A Better Overview of Committees, Boards and Councils – More Public Access to Information and Better Opportunities for Further Use (NO0032)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Norway Action Plan 2013-2015
Action Plan Cycle: 2013
Status: Inactive
Institutions
Lead Institution: The Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs.
Support Institution(s): NA
Policy Areas
E-GovernmentIRM Review
IRM Report: Norway End-of-Term Report 2014-2015, Norway Second IRM Progress Report 2013-2014
Starred: No
Early Results: Did Not Change
Design i
Verifiable: No
Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information
Implementation i
Description
The Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs has
responsibility for keeping a record of central government committees, boards and
councils. The record is available in a database that can be accessed from the Norwegian
Government website, Regjeringen.no. The database contains information provided by
the various ministries, and has no facilities for advanced searching.
Make the record of committees, boards and councils easier to use for the general
public, public administration and research institutions.
IRM End of Term Status Summary
2. A better overview of committees, boards, and councils—more public access to information and better opportunities for further use
Commitment Text:
The Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs has responsibility for keeping a record of central government committees, boards and councils. The record is available in a database that can be accessed from the Norwegian Government website, Regjeringen.no. The database contains information provided by the various ministries, and has no facilities for advanced searching.
Commitment Description
Make the record of committees, boards and councils easier to use for the general public, public administration and research institutions.
KEY IMPACT BENCHMARK
Make the information available in the form of searchable files
ACTIVITIES
In cooperation with the Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs (Government Administration Services), the Norwegian Social Science Data Services (NSD) and the Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (Difi) will prepare principles for technical solutions.
Responsible institution: Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs
Supporting institution(s): None
Start date: Unclear End date: 1 July, 2014
Policy Aim
There currently exists no centralized source of information on who participates on municipal government boards and committees. The commitment aims to improve the functionality of a website (regjeringen.no, as referenced in the commitment text), maintained by the Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (Difi), to make information on board and official committee membership in municipal governments easier to access. A prototype website has been developed based on recommendations from an independent consultant, though it is not clear whether any formal “principles” have played a role in this process.
Status
Mid-term: Unable to tell from government and civil society responses
The Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation (KMD) reports that work on this commitment began with a preparatory phase. It is not clear what activities this included, and the IRM researcher was not able to gather any additional information or to secure an interview with the contact point for this commitment.
End-of-term: Limited
The consultancy firm, Northern Beat, was contracted to produce a work plan for improving the functionality of the website and a website prototype, which was delivered in 2015. The work plan is on file with the IRM researcher, but not publically available. According to the IRM researcher’s examination of the work plan, it is clearly informed by the needs of journalists and researchers to access relevant information. According to the KMD focal points interviewed, this initiative was motivated by internal government dissatisfaction among government employees with their ability to access information local boards and councils. Desire for a better overview was voiced within KMD, and was not demanded or requested by any civil society or business groups.[Note 11: Tom Arne Nygaard and Terie Drystad, interview by Christopher Wilson, in-person interview, Offices of the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, September 31, 2016. ]
KMD’s focal point further stated that this report was welcomed by the Government Administration Services (DSS), who commissioned it and is responsible for implementing the changes to the website. The contract for that implementation is now under tender, according to the focal points in KMD.[Note 12: Ibid.] The IRM researcher understands the work plan to include “principles” referenced in the activity description of this commitment, but since the information is not yet publically available, the researcher assessed progress on the commitment to be limited.
Did it open government?
Access to information: Did not change
Improving access to information regarding individuals' participation on government committees, boards, and councils is a positive step in improving transparency. However, the website has not been built yet, and the IRM researcher cannot yet make a determination on whether or how it will change government practice. Some civil society actors have noted the potential value of this register for tracking political influence and financial relationships in Norwegian local governance.[Note 13: Information meeting on the second national action plan (June 13, 2013), interviews with Transparency International Norway (March 18, 2015) and Norwegian Press Association (September 1, 2016), notes on file with researcher. ] In addition, the Norwegian Press Association noted that while this initiative gathers existing information into a central electronic archive for public access, it does not compel the provision of such information, and registration of participation in many municipal boards and committees is still voluntary.[Note 14: Nils Øy (Special Adviser, Norwegian Press Association), interview by Christopher Wilson, in-person meeting, Offices of the Norwegian Association of the Press, September 1, 2016. ]
Carried forward?
