Educating Officers and Officials at the Information Holders (Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information) (MK0055)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Macedonia, Second Action Plan, 2014-2016
Action Plan Cycle: 2014
Status: Inactive
Institutions
Lead Institution: Commission for the Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information
Support Institution(s): All information holders; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Information Society and Administration
Policy Areas
Capacity BuildingIRM Review
IRM Report: Macedonia End-of-Term Report 2014-2016, Macedonia Progress Report 2014-2015
Starred: No
Early Results: Marginal
Design i
Verifiable: No
Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information
Implementation i
Description
Educating officers and officials at the information holders (Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information)
IRM End of Term Status Summary
VII. FOI: Human, Operational and Financial Resources
Commitment 2.7: Trainings on Use of Data
Commitment Text: 2.7. Trainings for implementation of the Law on Use of Data from the Public Sector.
Commitment 3.2: FOI Trainings
Commitment Text: 3.2. 3.2. Educating officers and officials at the information holders.
Commitment 3.3: Commission Website
Commitment Text: 3.3. Making a new web site of the Commission.
Commitment 3.6: Commission Resources
Commitment Text: 3.6. Improving the financial and human resources of the Commission.
Responsible institution(s): Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information
Supporting institution(s): All information holders, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information Society and Administration (MISA)
Start Date: 1/4/2014 End Date: 31/12/2016
Commitment aim
These commitments sought to strengthen the human, financial, and technical resources supporting the implementation of the legal framework for access to information and release of open data.
Status
Midterm
Commitment 2.7: Complete
Commitment 3.2: Substantial
Commitment 3.3: Complete
Commitment 3.6: Limited
Commitments 2.7 and 3.3 were completed at the midterm. A new website for the Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information was established, and the Ministry of Information, Society, and Administration (MISA) conducted trainings on the new obligations from the improved legal framework. Commitment 3.2 was assessed as substantially completed, owing to trainings conducted for local administration and judicial officials. Commitment 3.6, improving Commission resources, was the only one in the cluster that had limited progress. The Commission remained underfunded and understaffed, and its budget decreased gradually each year.[Note 54: Commission for FOI, Annual Reports 2010-2015.]
For more information, please see the 2014-2016 IRM midterm report.
End of term
Commitment 2.7: Complete
Commitment 3.2: Complete
Commitment 3.3: Complete
Commitment 3.6: Limited
The government’s self-assessment did not state any additional progress on the commitments. However, a review of the Commission’s website and media reports showed that six additional trainings for 70 mostly newly-appointed officials were organised by the Commission.[Note 55: http://komspi.mk/en/.] The officials came from a variety of institutions, such as local authorities, state institutions, public companies, academia, the judiciary, and health and education institutions, all of which expanded the scope of the trainings. Considering that the Commission continues to organise and conduct trainings even beyond the end of the term, this commitment (3.2) is considered complete.
Commitment 3.6 had limited progress, since the government did not allocate additional resources, and the Commission remained underfunded. The government reported that there was an increase in the overall budget, due to the transfer of four staff members from other state authorities to the Commission. However, the Commission ended its 2015 financial year with a debt of approximately USD28,500, mostly for utility bills.[Note 56: Commission for FOI, Annual Reports for 2015, (Skopje:FOI Commission), 38 [available at: http://bit.ly/2c0Z88R in Macedonian].] This debt is an increase of 8% compared to that in 2014. Moreover, the unrestricted funds for the Commission remain extremely limited, thus hampering its work.
Did it open government?
Access to information: Marginal
In the last decade, the Commission has been a cornerstone institution guaranteeing the right to free access to information.[Note 57: Dance Danilovska-Bajdevska, Protection of the Right to Free Access to Information in Macedonia, master thesis, 2016.] Since its establishment, however, it has lacked the necessary human and financial resources to implement its obligations. In that sense, the commitments that address this issue fill an important gap.
