Civil society groups will meet this weekend to discuss the government’s plan to join the Open Government Partnership, an international standard to improve government transparency and fight corruption.

The October 25 meeting will seek civil society input on President U Thein Sein’s commitment to joining OGP by 2016 and how Myanmar can meet the high eligibility standards.

The British embassy in Yangon said in a statement ahead of the meeting that civic engagement is one of the criteria for Myanmar to reach OGP eligibility status “so getting local CSOs involved at an early stage is an important first step”.

“It is essential that civil society plays a key role in embedding OGP standards, serving to help create the groundwork for a healthier collaboration between government and citizens,” said Matthew Hedges, the embassy’s chargé d'affaires.

After President U Thein Sein announced Myanmar’s intention to join OGP in November 2012, the British government subsequently asked the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to help Myanmar prepare for membership.

To be eligible for membership Myanmar needs to score 12 out of a possible 16 points across four criteria: fiscal transparency, access to information, income and asset disclosures, and citizen engagement.

An OECD assessment carried out last year pegged Myanmar’s score at just two of 16 points. Both points were due to the enactment of the Anti-Corruption Law, which mandates the disclosure of assets by some government officials.