WASHINGTON:  Sanjay Pradhan, an Indian-origin World Bank official, has been selected to lead a multination initiative focused on improving government transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizens.

Mr Pradhan will lead the Open Government Partnership Support Unit and report to an international Steering Committee of 11 governments and 11 civil society leaders, OFP said in a statement.

Launched by eight heads of state at the UN General Assembly in 2011, OGP currently includes 69 countries, half a dozen multilateral organisations and hundreds of civil society groups, it said.

“My long-standing passion for how open government can transform the lives of millions around the globe has led me directly to OGP,” said Mr Pradhan.

Mr Pradhan has held three Vice President positions sin 1986 at the World Bank Group (WBG) where he led the development of its Governance and Anticorruption Strategy, helped launch Global Partnership for Social Accountability incubated ICT-mediated citizen feedback, launched Open Contracting with Partners, and rolled out a flagship Collaborative Leadership for Development program to help leaders in government and civil society undertake collaborative actions.

Ayanda Dlodlo, Steering Committee Government co-chair and South Africa’s deputy minister for public service administration added: “I am confident that through Sanjay’s leadership, the OGP will advance its role as a vehicle for transforming the lives of millions around the world through open, parliamentary governance.”