Despite significant completion, the commitments only marginally improved access to information, due to the unambitious nature of the measures. There is increased information about the work of the Commission, due to its events and media coverage. The IRM researcher also noted an increase in the number of complaints submitted to the Commission by citizens,[Note 58: 356 from a total of 960 complaints in 2015 were submitted by citizens, compared to 136 from a total of 849 in 2015. Commission for FOI, Annual Reports for 2015, 6.] which may suggest that citizens are more informed and see the Commission as a useful legal remedy for protecting their rights. While it is possible that some of the effects of the other commitments could potentially lead to greater openness over time, the IRM researcher could not assess whether greater compliance and respect for the right to access information were achieved because of these commitments.
Carried forward?
The third national action plan contains a commitment on access to information, with several milestones, one of which is the training of public officials (3.2). The other measures in this cluster were not carried over to the new action plan. Some of the new milestones build on IRM recommendations in the midterm review, and are potentially more ambitious. They include the proactive disclosure of information, and the publication of requested information online.
Commitments
-
Awareness-Raising About Access to Information Rights
MK0121, 2018, Access to Information
-
Public Access to Central Register of the Republic of Macedonia
MK0122, 2018, Access to Information
-
Mapping Homeless and Socially Endangered Families and Individuals
MK0123, 2018, Access to Information
-
Monitoring Property Status of Elected and Appointed Officials
MK0124, 2018, Anti-Corruption
-
Assessment of Anti-Corruption Legislation
MK0125, 2018, Anti-Corruption
-
Open Treasury
MK0126, 2018, Access to Information
-
Publishing Procurement Information
MK0127, 2018, Access to Information
-
Health Sector Transparency and Establish a Cost Impact Assessment Mechanism
MK0128, 2018, Access to Information
-
Employment Program Transparency and Impact Assessment Mechanism
MK0129, 2018, Access to Information
-
Cataloging Data Sets in State Institutions
MK0130, 2018, Access to Information
-
Regional Open Data Initiatives
MK0131, 2018, Access to Information
-
Financial Transparency Tools
MK0132, 2018, Access to Information
-
Improvement in Local Public Service Delivery
MK0133, 2018, Fiscal Openness
-
Inclusive Local Decision-Making
MK0134, 2018, Gender
-
To Resilient Skopje Via Data Availability
MK0135, 2018, Access to Information
-
Access to Justice Development
MK0136, 2018, Access to Justice
-
Improving Access to Justice for Marginalized Groups of Citizens
MK0137, 2018, Access to Justice
-
Awareness-Raisinga About Climate Change
MK0138, 2018, Access to Information
-
National Assembly Capacity-Building
MK0139, 2018, Capacity Building
-
Increasing the Financial Transparency of the Assembly of RM
MK0140, 2018, Access to Information
-
Parliamentary TV Channel
MK0141, 2018, Access to Information
-
Citizen Participation in Assembly
MK0142, 2018, E-Government
-
Citizen oversight of legislative processes
MK0143, 2018, Legislative
-
Creation of Open Data Standards
MK0089, 2016, Access to Information
-
Improvement of the Open Data Platform and Its Approximation to the Citizens
MK0090, 2016, Access to Information
-
Rising Awareness of Open Data
MK0091, 2016, Access to Information
-
Cataloging and Categorization of Data Sets Held by State Institutions
MK0092, 2016, Access to Information
-
Open Data Linking on the State Institutions’ Portals
MK0093, 2016, Access to Information
-
Improvement and Facilitation of the Access to Information
MK0094, 2016, Access to Information
-
Implementation of the Law on Whistle-Blower Protection and Raising the Awareness for Whistle-Blowing
MK0095, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Open Data on Property Status of Elected and Appointed Persons
MK0096, 2016, Access to Information
-
Promotion of Integrity, Transparency and Accountability on Local Level and Monitoring the Progress
MK0097, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Promotion of Cooperation and Increased Proactivity in the Prevention of Corruption and Conflict of Interests
MK0098, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Open Budget Initiative
MK0099, 2016, Fiscal Openness
-
Open Data on Health Programs
MK0100, 2016, Access to Information
-
Creating a Legal Obligation for the Contracting Authorities for Mandatory Publication of Information Regarding the Public Procurement Contracts on Their Websites
MK0101, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Involving Representatives of Associations and Foundations, As Well As Other Civil Society Organizations, in Transparent and Objective Manner in Sector Working Groups for Planning and Programming of IPA 2
MK0102, 2016, Public Participation
-
