On April 16, ten teams of innovators from across Africa and Asia competed at the U.S. Government-supported Making All Voices Count (MAVC) Global Innovation Competition finals held in Jakarta. The finalists were chosen from a total of 241 technology solutions proposals that promote transparency, fight corruption, and empower marginalized groups. Five winning teams were selected, including a team from Indonesia that will develop a mobile and online platform to facilitate dialogue between government and citizens on new legislation. The project’s goal is to promote a more accountable local government that is responsive to citizens’ needs, especially women. Winning teams will receive six months of mentoring from MAVC and a grant from a pool of approximately 450,000 USD. At the event, Ambassador Blake delivered remarks and highlighted the U.S. Government’s commitment to support civil society around the world and advance the Open Government Partnership.
