End of Commitment Report – Development of a participatory process and platform for monitoring and control of the state of the province’s road infrastructure.

Name of Evaluator

Franklin Gerardo Naranjo Armijo

Email

fnaranjo@itsjapon.edu.ec

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 governmen... Title

Action plan – Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador, 2021 – 2023

Commitment

Development of a participatory process and platform for monitoring and control of the state of the province’s road infrastructure.

Action

The commitment proposes the development of a process that allows citizens to participate actively in the monitoring and control of the rural road system of the province, receive reports on infrastructure damage, and incorporate them into the planning of activities of the provincial government. The following guidelines are considered: Mapping of processes related to the flow of information from citizens to the Provincial Government. Creation of a platform that facilitates the interaction of citizens with the Provincial Government, receiving complaints, concerns, and needs related to the state of the road network, establishing direct contact with the Directorate of Public Works, in charge of managing the routine maintenance of the network and other projects related to road work. Creation 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... on the provincial road infrastructure, as well as the characteristics of each existing road and details of road concessions. Organization of a planned and publicly available road maintenance schedule that is adapted to the territorial reality and that is close to meeting the citizen’s needs and adapting to the institutional operational capacity. Promotion and dissemination of the system, through a campaign that encourages the use and adoption of the tool, demonstrating its benefits, the advantages, and utilities that it has, involving the need for citizens and institutional management.

Problem

Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas is a young province with 14 years of institutional creation, but with a territorial history that exceeds 132 years since its Colona Foundation. This reference allows us to understand the existence of an accelerated, unplanned, and irregular intervention in the use of the land and the road configuration of their territories. At present, one of the greatest inconveniences referred to by the community is linked to the difficulties of its road system. According to the current legal framework, the Provincial Government must intervene in the rural road network of the Santo Domingo and La Concordia cantons. This road network is characterized by having a composition of soil with diverse typologies, differentiated by asphalt, dirt, and ballast roads; the latter being the one that covers the greatest range of care. To meet the demand for maintenance, it is necessary to monitor the road condition in the winter stage, to provide a better service to citizens.

1.1 What was the overall level of progress in the commitment implementation at the time of this assessment?

Substantial

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

In general terms, progress in the implementation of road commitment encompasses various measures aimed at strengthening road safety, reducing traffic accidents, promoting the use of public transportation, and advocating for sustainable mobility. This initiative also aims to address challenges related to traffic congestion.
At the local level, the availability of a mobile application accessible to the entire citizenry is noteworthy. This app provides updated information on the state of roads in the rural area of the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. Through this application, users can promptly and effectively report situations. These reports focused on critical points requiring road maintenance, enabling a more prompt and personalized response from the competent personnel.

Provide evidence that supports and justifies your answer:

• Road Report

1.2 Describe the main external or internal factors that impacted implementation of this commitment and how they were addressed (or not).

The implementation of a road commitment can be influenced by a variety of both external and internal factors. Here are some of the main factors and potential approaches:

External factors:

• Weather conditions: Extreme weather events, such as heavy rains, negatively impacted the roads. To address this, emergency management measures were implemented, and preventive maintenance was carried out.
• Traffic pressure: An unexpected increase in traffic due to special events (landslides) posed challenges. Strategies such as traffic management, promoting public transportation, and event planning helped mitigate these issues.
• Limited budget: Financial constraints affect the ability to make significant investments in road infrastructure.

Internal factors:

• Lack of inter-institutional coordination: The lack of coordination among different departments can hinder effective implementation. Establishing collaboration mechanisms and communication among the involved entities can enhance efficiency.
• Resistance to change: Community and official resistance to new policies and measures can be an obstacle. Public 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 ... and 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 m... More help overcome resistance and foster acceptance of necessary changes.
• Lack of adequate technology: Insufficient technological tools affect data collection and efficient management. The adoption of innovative technologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or mobile applications, can enhance implementation effectiveness.

Effectiveness in road commitment implementation often requires a comprehensive approach addressing both internal and external factors. Additionally, flexibility and adaptability to changing conditions have been crucial in overcoming obstacles and achieving continuous improvements in road commitment.

1.3 Was the commitment implemented as originally planned?

Few of the commitment milestones were implemented as planned.

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The lack of collaboration led to modifications in the original schedule of the Mobile Road application, resulting in delays in the execution of the initially proposed milestones.