Publication of Data on Signed Contracts and Received Assistance Through Infrastructure Development Program (Orio) Netherlands
MK0103, 2016, Aid
-
Introduction of a Publicly Accessible Register of Concession Contracts
MK0104, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Increased Budgetary Fund Benefits in Preventive and Curative Health Protection for Citizens
MK0105, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Publication of Data on Planned and Realized Domestic and Foreign Assistance for Rural Development and Agriculture on a Quarterly Basis
MK0106, 2016, Aid
-
Determination of Data on State Assistance to Be Published and Their Publication
MK0107, 2016, Aid
-
Developing Standards for Transparency and Open Data on Local Level
MK0108, 2016, Access to Information
-
Establishment of New Tools to Improve Financial Transparency and Accountability of Local Self-Government Units
MK0109, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Improvement of the Institutional Consultation Mechanism at the Local Level
MK0110, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Capacity Strengthening for Cooperation Between the Local Self-Government Units and Civil Organizations
MK0111, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Monitoring and Evaluation of Service Quality at the Local Level
MK0112, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Improvement of the Local Level Social Services
MK0113, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Improvement of Disabled People Social Inclusion at the Local Level
MK0114, 2016, E-Government
-
Improvement of the Local Level Communal Services
MK0115, 2016, Capacity Building
-
More Information for the Citizens on the Ombudsman Institution
MK0116, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Favorable Legal Environment for Social Contracts
MK0117, 2016, Civic Space
-
Developing Climate Policies at National Level in a Transparent and Participatory Manner
MK0118, 2016, Environment and Climate
-
Open Data on Climate Change at National and Local Level
MK0119, 2016, Access to Information
-
Ensuring Private Sector Accountability and Involvement in National Climate Change Action
MK0120, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Advancement of the Consultation Process with Stakeholders in the Policy Creating Process
MK0087, 2016, E-Government
-
Cooperation Advancement with the Civil Sector
MK0088, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Enhancement of the ENER Portal and Optimization of the Process of Public Consultation
MK0036, 2014, E-Government
-
Implementation of the Measures from the Strategy for Cooperation of the Government with the Civil Society (2012-2017)
MK0037, 2014, E-Government
-
Strengthening the Rules for Work and Use of ENER
MK0038, 2014, E-Government
-
Publication of the Results of Using ENER - " Mirror of the Government "
MK0039, 2014, E-Government
-
Monitoring of Openness of Government Institutions in the Processes of Policy Making and Law Drafting "Mirror of the Government: Public Participation in the Process of Law Drafting" Annual Report – Assessment Of:
MK0040, 2014, Public Participation
-
Capacity Building of Civil Society Organizations to Monitor the Implementation of Policies
MK0041, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Raising the Awareness About the Benefits of Open Government Partnership:
MK0042, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Greater Public Awareness and Use of Participatory Policy Making Through the Internet Portal e-Democracy by the Institutions, Companies, Chambers, Civil Society and Citizens
MK0043, 2014, E-Government
-
Establishing of an Advisory Body to Promote Cooperation, Dialogue and Encourage the Development of the Civil Society, Composed of Representatives of the Government, Administrative Bodies and Civil Society Organizations
MK0044, 2014, Public Participation
-
Improved Implementation of the Code of Good Practice for the Participation of Civil Society in the Policy Making Process
MK0045, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Open Data of the Bodies and Public Sector Institutions According to Their Technical Features Which They Create in Exercise of Their Powers That Will Be Made Available for Use
MK0046, 2014, Access to Information
-
Setting of Technical Standards for the Data Format and the Manner of Its Publication Prescribed by the Minister of Information Society and Administration.
MK0047, 2014, Access to Information
-
Establishing a Central Catalog of Public Sector Data Published for Use Based on a Catalog of Data from the Bodies and the Institutions of the Public Sector Www.Otvorenipodatoci.Gov.Mk (Opendata.Gov.Mk)
MK0048, 2014, Access to Information
-
Establishing a Database for the Contact Person in the Bodies and Institutions of the Public Sector Where a Contact Person Shall Be Appointed Responsible for the Technical Adaptation and Publishing of Data for Use, Their Publication on the Website of the Authority and Responsibilities for the Accuracy of the Catalog Data Www.Opendata.Gov.Mk.
