Inception Report – Action plan – Hamburg, Germany, 2022 – 2024
- Action Plan: Action plan – Hamburg, Germany, 2022 – 2024
Overview
Name of Evaluator
Frederick Richter
richter@stiftungdatenschutz.org
Member Name
Hamburg, Germany
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 – Hamburg, Germany, 2022 – 2024
Section 1.
Compliance with
co-creation requirements
1.1 Does a forum exist?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The IT department of the Senate Chancellery of the City of Hamburg and the non-governmental Körber-Stiftung represent the core of the forum. It will serve as a space for participation.
In relation to the forum a series of events kicked off in March 2023: The “Data Dialogues” (see commitment). Those events offer a participatory format which will also involve the public. In February 2023, also the Working Group Mobility had its first meeting.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.2 Is the forum multi-stakeholder?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The Action Plan was developed in a five-month 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... with the help of numerous actors and stakeholders from Hamburg’s civil society, who will continue to support Hamburg in an advisory capacity in the OGP Local process over the next two years.
Furthermore, the co-creation was enriched by including the knowledge of 40 public management students from the University of Applied Sciences who evaluated commitments.
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:
There have been seven meetings of such kind. The personnel in the co-creation process comprised representatives of civil society organizations, government participants, and academia.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Minutes of forum meeting on 5 October 2022
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?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The action plan has been endorsed by the following stakeholders:
- Stadtwerkstadt Hamburg
- City Science Lab, Hafen City University Hamburg
- AKTIVOLI-Landesnetzwerk Hamburg
- Code für Hamburg e.V.
- Gov Data
- 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 International, Helena Peltonen-Gassmann, Dr. Sabrina Korreck
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 State Chancellery of the German federal state of Hamburg has set up a website where it provides the interested public with comprehensive information on its involvement with OGP Local. In addition to the action plan, the two commitments, the civil society partners involved, and the background of the application are presented.
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:
Half a year before the action plan had been submitted the federal state of Hamburg released a press announcement.
Provide evidence for your answer:
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 government ensured a coordinated dialogue on the action plan and granted access to decision-making documents with its cooperation partner Körber-Stiftung. The feedback from this dialogue was incorporated into the action plan.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Interview with IT department of the Senate Chancellery of the City of Hamburg
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:
The government shared the content of the action plan with 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... and agreed to consider the feedback provided during the meeting in the implementation process of the action plan. In addition, at the Forum Offene Stadt, the government openly engaged civil society stakeholders in the design process of the Action Plan and the Commitments.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Interview with IT department of the Senate Chancellery of the City of Hamburg
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:
There was and still is an iterative dialogue with experts from civil society concerning the implementation of the commitments – be it through the MSF or the newly installed working group mobility. The government has defined the 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... concerning mobility in an open manner to ensure that civil society will take part in the concrete design of the commitment. By doing so, the government ensures that the needs of the respective target groups are actually met. Feedback from the MSF and the Forum Offene Stadt is continually incorporated into the design process.
Concerning agenda setting, the government plans on organizing dialogue formats with a focus on data competencies together with civil society actors to ensure that the stakeholders are involved in setting the agenda on this topic.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Interview with IT department of the Senate Chancellery of the City of Hamburg
2.6 Would you consider the forum to be inclusive and diverse?
Very
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
There are several different organisations comprised. For example, the AKTIVOLI-Landesnetzwerk is involved which is an association for the promotion and further development of voluntary work in Hamburg. It is made up of representatives of various non-profit organisations in Hamburg (associations, clubs, churches, foundations, initiatives), public administration, and committed citizens.
Provide evidence for your answer:
Section 3.
Initial evaluation
of commitments
1. Commitment :
Improving accessibility and visibility to mobility services: Using the potentials of data-based technologies to improve mobility for different groups.
1.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The problem, status quo, and planned action to solve or at least mitigate the problem are described in a comprehensible and traceable manner.
The deployment and usage of data-based applications to support persons with increased mobility is a clearly described and measurable outcome. The expected outcome is concretized by examples like an info pillar, a rest area detector/indicator, and a barrier information system for people with disabilitiesA government is not open unless it is accessible to all, and governments are working to ensure people with disabilities are afforded equitable services and opportunities to participate. Technical spec....
Provide evidence for your answer:
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 is primarily relevant to the OGP value of Access to Information. It seems very appropriate to facilitate access to information by increasing the visibility of existing information concerning mobility issues. It fosters possibilities to transfer existing Information to demand carriers.
The proposed measures support the value of access to information, as they leverage the potential that exists in the city. Much data is available in principle, but there is a lack of linkage and accessibility.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Since this answer is a pure assessment, the proof is neither possible nor owed.
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 current information systems on public transport take individual needs only partially into account. Much information is basically available but does not reach affected persons because there are no policies for aggregating and transferring needed information by using standardized means and channels.
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:
However, it should be noted that the commitment activities also may result in a change of rules and practices in the policy area of public mobility. That can be the case when the outcome and the delivered examples are so good and convincing, that their concept gets used as a blueprint for rules on mobility design.
Even though the projects in the commitment cannot provide a direct or binding framework for government action, the exemplary character of the planned actions should be emphasized. It is quite conceivable and probable that successful implementation may inspire policymakers to change the regulatory framework.
1.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
At this stage, there are no requests for change. However, recommendations may well arise in the course of the implementation of the action plan – also in relation to potential resistance that the commitment may encounter in government and city administration.
2. Commitment :
Data Dialogue: Four events are to be held, initiated by the Senate Chancellery of Hamburg in cooperation with various stakeholders. The aim is to explain the topic of data in an appealing and understandable way for different interest groups.
2.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Without further ado, it can be seen if the commitment gets fulfilled. In the action plan, four events are planned. The first has already taken place.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Document viewed: Invitation to 1st Data Dialogue on 21 March 2023
2.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevance to OGP values?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment increases the availability of information about governmental activities by using a public event that is free to attend. By using such an open format to spread information and to discuss status and solutions it also supports civic participation since it enables participating even in person.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Since this answer is a pure assessment no evidence can be provided.
2.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
a new regulation, policy, practice or requirement.
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
In the past, there had been only a few or even no events like the proposed ones. Networking stakeholders and practitioners from public authorities with the data dialogues is a goal-oriented step towards better administrative practice.
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:
Of course, voluntary dialogue events are not able to bring about a change in rules or even the legal framework. Nevertheless, they can indirectly bring about the rule change. This is true if the data dialogues are seen as such a good example of networking and exchange that the legislator takes them as an occasion for rule changes.
2.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
All upcoming events should be open to the public by default in order to ensure civic engagement and to offer the possibility of participation for everyone. In this way, a clear and positive signal of openness could be sent to the urban society. It would also be a way to emphasize more strongly the principles of transparent and participatory governance.
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