Support Inclusive Policy-Making in the Community and Voluntary Sector (IE0057)

Brief Description of the Commitment

To support more inclusive policy making in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Problem Definition

1. What problem does the commitment aim to address? This commitment will address the following issues: 1. Continued availability of a Civic Forum for dialogue between the state sector and the community and voluntary sector which was established in 2022. 2. Absence of an agreed roadmap for further development of the PPNs at local level, which is currently being developed. 3. Possible lack of diversity and inclusion in the PPNs. 4. Absence of data on the usage of the approved Values and Principles for engagement and partnership working with the community and voluntary sector by Government Departments. The public consultation and the civic society and Round Table engagement process carried out to support the development of NAP4 raised various issues with agenda setting and formats as well as barriers to participation. This consultation highlighted the need for “structured participation options that are truly representative and support collaborative deliberations a priority".

5. What are the causes of the problem? The causes of the above problems are as follows: 1. Prior to 2022 there was no Civic Forum in place as a forum for dialogue with the community and voluntary sector at a national level. 2. As the role and membership of the PPNs has expanded, there is a need for a clear agreed roadmap for their further development and an implementation plan to deliver on this roadmap. 3. Lack of research into the levels of diversity and inclusion of the PPNs and of possible solutions to the problem. 4. Values and Principles for collaboration and partnership working with the community and voluntary sector were adopted by Government in 2022 – there is no monitoring currently taking place on how government departments are putting the Values and Principles into practice.

Commitment Description

1. What has been done so far to solve the problem? The first Civic Forum for dialogue between the state and the community and voluntary sector took place at the Aviva stadium on 21st November 2022. A report on the proceedings has now been received and is available on http://www.gov.ie/en/news/37401-national-civic-forum-for-dialogue-with-the-community-and- voluntary-sector/. Arising from the feedback on the first Civic Forum, it has been agreed to develop a Terms of Reference for the Civic Forum and to provide a clear statement of its purpose and positioning having regard to the sectoral fora hosted by several other Departments and Agencies. The Civic Forum is co-designed with the sector through a sub-group of the Cross Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development. The second national Civic Forum took place on 15th November 2023. Its theme was ‘Bringing the values and principles to Life’. The format, which was co-designed with a sub-group of the Cross Sectoral Group, included six current examples of state bodies and non-governmental organisations co-designing public policies. A report from the Civic Forum will be prepared. A Working Group was established to oversee the development and implementation of the Roadmap of future actions following the publication of the report on the PPN Structural Review in June 2022. Its members come from a range of PPN stakeholder groups, including PPN staff and volunteers, civil society groups, local authorities and relevant government departments. Participatory and co-design processes were used to ensure that stakeholders were actively involved in designing the actions that will affect PPNs over the coming years. The Group is the main forum for developing and making recommendations to the Minister on future actions arising from the review report and stakeholder feedback. DRCD is also commissioning a research project to: • explore the demographic characteristics of groups and individuals involved in PPNs; • investigate the diversity involved; • establish an evidence base on the area; and • make recommendations on increasing the involvement of under-represented groups in PPNs, drawing on the ‘Values and Principles for engagement and partnership working with the community and voluntary sector’ and the ‘Guidelines for Inclusive engagement in local planning processes’. It is envisaged that the research will involve extensive consultation with groups found to be under- represented on PPNs. The Values and Principles for collaboration and partnership working with the community and voluntary sector were approved by Government and were launched in 2022.

2. What solution are you proposing? The following actions are proposed to address the problems identified over the next two years: 1. Finalise and Implement the roadmap for the PPNs to support inclusive policymaking and enhance input into local decision making from 2024 onwards. 2. Promote more inclusion and diversity in the membership of the PPNs, implementing the recommendations of the planned research from 2025 onwards. 3. Continue to host a Civic Forum for dialogue between the Community and Voluntary Sector and the state to strengthen collaboration and partnership working. 4. Monitor the use by government departments of the agreed values and principles for collaboration and partnership working with the community and voluntary sector.