Provide evidence for your answer:

• Photo

2.1.1. – Did the government disclose more information; improve the quality of the information (new or existing); improve the value of the information; improve the channels to disclose or request information or improve accessibility to information?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The impact of road application on individuals and practices has been significant across various dimensions. The implementation of this application has brought about positive changes and tangible improvements in people’s experiences related to mobility and road conditions.

Furthermore, users’ ability to report critical situations or road maintenance needs through the application has directly influenced the efficiency of response and attention from authorities. Incidents can be identified and addressed more quickly and accurately, thereby enhancing road safety and reducing the risk of accidents.

In practical terms, the road application has contributed to increased awareness and civic participation in traffic management and road infrastructure. The information provided by users becomes valuable data for decision-making and strategic planning by the relevant authorities.

Provide evidence for your answer:

• Photos 1 and 2.

2.1.2. – Did the government create new opportunities to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation inform or influence decisions; improve existing channels or spaces to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation/ inform or influence decisions; create or improve capabilities in the government or the public aimed to improve how the government seeks feedback from citizens/enables participation/ or allows for the public to inform or influence decisions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

• Interactive digital platforms have been created and improved to allow citizens to provide feedback, participate in surveys, and express their opinions on government-related issues.
• Workshops and training sessions are offered to both government officials and the general population to enhance communication skills and understanding of participatory processes.
• Social media and other communication channels are leveraged to disseminate information, gather opinions, and encourage citizen participation in debates and discussions.
• Accessibility and participation in public meetings and hearings, whether in-person or virtually, are enhanced so that more people have the opportunity to voice their views.
• 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 is improved by providing clear and understandable information about government decisions, thereby facilitating more informed feedback.
• Evaluation mechanisms and continuous adjustment are established to constantly enhance citizen participation initiatives based on feedback and outcomes.

By combining these strategies, the relationship between the government and citizens is strengthened, promoting more active participation and inclusive decision-making.

Provide evidence for your answer:

• Photo 1
• Photo 2 
• Photo 3

2.1.3 Did the government create or improve channels, opportunities or capabilities to hold officials answerable to their actions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The impact of these initiatives on people’s lives and practices has been remarkable. The creation and improvement of interactive digital platforms have empowered citizens by providing them a direct avenue to share their opinions on governmental issues. This has resulted in a significant increase in civic participation, as individuals can now provide feedback in a more accessible and direct manner.

Workshops and training sessions targeted at both government officials and the general public have had a positive impact on communication skills and understanding of participatory processes. Officials are better equipped to interact effectively with the public, and citizens have enhanced their understanding of how they can influence governmental decisions.

The improvement in accessibility and participation in both in-person and virtual public meetings and hearings has ensured that a larger number of people have the opportunity to express their views. This has democratized the decision-making process, ensuring that the voices of diverse segments of society are heard.

The enhancement in transparency, achieved through providing clear and understandable information about governmental decisions, has led to more informed feedback from the citizens. This has strengthened trust in the government and allowed for more effective civic participation.

Collectively, these strategies have had a significant impact by strengthening the relationship between the government and citizens, promoting more active participation, and fostering a more inclusive and transparent decision-making process.

Provide evidence for your answer:

• Photo 1
• Photo 2
• Photo 3

2.2 Did the commitment address the public policy problem that it intended to address as described in the action plan?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

This commitment is addressing the public policy issues it originally set out to tackle, despite certain challenges. Progress is being observed as the general public gains greater awareness and actively engages in the objectives established by this commitment.

3. Provide at least one lesson or reflection relating to the implementation of this commitment. It can be the identification of key barriers to implementation, an unexpected help/hindrance, recommendations for future commitments, or if the commitment should be taken forward to the next action plan.

A valuable lesson derived from the implementation of this commitment is the importance of ongoing education and citizen engagement. Active and well-informed citizenship has proven to be a key factor in overcoming challenges and advancing public policy objectives. However, it is also evident that a lack of knowledge can be a barrier.

Therefore, in future similar commitments, a more comprehensive approach could be considered, including educational campaigns to raise awareness among citizens about the addressed public policy issues. Additionally, facilitating access to clear and understandable information could be an effective strategy to encourage active participation.

Furthermore, continuous feedback from citizens and adaptability as circumstances evolve is essential. The lessons learned from this commitment could guide future planning, ensuring a more effective implementation and a greater responsiveness to the needs and expectations of the community.