The TPA strategy: What it is and why it matters
The Transparency, Participation and Accountability (TPA) Strategy was adopted in 2015 as part of the Global Development and Population Program. This strategy was largely developed at Menlo Park in response to the foundation’s vision about how it can best “advance ideas and support institutions to promote a better world.”
The initial work on transparency and accountability in Mexico emerged after the approval of the Ley de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública (transparency and access to public information law) in 2004 and the creation of the Federal Institute for Access to Information (IFAI) in 2005. During that period, organizations were itching to work in this field. Since the Hewlett Foundation already had an office in Mexico,it was able to engage not only the topic but also the organizations interested in working in transparency and accountability, which led to many positive experiences and strong collaborations.
This experience in Mexico ended up informing the Transparency and Accountability sub-strategy in the Global Development Program, which in turn influenced similar work in other countries through an informal exchange of good practice.
CSOs in Mexico, such as Fundar, shifted to working more closely with citizens and engaging them to use information-accessing tools to hold public officials accountable. And thus the TPA strategy became more defined and evolved to incorporate the important dimension of participation, which was critical to the success and sustainability of the strategy’s agenda.
The Hewlett Foundation’s work in Mexico was guided by the global TPA Strategy and informed by the local context.
