Inception Report – Action plan – Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador, 2024 – 2025
Overview
Name of Evaluator
Instituto JAPON
Member Name
Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador
Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open government ... Title
Action plan – Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador, 2024 – 2025
Section 1.
Compliance with
co-creation requirements
1.1 Does a forum exist?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
During the development of the Second Open Government Action Plan of the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, a Multi-Stakeholder ForumRegular dialogue between government and civil society is a core element of OGP participation. It builds trust, promotes joint problem-solving, and empowers civil society to influence the design, imple... was established, comprising representatives of the Provincial Government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other interested stakeholders. This space facilitated dialogue and collaboration, enabled the collection and analysis of citizens’ proposals, helped identify challenges, and contributed to the selection of the commitments included in the Action Plan. Periodic meetings were also held to review proposals and make joint decisions, as well as specific meetings with representatives of the Tsáchila Nationality to address the commitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... related to the preservation of their ancestral and cultural heritage. The composition and participation of the Forum are documented in the Second Action Plan.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The existence of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum is documented in the Second Open Government Action Plan of the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. The section describing the Plan’s development process outlines the participation of representatives of the Provincial Government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other interested stakeholders. It also states that this space promoted dialogue and collaboration, enabled the collection and analysis of citizens’ proposals, and participated in the selection of the commitments. The document also records periodic meetings and meetings with representatives of the Tsáchila Nationality. These elements provide evidence of the establishment and participation of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum in the co-creation processCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders (e.g., citizens, academics, private sector) is at the heart of the OGP process. Participating governments must ensure that a dive... of the Action Plan.
1.2 Is the forum multi-stakeholder?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The existence of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum is documented in the Second Open Government Action Plan of the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. The section describing the Plan’s development process outlines the participation of representatives of the Provincial Government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other interested stakeholders. It also states that this space promoted dialogue and collaboration, enabled the collection and analysis of citizens’ proposals, and participated in the selection of the commitments. The document also records periodic meetings and meetings with representatives of the Tsáchila Nationality. These elements provide evidence of the establishment and participation of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum in the co-creation process of the Action Plan.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Second Open Government Action Plan of the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas documents the establishment and participation of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum, which included representatives of the Provincial Government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other interested stakeholders. During the co-creation process, this space facilitated dialogue and collaboration, enabled the collection and analysis of citizens’ proposals, and contributed to the selection of the commitments included in the Plan. In addition, periodic meetings were held to review proposals and make joint decisions, as well as specific meetings with representatives of the Tsáchila Nationality. This information provides evidence of the participation of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.
1.3 Does the forum hold at least one meeting with civil society and non-governmental stakeholders during the co-creation of the action plan?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
During the co-creation process of the Second Open Government Action Plan of the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, the Multi-Stakeholder Forum held meetings attended by representatives of the Provincial Government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other non-governmental stakeholders. These meetings provided opportunities to discuss, analyze, and consolidate citizens’ proposals, review the progress of the process, and make joint decisions regarding the commitments that would form part of the Action Plan.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Second Open Government Action Plan documents that, during the co-creation process, periodic meetings of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum were held, in which representatives of the Provincial Government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other interested stakeholders reviewed proposals and made joint decisions. In addition, specific meetings were held with representatives of the Tsáchila Nationality to address the commitment related to the preservation of their ancestral and cultural heritage. This information demonstrates that the Forum held meetings with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders during the development of the Plan.
1.4 Has the action plan been endorsed by the stakeholders of the forum or steering committeeThe Steering Committee is OGP’s executive decision-making body. Its role is to develop, promote and safeguard OGP’s values, principles and interests; establish OGP’s core ideas, policies, and rules; a.../group?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The Second Open Government Action Plan of the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas was approved through a participatory process in which the stakeholders who are members of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum contributed to the analysis, review, and selection of the commitments. Through dialogue spaces and working meetings, representatives of the Provincial Government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders participated in the decision-making process to consolidate the content of the Action Plan.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Second Open Government Action Plan of the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas states that the Multi-Stakeholder Forum participated in the process of reviewing, analyzing, and selecting the proposals that formed the commitments of the Plan. It also establishes that the Forum’s periodic meetings enabled the review of proposals and the adoption of joint decisions, while the Forum was responsible for the final selection of the commitments. This participation and joint decision-making provide evidence of the approval and validation of the Plan by the stakeholders who were members of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum.
