Training civil servants in active disclosure (NL0046)

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? Various incidents and major events have shed light on the knowledge and skills of public servants in active public action. The perceived fairness, justness and the assigned legitimacy are under pressure and require more and targeted awareness and training of employees in dealing with information in all phases of the policy cycle. Much profit can be achieved because it is not so much about "wanting" (or motivations) but about "ability" (or capabilities) for many employees. You can learn from - living - practice and contribute to the civil servants passion and pride.

What is the commitment? The aim of this program is to strengthen the official craftsmanship of civil servants in the field of active public access and disclosure of information, by linking up with the recognition of possibilities for expanding the professional repertoire in this field.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem? By investing in putting active disclosure on the agenda at important moments such as the start of the career, employment, project start-ups and systematic reflection (intervision, among others), an incentive can be given that is also experienced as encouraging and appreciative.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? Active disclosure is first and foremost human work, and therefore a matter of craftsmanship. Organizations can enable their employees to qualify themselves for this and to make better use of the working methods and instruments that have developed further from this action plan. With the ultimate goal to achieve more openness and therefore more transparency, accountability and possibilities to participate.

Additional information This part of the action plan is closely related to the specific commitment about dealing with policy intimacy. There is also a relationship with internal communication activities at departments. In addition, this program can strengthen the deployment of the so-called Broad Dialogue (Brede Dialoog) that arises from the report by the Cabinet on the advice of the Council of State on ministerial responsibility (June 2020). This also applies to efforts of the Information Council in the field of dilemma logic and network communication in which the active handling of information and networks is pursued. For this program, a budget of €15,000 is made available by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable Start Date: End Date: 22 Assessment: Updating knowledge, attitudes, dilemmas and interventions for official action in the context of active disclosure. Using a flash panel (survey). 01-03-21 01-06-21 Analysis: Clarification of knowledge, attitudes and skills. Using 2 meetings with civil servants, administrators and stakeholders. 01-06-21 01-10-21 Embedding: Practical guidelines in the form of modules in – preferably existing – channels and platforms. (introduction and training programs, manuals and others) 01-10-21 01-06-22

Action Plan Review

Commitment 8: Investing in craftsmanship of civil servants in public access and disclosure of information

Results Report

Commitment 8. Investing in Craftsmanship of Civil Servants in Public Access and

Disclosure of Information

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Unclear

● Completion: Complete

● Did it open government? Marginal

This commitment sought to address behavioral dilemmas for civil servants that arise from the need for greater openness. It built off a commitment from the previous action plan around dilemma logic and moral deliberation. [27] The three milestones were fully completed. Stakeholders prepared extensive guidance and workshop materials for facilitators to guide so-called ‘dilemma conversations’, based on analysis conducted with external experts. The Ministry of General Affairs published the training materials in March 2023. [28] The impact of this commitment on opening government has been marginal. However, if the materials are taken up widely in the government, for example in onboarding for new civil servants, their impact could be high. For the fifth action plan, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations plans to include the value of openness in the “Guide to Civil Service Skills” (“Gids Ambtelijk Vakmanschap”) for all government employees and to include openness in the oath of office that new civil servants must take. [29]