End of Commitment Report – The City of Mendoza commits to develop the Transparency Plan.

Name of Evaluator

María Candela Grec

Email

grecmariacandela@gmail.com

Member Name

Mendoza, Argentina

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 – Mendoza, Argentina, 2021 – 2023

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...

The City of Mendoza commits to develop the 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 Plan.

Action

The Transparency Plan of the City of Mendoza is presented as an effective and concrete tool that will not only comply with the requirements established in provincial regulations such as Law No. 8,993 on Public Ethics, Law No. 9,003 on Administrative Procedures and Law No. 9,070, but will also contribute to generating a system of transparency at the municipal level.

Problem

The general problem that this commitment seeks to solve is corruption in the public sphere and the low credibility of governments among citizens.

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

Complete

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The Commitment “Transparency Plan” identified 3 milestones and were fully met in the stipulated timeframe with a highly successful impact on the community.
The co-creation of the Open Government Action Plan of the City of Mendoza marked a significant milestone by encouraging the active participation of the community in the definition of transparent policies. This achievement reflects an advance in the promotion of transparency and accountability by the Municipality.
In addition, the 100% rate of timely responses to requests for access to information underscores the efficiency and accessibility of the administration in providing requested information. This milestone is crucial to strengthen public trust, in addition to being aligned with provincial regulations.
The 25% increase in the number of datasets on the 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... Portal reflects a continued commitment to openness and accessibility of information. This also provides the community with broader and more diversified access.

Provide evidence that supports and justifies your answer:

• Action Plan Co-creation and Results

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

Active community participation, an essential external factor, was fostered through innovative communication strategies, such as the creation of interactive platforms and participatory events. This approach not only addressed the co-creation of the Open Government Action Plan, but also strengthened the connection between the government and the community.

The need to meet deadlines for responses to requests for access to information, a critical external factor, was addressed through the implementation of efficient protocols and staff training to ensure timely and complete responses.

In addition, the proactive adoption of emerging technologies and collaboration with all internal areas of the Municipality to request data from them was necessary to overcome these barriers and maintain the 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... of the Open Data Portal.

1.3 Was the commitment implemented as originally planned?

All of the commitment milestones were implemented as planned

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

Yes, the commitment “Transparency Plan” was implemented according to the original plan. The three milestones identified: co-creation of the Open Government Action Plan, 100% timely response to requests for access to information, and a 25% increase in the number of datasets on the Open Data Portal, were all met in full and within the stipulated timeframe. This successful compliance reflects an execution consistent with the initial vision of the commitment and demonstrates the effectiveness of the implementation of each component proposed in the original plan.

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:

Outstanding

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

Undoubtedly, the “Transparency Plan” commitment has significantly opened up the government by implementing a series of actions that have substantially improved transparency and accessibility to information. The co-creation of the Open Government Action Plan has revealed more information by including the community in the definition of transparent policies and promoting open data.

The engagement has also contributed to improving the quality of information, both new and existing, by increasing the amount of datasets on the Open Data Portal by 25%. This data enrichment provides the community with more robust and complete access to relevant information.

In addition, the initiative has enhanced the value of the information by ensuring 100% timely responses to requests for access to information. This achievement highlights a clear commitment to transparency and accountability, providing citizens with efficient and complete responses.

The implementation of the commitment has improved the channels for disclosing and requesting information by strengthening 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 in the co-creation of the Plan and ensuring effective responses to access requests. This has promoted a more dynamic and participatory flow of information between the government and the community.

Finally, accessibility to information has been improved by increasing the number of datasets in the Open Data Portal, providing the community with a broader and more diversified platform to access government data more easily and effectively.

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:

Outstanding

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

Through the “Transparency Plan” commitment, the Municipality of the City of Mendoza has made significant progress in creating opportunities, improving existing channels and strengthening capacities in both government and the public, demonstrating an effective commitment to citizen participation and the continuous improvement of decision-making.

The co-creation of the Open Government Action Plan is a clear example of creating new opportunities for citizen participation. By including the community in the definition of transparent policies, feedback and direct influence on government decisions have been facilitated.

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

Yes

Degree of result:

Outstanding

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

It is clear that the “Transparency Plan” commitment has addressed the accountability of officials for their actions. The publication on the open data portal of the organization chart of officials, payroll, and their sworn statements demonstrates a significant effort to provide citizens with detailed information on government personnel.

In addition, the reference to Law 9070 on Access to Public Information of the Province of Mendoza, which makes officials responsible for providing public information under penalty of sanctions, further reinforces the legal framework that supports accountability.

Therefore, I can affirm that the compromise not only addressed but strengthened the accountability of officials by providing key information and establishing legal measures to ensure access to public information.

https://datos.ciudaddemendoza.gob.ar/

2.1.4 Other Results

Yes

Degree of result:

Outstanding

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

A relevant result that has not been previously highlighted is the strengthening of public trust. Through the “Transparency Plan” commitment, a solid bridge has been built between the government and the community by providing detailed information, opening channels of participation, and effectively fulfilling requests for access to information. This increase in transparency and accessibility has not only empowered citizens with useful data, but has also helped to build trust in government actions and decisions.

I also believe that the engagement has laid the foundation for a culture of transparency that can have long-term effects on the relationship between the government and the community. By promoting the co-creation of the Open Government Action Plan and improving the quality of information available, a valuable precedent has been set for future initiatives that involve citizens in decision-making.

La Ciudad vuelve a liderar el ranking de Ciudades Transparentes de Argentina

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:

Yes, the “Transparency Plan” engagement effectively addressed the public policy problem it set out to solve, as described in the action plan. The initiative focused on improving government transparency and citizen participation through clearly defined milestones, such as the co-creation of the Open Government Action Plan, the timely response to requests for access to information, and the increase of datasets on the Open Data Portal.

These elements are aligned with the Action Plan’s stated goal of promoting a more open, accessible, and participatory government. The successful implementation of each of these milestones demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving transparency and citizen 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, thus addressing the public policy problem in a manner consistent with the initial vision of the 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 learned from the implementation of the “Transparency Plan” commitment is the importance of continuity and evolution. Although the commitment has successfully achieved its objectives, transparency, and citizen participation are dynamic aspects that require constant attention.

An important reflection is the need to maintain the momentum generated by this commitment by continually updating data, expanding opportunities for participation, and adapting to technological changes. The implementation experience can be a springboard for future engagements, which could build on this solid foundation.

In addition, consideration could be given to exploring mechanisms to assess the actual impact on citizen perception and participation, which could provide valuable feedback for future initiatives.