Section 2.
Recommended practices
in co-creation
2.1 Does the government maintain a Local OGP website or webpage on a government website where information on the OGP Local process (co-creation and implementation) is proactively published?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The Provincial Decentralized Autonomous Government of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas has an institutional website where information related to the Local Open Government (OGP Local) process is published, including information on co-creation activities, action plans, commitments, and actions carried out during their implementation. This platform allows citizens and interested stakeholders to access information related to the OGP Local process.
2.2 Did the government provide information to stakeholders in advance to facilitate informed and prepared participation in the co-creation process?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The Provincial Decentralized Autonomous Government of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas provided stakeholders with information in advance, facilitating their informed and prepared participation in the co-creation process of the Second Open Government Action Plan. Through dialogue spaces, meetings, and participation mechanisms, information related to the process was shared, allowing stakeholders to become familiar with the proposals, analyze the challenges, and provide their input before the commitments of the Plan were defined.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Open Government Action Plan documents that, during the co-creation process, a public consultation was conducted to gather citizens’ proposals and opinions, allowing the main challenges and opportunities of the province to be identified. In addition, periodic meetings of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum were held to review proposals and make joint decisions, as well as special meetings with representatives of the Tsáchila Nationality. The document also states that throughout the process, the progress made in the development of the Plan was continuously disseminated, with the purpose of keeping citizens informed and facilitating their active participation. This information demonstrates that mechanisms and advance information were provided to facilitate informed participation in the co-creation process.
2.3 Did the government ensure that any interested member of the public could make inputs into the action plan and observe or have access to decision-making documentation?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Participation by interested members of the public was ensured through a public consultation to gather citizens’ proposals and opinions during the development of the Second Action Plan. The proposals were analyzed and consolidated by the Multi-Stakeholder Forum, which participated in the selection of the commitments. In addition, the progress of the process was continuously disseminated, allowing citizens to stay informed and actively participate.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Second Open Government Action Plan documents that a public consultation was conducted to gather citizens’ proposals and opinions, which were analyzed and consolidated by the Multi-Stakeholder Forum. In addition, periodic meetings were held to review the proposals and make joint decisions, and the Multi-Stakeholder Forum was responsible for the final selection of the commitments. The document also states that throughout the process, updates on the development of the Plan were continuously disseminated, ensuring that citizens remained informed and could participate actively. These elements demonstrate that the process was open to receiving citizens’ input and that information about decision-making was disseminated.
2.4 Did the government proactively report back or provide written feedback to stakeholders on how their contributions were considered during the creation of the action plan?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
During the development of the Second Action Plan, stakeholders were proactively informed through the continuous dissemination of updates on the progress of the process. The proposals and opinions collected through the public consultation were analyzed and consolidated by the Multi-Stakeholder Forum, which held periodic meetings to review the proposals and make joint decisions. In this way, citizens’ input was taken into account in the selection and definition of the commitments that were ultimately included in the Action Plan.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Second Open Government Action Plan states that a public consultation was conducted to gather citizens’ proposals and opinions. These proposals were analyzed and consolidated by the Multi-Stakeholder Forum and subsequently reviewed during periodic meetings, where joint decisions were made.
2.5 Was there an iterative dialogue and shared ownership between government and non-governmental stakeholders during the decision making process, including setting the agenda?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
During the development of the Second Action Plan, there was an ongoing dialogue process between the Provincial Government and civil society actors and other non-governmental sectors, primarily through the Multi-Stakeholder Forum. Public consultations and periodic meetings were held to present and review proposals, discuss progress, and make joint decisions. In addition, the Multi-Stakeholder Forum participated in the final selection of the commitments, demonstrating shared responsibility in defining the priorities and content of the Action Plan.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Second Action Plan states that the development process was carried out through a participatory, inclusive, and transparent approach, with a Multi-Stakeholder Forum established as a space for dialogue and collaboration between civil society and government actors.
