On side events, some things OGP would really look at:
Obviously, relevance with OGP and the summit themes – which you can see on the website. I see anti-corruption is prevalent, so pick a theme that is relevant to you but also niche enough to set you apart from other sessions. Given Taiwan’s political sensitivity, also make sure the side event doesn’t touch on subjects that could make it difficult for them to approve (less OGP, more the government host being worried about political sensitivity – you know what I mean).
Geographical balance: best designs incorporate experiences from different parts of the world. Doesn’t mean it has to comprise speakers from every continent, but diversity of perspectives is key. For example, you have Taiwanese speakers to share experiences from the East Asia region, then you would avoid having another speaker from the same region. Perhaps someone whose work is focused on Africa/other parts of Asia/Latin America or even North America/Europe for different angles would be useful to consider.
Gender balance: this is essential – while I was at OGP, this was among the first things we base decisions on. Session that have no women or have only 1 women (worse, as the moderator – while speakers are all men) won’t have a chance of getting in.
Sectoral balance: have speakers from government, parliament, civil society, or even private sector even. Having a set of speakers that speak to different sectors adds significant values to your proposal.
Highlight what sets your side event from others: make sure to explicitly mention in your proposal why your side event brings unique values; how does it relate to the OGP process?
Bring in strategic partners: if you can, bring in a partner to co-host the side event. Having strategic partners help secure acceptance into the agenda because then practically OGP sees your proposal and says “well we can give CCF and X or Y organization role in the agenda by accepting this one” for instance.