Welcome to the United Nations
What is it?
The principle of transparency holds that, to ensure accountability and enable public scrutiny, institutions are to be open and candid in the execution of their functions and promote access to information, subject only to the specific and limited exceptions as are provided by law.
Why is it important?
Efficient, accountable and transparent public institutions have a key role to play in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals. The 2030 Agenda under its SDG target 16.6 calls for the development of "effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels". Transparency and access to information can elicit people’s response and engagement, which in turn can lead to increased accountability of public officials.
Commonly used strategies
Commonly used strategies include proactive disclosure of information, budget transparency, open government data, registries of beneficial ownership and lobby registries.
What are some key insights for governments?
Increased transparency and enhanced openness of public data related to both revenues and expenditure allocation have resulted in better-informed citizens and increased awareness of how the contribution of taxes is beneficial to society. Governments at all levels are encouraged to publish public financial data in a timely and comprehensive manner, including through open government data. When defining the “appropriate” degree of transparency, considerations of privacy and security, among other factors, will have to be balanced.
Technical guidance for government officials
 | CEPA strategy guidance note on fiscal and budget transparency |