3. What results do we want to achieve by implementing this commitment? The proposed action will contribute to the overall aim of strengthening and developing participative approaches to the development of public policy and programming. All of the actions will be implemented in collaboration with representatives of the Community and Voluntary sector. There will be a Civic Forum for dialogue with the community and voluntary sector held in 2024 and 2025. The outcomes will be recorded, shared and evaluated in collaboration with representatives of the Cross-Sectoral Group, which oversees the implementation of the Government’s five-year strategy for the Community and Voluntary sector. More inclusion and diversity will be achieved in the membership of the PPNs. The research on barriers to involvement in PPNs will be undertaken in 2024, and will include a range of recommendations based on its findings, which will aim to increase diversity among PPN membership, where required, and to develop a youth engagement strategy. The Department will work with PPN stakeholders to implement the recommendations arising from the research, and will monitor progress in accordance with the arrangements to be agreed. The Roadmap for the PPNs will set out a wide range of actions agreed by the Working Group of PPN stakeholders, which will be implemented in accordance with the priorities agreed following extensive consultation and engagement with all stakeholders involved. The Roadmap will set out those responsible for each action as well as a timeframe for their delivery, which is expected to begin to roll out in 2024. Government departments will demonstrate evidence of their use of the Values and Principles for engagement and collaborative working with the community and voluntary sector. DRCD will seek reports from Government Departments and compile this for sharing with the Cross-Sectoral Group.

Commitment Analysis

1. How will the commitment promote transparency? N/A

2. How will the commitment help foster accountability? N/A

3. How will the commitment improve citizen participation in defining, implementing, and monitoring solutions? The proposed action will improve the participation of civil society organisations in a number of ways; • It will provide for the continuation of a Civic Forum for dialogue between the state and the community and voluntary sector, co- designed with representatives of the C&V sector. • It will further strengthen the role of the PPNs at local level, engaging c 18,000 organisations, through the implementation of an agreed Roadmap. • It will enhance inclusion and diversity in the membership of PPNs following the implementation of agreed recommendations arising from research into this topic. • It will monitor the use of the Values and Principles for engagement and collaborative working with the community and voluntary sector, by all Government Departments, including identification of what more can be done to support Departments in embedding the values and principles.

Commitment Planning (Milestones | Expected Outputs | Expected Completion Date)

Civic Forum co-designed in Q3 2024 Civic Forum held in Q4 2024 All inputs collated and published Outcomes will be evaluated in collaboration with C&V sector representatives | Civic Forum held in 2024 The outcomes will be recorded, shared and evaluated in collaboration with representatives of the Cross-Sectoral Group (which oversees the implementation of the Government’s five-year strategy for the Community and Voluntary sector | Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Q4 2024 Q1 2025

Civic Forum co-designed in Q3 2024 Civic Forum held in Q4 2025 All inputs collated and published Outcomes will be evaluated in collaboration with C&V sector representatives | Civic Forum held in 2025 The outcomes will be recorded, shared and evaluated in collaboration with representatives of the Cross-Sectoral Group (which oversees the implementation of the Government’s five-year strategy for the Community and Voluntary sector) | Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026

Issue request to all Government Departments First Monitoring Report Review of report with the Cross Sectoral Group on Community Development | First Monitoring Report prepared Monitoring report including examples of embedding of values and principles and identification of what more can be done to support Departments in embedding the values and principle will be produced for review in collaboration with the Cross- Sectoral Group | Q4 2023 Q1 2024 Q2 2024

Issue request to all Government Departments Second Monitoring Report Review of report with the Cross Sectoral Group on Community Development | Second Monitoring Report prepared Monitoring report including examples of embedding of values and principles and identification of what more can be done to support Departments in embedding the values and principle will be produced for review in collaboration with the Cross- Sectoral Group | Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025

PPN Implementation Roadmap agreed The Working Group will remain in place to oversee the implementation of the Roadmap in conjunction with the National Advisory Group | Implementation Roadmap agreed and published Oversight meetings held | Q1 2024 2024-2025

Commencement of research into barriers to participation in PPNs Extensive consultation with all PPN stakeholders Report completed Implementation and monitoring arrangements agreed with PPN stakeholders | Research commenced Inclusive research consultation processes completed Research report completed and published Implementation and monitoring arrangements agreed | Q4 2023 End Q2 2024 Q3-Q4 2024 2025