End of Commitment Report – The City of Mendoza is committed to implement the Eyes on Alert Program.

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 is committed to implementing the Eyes on Alert Program.

Action

It involves generating a direct and immediate communication channel with the entire Security System of the City of Mendoza, through new technologies, so that neighbors can collaborate by providing information on criminal acts or suspicious situations, to deter possible crimes, and thus achieve a safer city.

Problem

Crime has become one of the main concerns for the residents of any city, and public safety indicators suggest that we have not been able to identify and understand the multi-causal origin of violence and crime, in addition to the dynamics and social impacts they cause.

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:

100%. The “Eyes on the Alert” Commitment identified two milestones: 50 more cameras on the streets and 21. 3500 neighborhoods committed and trained in citizen safety. Both were fully met within the stipulated timeframe and with a highly successful impact on the community.
During the evaluation of the “Eyes on the Alert” program, the successful 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 outlin... More of both milestones identified was highlighted: the installation of 50 additional cameras on public roads and the active participation of more than 3,500 neighbors committed to and trained in public safety. These achievements, accomplished within the established timeframe, have had a highly positive impact on the community. The expansion of the camera system contributed significantly to the improvement of crime prevention, while the massive participation of neighbors evidences a strong civic commitment and reinforces the effective collaboration between citizens and the Municipality in security matters.

Provide evidence that supports and justifies your answer:

• Neighbors committed and trained in citizen security
• Street Cameras

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 the “Eyes on Alert” commitment was influenced by several factors, both internal and external. Among the internal factors, the availability of financial and logistical resources played a crucial role. To address this challenge, detailed planning, and optimization of resource allocation were sought to ensure the efficient execution of camera installation and mass training of neighbors. These challenges were met through detailed location analysis, technological adaptations, and expert consultation to ensure the effectiveness of the infrastructure.

In addition, community acceptance and participation was a vital internal factor. To encourage the active participation of more than 3,500 neighbors, effective communication strategies were implemented, community events were organized, and feedback channels were established to address concerns and improve program acceptance.

In terms of external factors, public perception of safety and the community’s willingness to engage were essential. To address these variables, awareness campaigns were conducted and an ongoing dialogue was established with the community to understand and address their concerns, thus strengthening collaboration 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.

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 “Eyes on the Alert” commitment was implemented as originally planned. The milestones of installing 50 additional cameras and engaging and training more than 3500 neighbors in citizen security were met in full and within the stipulated timeframe, reflecting the successful execution of the program as initially planned. Strategic planning, effective communication, and adaptability were key to addressing these challenges and successfully meeting the proposed milestones, demonstrating the importance of flexibility and community participation in initiatives of this scale.

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.

Yes, the “Eyes on the Alert” commitment contributed to open government by encouraging citizen participation and active collaboration between the municipal administration and the community. 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 of more than 3500 neighbors in security initiatives and the installation of additional cameras on public roads demonstrate a transparent and participatory approach, thus strengthening the relationship between government and citizens in the management of urban security, as well as improving the quantity and quality of information used by the municipality to manage. This commitment reflects a concrete effort by the government to involve citizens in decision-making and collaboratively improve safety.

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.

Yes, the “Eyes on the Alert” commitment has achieved several of these options: The active participation of more than 3500 neighbors in the program demonstrates the creation of new opportunities for citizen participation, allowing citizens to inform and influence security-related decisions.

The implementation of the “Eyes on Alert” Program implies an improvement in the existing channels for seeking feedback, as it establishes more direct and effective communication between the government and the community.

The training of more than 3500 neighbors in citizen security represents an improvement in the capabilities of the public, empowering them to participate in an informed manner in government decisions related to security.

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

Not Applicable

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

This commitment is oriented more toward citizen participation and security improvement, and the question may not be directly applicable to the expected results of this specific program.

2.1.4 Other Results

Yes

Degree of result:

Outstanding

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

The innovative collaborative tools of the City of Mendoza continue to add adherents, to consolidate actions through a close link with the community to enhance citizen safety.

Eyes on Alert and Community Alarm are the two successful programs through which the Municipality of the City of Mendoza is involved in security, not only with the incorporation of resources but also with prevention tools. Thanks to both municipal systems, it is possible to act in time in case of suspicious events, and, through the intervention of prevention officers and the Mendoza Police, criminal actions are avoided in the capital city.

Eyes on Alert has more than 8500 trained users; 9700 registered events and more than 4000 suspicious attitudes that did not turn into a crime, since they could be identified and dissuaded thanks to the coordinated action between the municipality and the neighbors. The program, which was born in 2020, is designed for the community to get involved in prevention and fight crime from their cell phones, through Whatsapp and without exposing themselves.

The information is received directly to the Citizen Visualization Center where events such as crimes, suspicious situations, road accidents, medical emergencies, and anti-panic buttons, among others, are detected and prevented. In this way, a response is given to any insecurity event that may occur in the city, in permanent coordination with the Mendoza Police.

Those interested in participating can register for the “Eyes on Alert” Program from the City of Mendoza’s web page by clicking here. Subsequently, staff from the Coordination of Citizen Prevention of the Municipality of the City will contact you by phone to arrange a date and time for the training.

As for Community Alarm, it was born in 2021 as a complement to Eyes on Alert and the different resources available to the municipality to strengthen public safety and improve the quality of life in Mendoza City. Through this program, it will also be possible to report acts of genderOGP participating governments are bringing gender perspectives to popular policy areas, ensuring diversity in participatory processes, and specifically targeting gender gaps in policies to address gov... More violence. In these cases, only the Visualization and Monitoring Center will be notified to act according to the protocol.

On the other hand, the platform will allow the user to send an alert to a selected group of contacts to let them know that he/she is on the way home. In this way, their loved ones will be able to corroborate that they have arrived home safely.

Within the framework of the 2023 City Works Plan, which includes the incorporation of new LED lights in pedestrian paths, the municipality continues with the installation of the community alarm system that benefits the neighbors of different areas and, at the same time, the clearing of forests and the installation of cameras are being carried out. In this regard, Mayor Ulpiano Suarez recently met with neighbors of the 6th Section to supervise each of the operations to improve security in the area.

Mendoza City has more than 1,600 homes that adhere to the community prevention system and more than 105 alarms. To join, a group of at least ten neighbors must be formed. Members must register through a web form (click here) and undergo training.

The neighbors of the capital city of Mendoza can be part of either of the two programs to continue building a safer city.

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:

Undoubtedly, the commitment not only effectively addressed the public policy problem established in the action plan, but has generated a profoundly positive impact in the fight against insecurity in our community. The successful implementation of this program not only met the initial expectations but also exceeded the proposed goals, consolidating itself as an outstanding example of how citizen participation can be an effective driver in addressing security challenges. This commitment not only led to the installation of additional cameras and the massive training of neighbors but has also succeeded in actively involving the community in the co-creation of solutions for urban security.
In terms of public policy, it has set a valuable precedent by highlighting the importance of citizen participation as a key tool in the formulation and implementation of effective security measures. It has also demonstrated that improved security is not only achieved through active collaboration.

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 this commitment is the importance of maintaining constant, two-way communication with the community. The active participation of more than 3500 neighbors highlighted the need to establish effective channels of dialogue to understand and address concerns proactively. This lesson underscores 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 ongoing collaboration as a fundamental pillar in safety initiatives. For future engagements, it is recommended to keep this line of communication open and strengthened, thus ensuring a more effective implementation aligned with community expectations.