This mapping gives an overview of 23 international, regional and thematic inter-state commitments on good governance. Many of the initiatives included apply to governance in general, but some have specific thematic objectives, such as anti-corruption or building state capacity. Some of the listed commitments are legally binding, such as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, while others are non-binding. An example of a non-binding initiative is the Pacific Plan, which is a political undertaking rather than a legal document.
Reporting on the extent to which states fulfil their obligations varies greatly between instruments. Some agreements allow each member state to design its own plans and set its own benchmarks, while others enforce universal indicators of success. The methodology for collecting data about member states’ compliance also differs, as some instruments employ independent researchers to collect data on each state’s compliance. Other instruments rely on self-assessment methods, where states either fill out a pre-made checklist, or submit a report on progress made towards fulfilling the obligations specified in the agreement.
Examples of prominent governance initiatives from different regions and themes include:
- Open Government Partnership (OGP): An international platform for domestic reformers committed to making their governments more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens. As of 2013, 62 states from all continents have joined the partnership.
- African Union (AU): A pan-African organisation which supports political and economic integration among its members. Among the AU governance initiatives are the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The African Union has 54 members from the African continent.
- The ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative in Asia and the Pacific: A regional initiative aimed at fighting corruption. It was launched by the governments in the region under the joint leadership of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 31 states in Asia and the Pacific have joined the initiative.
