Development of a Unified and Interactive Information Panel on the Implementation of the Water for All Program, Which Can Be Publicly Accessed Through the Internet (BR0043)

to organize and disclosure, through an unified information panel, data on the execution of actions of the “Water for All” Program to its on executors and to the general public. This tool shall ensure the regular monitoring of actions, the development of reports for decision-making, the provision of information to the press office of the Ministry of National Integration, and transparency and updated accountability to the public managers, the authorities and the society.

Commitment 1.7 Development of a unified and interactive information panel on the implementation of the Water for All Program, which can be publicly accessed through the internet

Commitment Text: To organize and disclosure, through an unified information panel, data on the execution of actions of the “Water for All” Program to its on executors [agencies in charge] and to the general public. This tool shall ensure the regular monitoring of actions, the development of reports for decision-making, the provision of information to the press office of the Ministry of National Integration, and transparency and updated accountability to the public managers, the authorities and the society. 

Responsible institution: Ministry of National Integration

Supporting institution: None

Start date: Not specified                          End date: 13 September 2013...............................................

Commitment aim

The commitment aimed to disclose information on the “Water for All” program through an online platform. The promise was to promote the transparency and accountability of Brazil’s relatively small, yet important, water resource management program. The commitment’s context is very important. In 2014, water was a topic of national importance, not only because of the water crisis in states like São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro, but also because of its national impact and the rising cost of electricity.

Status

Midterm: Completed

The commitment was completed by the midterm review. The information panel was made available through the Regional Development Observatory (ODR), a public access portal created to monitor and evaluate plans, programs, and activities of the National Policy for Regional Development. The “Water for All” program is part of that policy.^{[Note 11: Regional Development Observatory (ODR), http://odr.mi.gov.br/.  ]} The panel contains a geographic intelligence tool that allows for geo-referenced monitoring of the policy, and includes maps of current cisterns and reused water. Other improvements were expanded databases with financial performance data, new satellite images for more detailed maps, and the ability to use the platform offline or on a tablet.

Did it open government?

Access to information: Marginal

As mentioned above, water resource management has become an issue of national importance in Brazil, given recent water shortages.^{[Note 12: Rodrigo Martins e Miguel Martins, Title? Carta Capital, 2015, http://goo.gl/jYkFxR. ]} The issue became relevant to open government when citizens facing shortages became frustrated with the lack of transparency in the public provision of water.^{[Note 13: TV Diário, 2015, http://goo.gl/hZqubZ. ]} Some questioned the veracity of official government figures.^{[Note 14: Rodolfo Wrolli, Sindicato dos Bancários e Financiários de São Paulo, 2015, http://goo.gl/E0t17G.}

] This commitment sought to address this concern by disclosing information on the “Water for All” program through measurable indicators and an open portal.

While the publication of data in open format and through infographics is positive, the commitment is only an incremental step forward for access to information on water resources because of its limited scope. Specifically, the new data do not contain information on the general provision of water, but  only on the “Water for All” program, which seeks to expand water access for needy families and rural residents.

Carried forward?

The commitment was not carried forward to Brazil’s third action plan. Nevertheless, the IRM researcher believes it would be helpful to expand data beyond the “Water for All” program, and incorporate tools for participation and accountability into the portal.