2.6 Would you consider the forum to be inclusive and diverse?
Very
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The Multi-Stakeholder Forum is inclusive and diverse because it brings together representatives of the Provincial Government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, organizations working on human rightsAn essential part of open government includes protecting the sacred freedoms and rights of all citizens, including the most vulnerable groups, and holding those who violate human rights accountable. T..., productive and tourism sectors, as well as representatives of the Tsáchila Nationality. This diversity of stakeholders made it possible to incorporate different perspectives, knowledge, and needs into the co-creation process of the Action Plan. In addition, the document explicitly highlights the inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... More and participation of the Tsáchila ethnic group, strengthening the representativeness of the Forum and the participatory process.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Second Action Plan identifies the Provincial Decentralized Autonomous Government, civil society organizations such as FUNDAPI, RAGA Ecuador, CADHU Ecuador, and Fundación Ecológica Chanchay; academic institutions such as ESPE Santo Domingo and the Tsáchila Higher Technological Institute; public entities such as the Ministry of Production and IEPS; representatives of the Provincial Citizen ParticipationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to more ... More Assembly; tourism and productive sector stakeholders such as Equinoccial Touring, the Mancomunada Public Company of the Humid Tropics, and the Chamber of Tourism; and the Government of the Tsáchila Nationality as members of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum. In addition, the Plan expressly highlights the importance of the inclusion and participation of the Tsáchila ethnic group. This composition demonstrates the institutional, social, academic, productive, and cultural diversity of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum.
Section 3.
Initial evaluation
of commitments
1 Commitment :
Collaborative design and implementation of a training program and system for new youthRecognizing that investing in youth means investing in a better future, OGP participating governments are creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in government processes. Technical ... More leaderships in rural areas with a focus on environmental care and sustainable tourism
1.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment is verifiable because the Second Open Government Action Plan establishes specific activities, deliverables, and expected results that allow its progress and implementation to be objectively assessed. These include the creation of a web-based educational platform, the development of training programs and educational materials, the identification and monitoring of participants, the training of leaders in sustainable development and sustainable tourism, and the implementation of sustainable practices in rural economic and tourism activities. The Plan also establishes specific project milestones and completionImplementers must follow through on their commitments for them to achieve impact. For each commitment, OGP’s Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) evaluates the degree to which the activities outlined... More dates, providing concrete elements for monitoring and verification.
1.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevanceAccording to the OGP Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should include a clear open government lens. Specifically, they should advance at least one of the OGP values: transparency, citizen partic... to OGP values?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The language of the commitments and their activities establishes a clear connection with OGP values by incorporating actions aimed at strengthening transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the public,... More, citizen participation, and collaboration. The commitments include co-creation processes, the participation of diverse stakeholders, access to and publication of information, as well as collaborative mechanisms to address needs identified in the province.
1.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
a new regulationGovernment reformers are developing regulations that enshrine values of transparency, participation, and accountability in government practices. Technical specifications: Act of creating or reforming ..., policy, practice or requirement.
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment constitutes a new practice, as it incorporates Open Government mechanisms and actions that had not previously been established in this way within provincial government management. Its implementation introduces new forms of collaboration between the Provincial Government, civil society, and other stakeholders through co-creation processes, citizen participation, innovation, and the generation of open information. These actions seek to establish new institutional practices aimed at strengthening transparency, participation, and collaboration in public management.
1.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
will result in a change of the rules, practices or policies that govern a policy area, public sector and/or relationship between citizens and is binding or institutionalized across government or specific institution(s).
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment will lead to changes in the practices and policies of the Provincial Decentralized Autonomous Government of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas by incorporating Open Government mechanisms aimed at strengthening citizen participation, collaboration, transparency, and access to public information. The planned actions, such as the co-creation of a provincial ordinance, the generation and publication of open dataBy opening up data and making it sharable and reusable, governments can enable informed debate, better decision making, and the development of innovative new services. Technical specifications: Polici..., and the establishment of collaborative mechanisms, will help institutionalize new forms of management and interaction between the Provincial Government and citizens. In this way, the results of the commitment can be permanently incorporated into the institutional processes and practices of the Provincial Government.
1.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
It is not considered necessary to make changes to the design of the commitment, as its objectives, activities, and deliverables are clearly defined and are appropriate to guide its implementation and monitoring.
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