MK0049, 2014, Access to Information
-
Introducing the Possibility for Submission of a Request by the Interested Parties for New Datasets for Use.
MK0050, 2014, Access to Information
-
Establishing a Platform for Data Mashing (Pilot 11 Institutions)
MK0051, 2014, Access to Information
-
Trainings for Implementation of the Law on Use of Data from the Public Sector
MK0052, 2014, Access to Information
-
Raising Public Awareness About the Right to Free Access to Public Information Through the Created and Conducted Media Presentations and Educational Campaign
MK0053, 2014, Access to Information
-
Establishing of Inter-Sector Working Group for Determining the Compliance with the Convention of the Council of Europe for Access to Public Documents and Setting National Legal Requirements for Accession to the Convention
MK0054, 2014, Public Participation
-
Educating Officers and Officials at the Information Holders (Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information)
MK0055, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Making a New Web Site of the Commission (Ministry of Information Society and Administration)
MK0056, 2014, E-Government
-
Regular Posting and Updating the List of Information Holders
MK0057, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Availability of All Public Information on the Web Sites of the Information Holders (All Holders)
MK0058, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Improving the Financial and Human Resources of the Commission (Ministry of Finance, the Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information and the Ministry of Information Society and Administration)
MK0059, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Increasing the Cooperation of the Commission with Associations and Foundations and Municipalities in RM Through Memorandum of Cooperation
MK0060, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Publishing Information About Budget and Program Implementation of Health Budgets, with Particular Focus on the Budgetary and Financial Implementation of Preventive Programs of the Ministry of Health, Obtained Through a Procedure of Access to Public Information Www.Esem.Org.Mk
MK0061, 2014, E-Government
-
Amending the Law on Free Access to Public Information (Ministry of Justice)
MK0062, 2014, Legislation & Regulation
-
Adoption of Amendments to the Law on Prevention of Corruption in the Direction Of:
MK0063, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Implementation of Activities to Raise Awareness of Public Administration and Citizens to Report Corruption and Other Unlawful and Impermissible Actions
MK0064, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Introducing Guidelines to the Integrity System and Their Further Piloting in the Municipalities and Central Level Institutions
MK0065, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Defining a Methodology for Assessing the Risks of Corruption by Updating the Concept of Integrity
MK0066, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Developing a Methodology for Monitoring the Progress of Implementation of Integrity Systems (Integrity Index) for Local Self Governments
MK0067, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Developing a Methodology for Monitoring Progress in Implementation of Integrity Systems by the Civil Society (Through Tools for Social Responsibility)
MK0068, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Continuously Promote the Use of It Tools for Social Responsibility in the Municipalities and Other Institutions
MK0069, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Building the Capacity of Civil Society Organizations to Monitor Anti-Corruption Practices At the Local Level Through Research and a LOTOS Study
MK0070, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Defining the Scope of the Elected and Appointed Persons Who Are Obliged to Submit Declarations of Assets and Interests Statement - Preparation of the Register
MK0071, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Implementation of the Open Budget Initiative
MK0072, 2014, Fiscal Openness
-
Public Procurement
MK0073, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Foreign Aid and Foreign Investment
MK0074, 2014, Aid
-
Developing Capacities at Local Level for the Implementation of Mechanisms for Proactive Communication with Citizens
MK0075, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Establish an Electronic Platform (Dashboard) with Indicators for the Budget and Delivery of Local Services
MK0076, 2014, E-Government
-
Improving Local Services Through Direct Collaboration with Citizens
MK0077, 2014, Public Participation
