In order to encourage more effective, efficient and transparent governance structures in Member and non-member countries, the OECD has developed a Global Governance Outreach Initiative. This Initiative will bring together the many strands of OECD governance activities and share them with non-member countries.

In its widest sense, governance establishes the conditions whereby individuals singly and collectively seek to meet their aspirations in society. Governance will remain high on the OECD agenda as a sustainable future crucially hinges on effectiveness and coherence of creating public policies and implementing them in a coherent and consistent manner.

The Governance Outreach Initiative cuts across the scientific and policy communities, and pursues a common agenda with Member and non-member countries while recognising a diversity of cultures and contexts.

The Initiative involves exchanging information as well as developing evaluation criteria to assess Member countries' achievements. At present, the Initiative consists of conferences addressing a common theme in a specific regional context.