Inception Report – Action plan – Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic, 2021 – 2022
Overview
Name of Evaluator
Katarína Vitálišová, Darina Jánošková, Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica
katarina.vitalisova@umb.sk; darina.janoskova@umb.sk
Member
Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
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...
Section 1.
Compliance with
co-creation requirements
1.1 Does a forum exist?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The creation of the action plan takes place on the basis of cooperation within the open governance platform, which consists of three layers: 1st layer – core implementation team (Core team), 2nd layer – advisory group “Core+”, 3rd layer – Open government club. The first layer was composed of 1 representative of the municipality and 2 representatives of cooperating non-profit civic organizations. The second layer was made up of actors from the civic and academic sectors, deputies, and actors from the City Council. The third layer was made up of representatives of the general public.
The second layer – Core+ can be considered pivotal, it is 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... actively participating in the creation of the action plan. Due to the ongoing Covid19 pandemic and limited meeting opportunities, the representatives of 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 in Banská Bystrica decided to use the digital support tool Consider.It, Zoom and other relevant electronic tools to facilitate communication
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.2 Is the forum multi-stakeholder?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The process of preparation and development of the Action Plan involved representatives of the municipality, municipal officials, members of the city council, members of city council commissions, members of civic councils, representatives of the academic sector, active citizens and civic activists, and representatives of non-governmental non-profit organizations or civic associations. From this perspective, the Forum meets the criterion of the diversity of representatives.
What is missing in terms of the proportional involvement of the different sectors is the broader involvement of the private sectorGovernments are working to open private sector practices as well — including through beneficial ownership transparency, open contracting, and regulating environmental standards. Technical specificat... More and the wider civil public – i.e. citizens (not only civic activists and NGOs). However, their involvement was only possible in the framework for the general public, of which there was a limited number.
Provide evidence for your answer:
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:
The development of the Action Plan was guided by the principles of open government. A key role was played by the multi-stakeholder forum – Core+, which created space for the involvement of the civil sector (various NGOs), civil society activists, and, to a lesser extent, meetings were also open to the wider public. A greater representation of private sector actors would also be desirable. 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... took place in the environment of the online application ZOOM, where 10 participatory meetings and dialogues with a diverse range of actors were carried out. The number of Core+ meetings was high, given that it was a voluntary activity, some members already found them burdensome.
Provide evidence for your answer:
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 ru.../group?
Unclear
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The final version of the Action Plan was developed by the members of the Core Group (the key implementers of the Action Plan). The final version of the Action Plan was approved by the Mayor of Banská Bystrica and his representatives, as well as by members of the CORE + from the multistakeholder forum. There is no publicly available information on the discussion of the final version with the members of the Core+ apart the mail communication.
Provide evidence for your answer:
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 Open Government Initiative in Banská Bystrica has its own website https://www.ogplocalbb.sk/, where information about the whole project, reports from meetings and other relevant information are published. The website is regularly updated with the latest information on what is happening in the field of open government in Banská Bystrica. Some information is also published on the website of the partner organisation Dialogue Centre http://www.dialoguecentre.eu/partnerstvo-otvoreneho-vladnutia/ as well as on the website of the City of Banská Bystrica: https://www.banskabystrica.sk/samosprava/otvorena-samosprava-ogp-local/. Information on the project is also available on the Facebook page of the Initiative for Local Open Government in Banská Bystrica (https://www.facebook.com/ogplbb).
Provide evidence for your answer:
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:
Invitations to the public meetings were published through announcements on the above-mentioned websites, as well as on the Facebook page of the Initiative for Open Government in Banská Bystrica, usually 7 calendar days in advance. However, not all Core+ meetings were public, which partially limited the public’s ability to participate.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Invitation example: https://www.facebook.com/events/3814053322047491/?ref=newsfeed
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:
The multi-stakeholder platform met regularly through the online ZOOM application as the development of the action plan was taking place at a time of pandemic constraints. The Miro online application was used to take minutes of the meetings and important documents were shared via Google Drive. The online platform Consider.it was used to share suggestions, ideas, and input. When the pandemic situation allowed, several face-to-face meetings of the Core team with the City’s leadership were held on the process of developing the Action Plan. All the documentation from the meetings is available on the website of the Open Government Initiative in Banská Bystrica. Selected meetings were available to the general public, where anyone could present their proposals, inform themselves about planned activities, etc.
Provide evidence for your answer:
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:
Public input was discussed at the multi-stakeholder forum. Sufficient feedback was provided based on interviews with members of the multi-stakeholder forum. At the same time, anyone had the opportunity to contact members of the Core via Facebook or contact details entrusted to the website OGP Local Banská Bystrica.
Provide evidence for your answer:
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:
From the very beginning, the partner organisations Dialogue Centre, n. o., and Interactive School of Urbanism and Spatial Planning, n. o., together with a number of other representatives from the public, the municipal authority, Matej Bel University, various experts and citizens of Banská Bystrica, who expressed interest in participating in the development of this document, have been involved in the preparation and development of the commitments of the Open Government Action Plan at the local level.
