Denmark Implementation Report 2017-2019
- Action Plan: Denmark Action Plan 2017-2019
- Dates Under Review: 2017-2019
- Report Publication Year: 2020
Denmark’s third 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 governmen... focused on increasing 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..., improving 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 pub... More in the public sector, and promoting open government globally. Notably, the action plan resulted in the creation of a new portal with data on day-care facilities (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... 3) as well as strengthening the volunteer sector in Denmark (Commitment 9). However, while most commitments were either fully or substantially completed, their influence on opening government was generally marginal.
| Table 1. At a glance Participating since: 2011 Action plan development Action plan design Action plan implementation *DIOG: Did it Open Government? |
The Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More (OGP) is a global partnership that brings together government reformers and civil society leaders to create action plans that make governments more inclusive, responsive, and accountable. The Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM)The Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) is OGP’s accountability arm and the main means of tracking progress in participating countries. The IRM provides independent, evidence-based, and objective ... monitors all action plans to ensure governments follow through on commitments. Denmark joined OGP in 2011. Since, Denmark has implemented three action plans. This report evaluates the implementation of Denmark’s third action plan.
General overview of action plan
Denmark fully completed half of the commitments from its third action plan, and remaining milestones have been initiated to various degrees. As lead agencies tend to be public institutions charged with digitization and technical solutions, the role of civil society was limited during implementation.
Most commitments in Denmark’s third action plan saw marginal results, due to their generally modest levels of ambitionAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should “stretch government practice beyond its current baseline with respect to key areas of open government.” Ambition captures the po.... However, Commitment 9 provided sustainable mechanisms for civic participation while strengthening the infrastructure of volunteerism throughout Denmark.
Table 2. Noteworthy commitments
| Commitment description | Status at the end of implementation cycle. |
| 1. More open data Publish datasets of historical significance in dialogue with stakeholders, and provide video instructions on the use of this data. | The implementation was limited due to the legal constraints of the European General Data Protection RegulationGovernment reformers are developing regulations that enshrine values of transparency, participation, and accountability in government practices. Technical specifications: Act of creating or reforming ... (GDPR). A more pragmatic approach to dissemination of historical data with a focus on usability is planned for 2020. |
| 3. Information portals for day-care facilities Develop a common platform to collect data from municipal and day- care institutions across the country. Present the data in publicly available and easily accessible portals. | The Ministry of Children and EducationAccountability within the public education system is key to improving outcomes and attainment, and accountability is nearly impossible without transparent policies and opportunities for participation ... created a portal that provides parents with a user-friendly overview of day-care facilities, as well as the ability to compare facilities. However, the available data is limited and there is no consensus among stakeholders that the portal will serve its intended purpose. |
| 9. National strategy for a stronger civil society Implement the national civil society strategy to improve collaboration between the public sector and civil society, particularly in local communities. | Implementation of the national strategy has so far led to improvement on more locally anchored volunteerism in Denmark through a gradual restructuring of the sector. The process facilitated dialogue and collaboration between local communities and national authorities. |
Five Key IRM Recommendations
The IRM key recommendations are prepared in the IRM Design Report. They aim to inform the development of the next action plan and guide implementation of the current action plan. In Denmark’s 2017–2019 Design Report, the IRM recommended the following:
| 1. Expand participation in the 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.... |
| 2. Introduce whistleblower protection measures in the next action plan. |
| 3. Address the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation. |
| 4. Take measures to improve beneficial ownershipDisclosing beneficial owners — those who ultimately control or profit from a business — is essential for combating corruption, stemming illicit financial flows, and fighting tax evasion. Technical... More transparency. |
| 5. Focus on further strengthening foreign aidMore and better information about aid helps partner countries and donor institutions plan and manage aid resources more effectively, parliaments and civil society to hold governments accountable for t... transparency. |
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