The Open Government Partnership has ranked the top ten initiatives in citizen engagement, with Denmark, Montenegro and the Philippines making up the top three.

The Philippines came third for its participatory budgeting programme. The programme is implemented across all local governments, which allows civil society organisations to help choose funding priorities, and the national government is committing over US$300,000 for each city to implement projects identified through the participatory projects.

Montenegro came in second for involving citizens in reporting unregulated economic activities. The government launched a campaign to get citizens to use a mobile app called ‘Be Responsible’ and also other channels like website and toll-free hotline to report illegal activities.

Smartphone users could take photos of fake cash register receipts or black market goods and report them anonymously to authorities.

Denmark was recognised in first place for its elected councils of senior citizens in local governments. Local government councils are legally required to consult with their local senior citizen councils before making decisions on any issues relevant to the elderly population, including health care, traffic planning, local infrastructure, cultural policy, and public services for the elderly and disabled.