During the meetings focused on the development of the Action Plan, the participants were divided into 4 thematic working groups of their choice, where they could discuss the topics in more depth and create proposals for specific Open Government commitments as a stack of activities for the Action Plan or other strategies. The basis for each topic was the draft of activities from previous meetings. In order to cover all eight topics /priorities of Open Government in Banská Bystrica/ with the possibility of dividing into 4 working groups, the work on the formulation of the proposals took place in two “rounds”. Each thematic group had a pair of moderators – one from the city authority and one from the public – who had the function of ” bearers” of the theme.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.6 Would you consider the forum to be inclusive and diverse?
Somewhat
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Based on the documentation, it can be said that the forum is diversified in terms 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 representation and in terms of representation of different sectors – private, public, non-profit. Other criteria cannot be assessed. At the same time, it is important to point out that the public meetings of the Forum were accessible to the general public.
Provide evidence for your answer:
Section 3. Initial evaluation of commitments
Open government in spatial planning, strategic planning, and environmental management of the city
1.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment was established on the basis of an analysis of the current situation and the identification of the need to build professional capacity for open government in the city of Banská Bystrica. The exact definition of the commitment, together with the timetable, requirements for its provision, and indicators for its fulfilment are part of the Action Plan for 2022.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- http://www.ogplocalbb.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MESTO-BANSKA-BYSTRICA-Akcny-Plan-OGPL-FINAL.pdf, part 1.15
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 commitment was set as an output of the participatory process of the multi-stakeholder forum. It is formulated clearly and concisely, with measurable indicators through which it is to be fulfilled and reflects the real need of the city of Banská Bystrica.
Provide evidence for your answer:
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 municipality of Banská Bystrica has so far only marginally applied the principles of open government in the implementation of local politics. The Open Government Initiative has brought new impulses to local politics towards 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, active participation, and accountability. Given that the city leadership is committed to the implementation of open government, this is a new form of policy as well as practical implementation. However, in terms of the implementation of the Action Plan, it will be important to assess the extent to which the principles of open government are actually being implemented.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
is a positive change to a process, practice or policy but will not generate a binding or institutionalized change across government or specific institution(s).
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
As mentioned above, this is a new form of local policy as well as its practical implementation. Given the relatively short duration of the Action Plan – 1 year – it is likely that only the starting points for potential organisational change and more comprehensive local policy change will be established.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
Fulfillment of the commitment is built on the voluntary involvement of City staff. In view of this fact, there is a risk of non-participation of employees, e.g. due to their workload, loss of interest in the issue, etc.
2. Commitment :
Creation of the open government strategy for the city of Banská Bystrica
2.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The implementation of the commitment will result in the first draft, of the Open Government Strategy of the City of Banská Bystrica, based on 8 themes identified as key during the development of the Action Plan. The strategy will be an important tool to support the sustainable development of the city, development of democracy, development of partnership relationship between the City Council and civil actors, and development of new elements in governance that have the potential to face the complex problems of the present time. The commitment is also intended to contribute to the consolidation and coordination of the City’s strategic documents relevant to open government, to the follow-up of the strategic activities of the region, the national level, neighbouring cities, and civil society organisations.
(part 2.15 of the action plan)
Provide evidence for your answer:
- http://www.ogplocalbb.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MESTO-BANSKA-BYSTRICA-Akcny-Plan-OGPL-FINAL.pdf, part 2.15.
2.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevance to OGP values?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The establishment of the commitment reflects the continuous and systematic work and cooperation of the municipality and civic actors in the development of a medium- to long-term vision, and strategy for open government in the municipality of Banská Bystrica, and the effort to integrate open government in the strategic documents of the City of Banská Bystrica.
(part 2 of the action plan)
Provide evidence for your answer:
- http://www.ogplocalbb.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MESTO-BANSKA-BYSTRICA-Akcny-Plan-OGPL-FINAL.pdf, part 2
2.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
a continuation of ongoing practice in line with existing legislationCreating and passing legislation is one of the most effective ways of ensuring open government reforms have long-lasting effects on government practices. Technical specifications: Act of creating or r..., policies or requirements.
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The development of the Open Government Strategy is a logical follow-up to the activities already carried out in the preparation of the Action Plan. It is a well-defined commitment, the successful implementation of which would mark a systemic step in the implementation of open government for the city.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
is a positive change to a process, practice or policy but will not generate a binding or institutionalized change across government or specific institution(s).
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
As mentioned in Commitment No. 1, the implementation of open government principles in Banská Bystrica is only in its first phase. It requires a systemic approach, to which the fulfilment of Commitment No. 2 can make a significant contribution. However, given the short timeframe of the Action Plan, it is not possible to expect significant changes in local government.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
Commitment 2 is formulated appropriately and reflects the real needs of the city of Banská Bystrica. However, it will be very important to appropriately set up a participatory process of engaging the general public so that all potential stakeholders can get involved and actively contribute to the development of the strategy. It is best not to limit this process to the involvement of Core+ members only.
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