-
Transforming the Part of Local Services in e- Services
MK0078, 2014, E-Government
-
Participatory Policy Making at the Local Level- Obligatory Consultations with Citizens in Drafting/Amending of the Most Important Acts and Documents in the Local Government (Budget, Strategies, Urban Plans, Statute)
MK0079, 2014, Legislation & Regulation
-
Increasing Accountability and Promoting the Concept of Informed Consumers and Citizens, Service Users and Rights Through:
MK0080, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Publication of the Results of the Projects for Evaluation of Public Administration
MK0081, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Inclusive Elementary and Secondary Education for Persons with Disabilities
MK0082, 2014, Education
-
Enforcement Activities of the Center for Safer Internet Action Plan in Accordance with (Inhope Macedonia)
MK0083, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Analysis of the Results Obtained in Field Research at the National Level to Implement the Program
MK0084, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Informing Women on the Rights and the Services Available to Them with the Programme
MK0085, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Increasing Responsibilities and Promote the Concept of Environmental Protection (DEM – AD Treska, Makedonski Brod and Other Stakeholders):
MK0086, 2014, Environment and Climate
-
ENER online Participatory Tool in Legislation Drafting
MK0001, 2012, Public Participation
-
Www.E-Demokratija.Gov.Mk - on Line Tool for Participatory Policy Making
MK0002, 2012, E-Government
-
Introduction of Online Petitions
MK0003, 2012, E-petitions
-
Implementation of the Strategy for Cooperation of the Government with the Civil Society Sector
MK0004, 2012, Public Participation
-
Code of Best Practices for NGO Involvement
MK0005, 2012, Capacity Building
-
Www.Opendata.Gov.Mk
MK0006, 2012, Access to Information
-
Development of Business Model for Open Data
MK0007, 2012, Access to Information
-
Prioritizing Opening of Data
MK0008, 2012, Access to Information
-
Use of Inter-Operable Services as Guidance in Opening Data
MK0009, 2012, Access to Information
-
Plan and Monitor the Implementation of the Plans for Opening the State Institutions Information.
MK0010, 2012, Access to Information
-
Analyses of the Legal Framework Enabling Open Data.
MK0011, 2012, Access to Information
-
Improving Services Through Www.Uslugi.Gov.Mk
MK0012, 2012, E-Government
-
Integration of Citizen Logs, Their Update and Publishing
MK0013, 2012, E-Government
-
‘Traffic Light’ Project for Citizens’ Evaluation of the Administration.
MK0014, 2012, Public Participation
-
Provision of the Government Services Through Cloud Computing.
MK0015, 2012, E-Government
-
Introduction of One-Off Request for the Information from the Citizens.
MK0016, 2012, Access to Information
-
Use of Harm Test. and 2. Publication of Information Gathered Through the Free Access Law
MK0017, 2012, Access to Information
-
Publication of Easy to Search Public Information.
MK0018, 2012, Access to Information
-
Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Public Documents.
MK0019, 2012, Legislation & Regulation
-
Electronic Submission of Requests for Access to Public Character Information.
MK0020, 2012, Access to Information
-
Training of Access to Information Officers.
MK0021, 2012, Access to Information
-
Identification of Low Interest Areas for Business Investments. 2.Publication of Research.
MK0022, 2012, Education
-
Scientific and Research Cooperation Through the Internet.
MK0023, 2012, E-Government
-
Publication of Information from the State Statistical Office for Further Scientific Purposes.
MK0024, 2012, Education
-
Available Information About the Inspectorates
MK0025, 2012, Justice
-
Introduce Integrity Systems for Anticorruption Policies in the Public Administration.
MK0026, 2012, Capacity Building
-
Open Budget Initiative
MK0027, 2012, Fiscal Openness
-
Public Procurements
MK0028, 2012, Anti-Corruption
-
Foreign Assistance and Foreign Investments
MK0029, 2012, Access to Information
-
Opening of Information by the Municipalities
MK0030, 2012, Access to Information
-
Free Access to Information Training Local Self-Government Officials
MK0031, 2012, Access to Information
-
Integrity System on Local Level.1. Established Methodology. 2. Piloting in 10 Municipalities.
MK0032, 2012, Anti-Corruption
-
Promotion of Consumers Information in Selected Areas.
MK0033, 2012, Gender
-
Availability of Information Related To: Roads Safety, Air Quality, Safety of Workers
MK0034, 2012, E-Government
-
Public Health Information
MK0035, 2012, Health