the​ ​groups​ ​will​ ​be​ ​available​ ​under​ ​a​ ​Creative​ ​Commons​ ​licence.     Roles​ ​(not​ ​exhaustive):     ● Being​ ​a​ ​WG​ ​member​ ​involves​ ​regular​ ​calls,​ ​some​ ​preparation​ ​work​ ​and​ ​potentially​ ​in-person  meetings​ ​at​ ​the​ ​sidelines​ ​of​ ​open​ ​data​ ​events.   ● The​ ​WGs​ ​fit​ ​within​ ​a​ ​broader​ ​movement​ ​of​ ​organisations​ ​and​ ​governments​ ​working​ ​on​ ​open  data.​ ​The​ ​working​ ​groups​ ​are​ ​closely​ ​aligned​ ​with​ ​the​ ​work​ ​carried​ ​out​ ​by​ ​OD4D​ ​network,​ ​the  IODC​ ​Roadmap​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Open​ ​Government​ ​Partnership​ ​Open​ ​Data​ ​Working​ ​Group. 

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Oct.​ ​2017      Composition:     ● Any​ ​member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​network​ ​can​ ​join​ ​the​ ​working​ ​groups​ ​and​ ​participation​ ​is  voluntary,​ ​with​ ​a​ ​chair​ ​or​ ​maximum​ ​of​ ​two​ ​co-chairs.   ● WG​ ​are​ ​established​ ​by​ ​recommendation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​charter​ ​team,​ ​with​ ​approval​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Advisory  Board​ ​and​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​demand​ ​from​ ​members​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​network.     Current​ ​Working​ ​Groups​ ​and​ ​their​ ​objectives:    ● Implementation​ ​WG:​ ​to​ ​support​ ​governments​ ​that​ ​are​ ​committed​ ​to​ ​implementing​ ​the  Charter​ ​principles,​ ​including​ ​by​ ​developing​ ​resources​ ​and​ ​sharing​ ​best​ ​practice.   ● Measurement​ ​and​ ​accountability​ ​WG:​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​ways​ ​of​ ​measuring​ ​how​ ​well​ ​governments  are​ ​implementing​ ​the​ ​Charter​ ​principles​ ​and​ ​to​ ​reduce​ ​inefficiencies​ ​in​ ​those​ ​measurement  tools.    See​ ​ODC​ ​Working​ ​Groups​ ​one-sider 

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