Inception Report – Action plan – Žilina (Region), Slovak Republic, 2022 – 2026
Overview
Name of Evaluator
Veronika Střelcová
veronika.strelcova@zilinskazupa.sk
Member Name
Žilina (Region), 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... Title
Action plan – Žilina (Region), Slovak Republic, 2022 – 2026
Section 1.
Compliance with
co-creation requirements
1.1 Does a forum exist?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Zilina self-governing region is conducted from five traditional regions. In our regional policies, each of the regions has dedicated one regional coordinator who is an employee of our office.
Zilina self-governing region has created a Partnership Council that consists of regional boards of partnership in each of every five regions of our county. These councils consist of mayors of the towns and other local representatives from local governments and organizations. This council was addressed as the initial forum to acknowledge the strategic vision and first 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... of the OGP Action plan.
Each regional coordinator is in charge of communication with the Partnership Council for each region. The Action plan was introduced to the group, with an open discussion for comments. Afterward, the plan and first commitment were sent to all members by email for comment. No comments were raised. There was right after both local and regional electionsImproving transparency in elections and maintaining the independence of electoral commissions is vital for promoting trust in the electoral system, preventing electoral fraud, and upholding the democr... More in Slovakia and many of the city mayors changed. So did the members of the Partnership Councils. We did maximum to communicate our vision both with old and new members and decided to initiate the dialogue once again when the memberships get settled.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
1.2 Is the forum multi-stakeholder?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The Partnership Council is composed of representative public authorities, socio-economic partners, and bodies representing civil society at national, regional, or local levels. Each Council has about 20 members.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
The Partnership Council shall be composed of representative public authorities, socio-economic partners, and bodies representing civil society at national, regional, or local levels.
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:
On November 2nd, 2022 we organized a meeting with five regional coordinators to introduce them to the OGP membership, the Action plan, and the commitments. Their competence was to communicate these further to the councils. As follows, we shared the Action plan with all the members of these councils for feedback and comments.
The strategic vision and first commitment were prepared by the participatory unit of ZSGR and consulted with the leadership of the ZSGR, afterwards, it was sent to the members of each council for comment. No comment was raised on the reasons mentioned in the response above. We received questions related to our commitment to OGP, the benefits of the membership, and the responsibilities related to this partnership. All were answered at the meeting held in person.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
- Email communication and calendar invitation
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:
At the meeting organized on the 2nd of November and further through email and Zoom communication the stakeholders have endorsed the document. It was endorsed by representative public authorities, socio-economic partners, and bodies representing civil society at national, regional, or local levels. Regions were represented by one regional coordinator from each of the five regions that endorsed the document.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
- Email communication
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?
Unclear
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
We have created a space on our regional web page for participation where we are going to publish all the information on the OGP membership, process, and activities.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
2.2 Did the government provide information to stakeholders in advance to facilitate informed and prepared participation in 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...?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
We have shared relevant information with government and civil society stakeholders who are members of the Partnership councils who endorsed the action plan. On November 2nd we organized a meeting with five regional coordinators to introduce them to the OGP membership, the Action plan, and the commitments. The regional coordinators then shared the draft strategic vision and first commitment with each of the regional Partnership Councils.
We also organized a big conference on Participation where we invited members of civil society, organizations, and institution representatives in the ZSGR. The email invitation reaches out to more than 700 stakeholders in the region. More than 100 attended the full-day conference where we presented our activities, involved them in dialogue through the multistakeholder forum on five big topics, and presented the vision and commitments of ZSGR in OGP local.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
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?
No
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Due to the electoral period, the Regional Government decided to elaborate a draft of the strategic vision and first commitment and consult these documents with the members of the five regional Partnership Councils. These Partnership councils are composed of public officials from each of the regions as well as non-governmental organizations. They had a chance to review the proposed action plans and could provide their comments, make suggestions, and pose any questions. However, persons outside of the Partnership Councils did not have the opportunity to participate in the co-creation process. It is planned to extend this opportunity for the co-creation of additional commitments to the action plan.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
No evidence.
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?
No
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Due to the electoral period, the Regional Government decided to elaborate a draft of the strategic vision and first commitment and consult these documents with the members of the five regional Partnership Councils. These Partnership councils are composed of public officials from each of the regions as well as non-governmental organizations. They had a chance to review the proposed action plans and could provide their comments, make suggestions, and pose any questions. No comment was raised, so there was no reason to provide a report back on contributions made by the members of the Partnership Councils.
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?
No
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
To start the first OGP Action Plan, the Regional Government decided to elaborate a draft of the strategic vision and first commitment and consult these documents with the members of the five regional Partnership Councils. However, the first comment submitted has the aim of networking and building partnerships with civil society representatives. We had been mapping the CS representatives in our region from January to May 2023 and created a complex list of contacts. The intention is to engage these civil society representatives in the continued development of the action plan. The Regional Government invited all of the identified civil society organizations to the Multistakeholder forum that takes place at the conference of participation on June 20th, 2023. At this platform, we will discuss and consult three commitments to be added to the current action plan.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
2.6 Would you consider the forum to be inclusive and diverse?
Not sure
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
We have aimed at representation in all commitment areas and yet need to focus specifically on the more diverse representation. No one was left out.
Provide references here (e.g. interviews):
No evidence is available.
Section 3.
Initial evaluation
of commitments
1 Commitment :
Develop a network of civil society actors – mapping civil society organizations and initiatives in the region strengthening existing partnerships and building new partnerships with ŽSGR
1.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Our goal is to increase and support the participation of various civil society actors in the processes and agendas of ZSGR.
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 was designed to support the institution and decision-making process more participatory. Our goal is to map the stakeholders and CS representatives all over the region and create tools to involve them in every relevant process.
1.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
A continuation of the 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:
We are mapping civil society organizations and initiatives in the region and aim to strengthen existing partnerships and build new partnerships with ŽSGR.
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:
We aim to enhance partnerships among civil society actors and public institutions, and yet through other activities and commitments involve these actors in wider institutionalized change.
1.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
Yes, we aim to deepen the partnership and collaboration through cooperation in the thematic areas.
English
French
Spanish
Leave a Reply