This commitment has not been carried forward in the Norwegian government’s third national action plan, which is available on the OGP website.[Note 15: ”Norway’s third action plan Open Government Partnership (OGP),” Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, accessed September 4, 2016, http://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2001/01/Norway_2016-17_NAP.pdf.]
Commitments
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Archiving Documents
NO0054, 2019, Capacity Building
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Making Energy Statistics Available
NO0055, 2019, Anti-Corruption
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e-Access and Expansion
NO0056, 2019, Access to Information
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Open Cultural Data
NO0057, 2019, Access to Information
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Digital Spatial Planning
NO0058, 2019, E-Government
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Streamline Public Procurement
NO0059, 2019, Anti-Corruption
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Preventing Corruption
NO0060, 2019, Anti-Corruption
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Beneficial Ownership Registry
NO0061, 2019, Anti-Corruption
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User Orientation
NO0045, 2016, Capacity Building
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Electronic Public Records (OEP)
NO0046, 2016, E-Government
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Transparency Regarding Environmental Information
NO0047, 2016, E-Government
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Disclosure of Financial Data
NO0048, 2016, Access to Information
-
Transparency Regarding Rainforest Funds
NO0049, 2016, E-Government
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State Employees’ Ownership of Shares
NO0050, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Promote Freedom of Expression and Independent Media
NO0051, 2016, Civic Space
-
Country-By-Country Reporting
NO0052, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Register for Ultimate Beneficial Ownership
NO0053, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Public Review and Public Consultation
NO0020, 2013, Capacity Building
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Registering and Preserving Digital Documentation Produced by Public Bodies
NO0021, 2013, Access to Information
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The Norwegian Citizen Survey (Innbyggerundersøkelsen)
NO0022, 2013, Public Participation
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Whistleblowing
NO0023, 2013, Anti-Corruption
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Strengthened Information Exchange for More Efficient Crime Prevention and Combating
NO0024, 2013, Justice
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Strengthening the Transparency of Public Authorities and Administration
NO0025, 2013, Access to Information
-
Egovernment with an End-User Focus
NO0026, 2013, E-Government
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Plain Legal Language
NO0027, 2013, Capacity Building
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Norwegian Grants Portal (MFA)
NO0028, 2013, Aid
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An International Convention or Agreement on Financial Transparency
NO0029, 2013, Private Sector
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Reducing Conflicts of Interests – Post-Employment Regulations
NO0030, 2013, Anti-Corruption
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Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector
NO0031, 2013, Security & Public Safety
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A Better Overview of Committees, Boards and Councils – More Public Access to Information and Better Opportunities for Further Use
NO0032, 2013, E-Government
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Modernizing Public Governance
NO0033, 2013, Capacity Building
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues
NO0034, 2013, Anti-Corruption
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Transparency in the Management of the Government Pension Fund (GPF)
NO0035, 2013, E-Government
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Transparency and Anti-Corruption Efforts
NO0036, 2013, Anti-Corruption
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The Municipal Sector
NO0037, 2013, Education
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“Simplify” (“Enkelt Og Greit”)
NO0038, 2013, E-Government
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Electronic Public Records (OEP) – (Offentlig Elektronisk Postjournal)
NO0039, 2013, Access to Information
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Re-Use of Public Sector Information (PSI)
NO0040, 2013, Access to Information
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Access to Health Data
NO0041, 2013, E-Government
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Renewal of the Government’S Website (Regjeringen.No – Government.No)
NO0042, 2013, E-Government
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Declaration of Principles for Interaction and Dialogue with NGOs
NO0043, 2013, Capacity Building
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Simplification and Digital Administration of Arrangements for NGOs
NO0044, 2013, Capacity Building
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0001, 2011, Anti-Corruption
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Measures to Promote Gender Equality and Women’S Full Participation in Civic Life, the Private Sector, the Public Administration and Political Processes.
NO0002, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Participation in the Private Sector
NO0003, 2011, Gender
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Increase Women's Representation in Local Government
NO0004, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality Program
NO0005, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Inclusion of Immigrant Women
NO0006, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Combat Gender Stereotypes
NO0007, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Youth Initiatives
NO0008, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Combat Domestic Violence
NO0009, 2011, Gender
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency
NO0010, 2011, Aid
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Government Global Pension Fund
NO0011, 2011, Fiscal Openness
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Combat Tax Evasion
NO0012, 2011, Fiscal Openness
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Multi-National Companies
NO0013, 2011, Fiscal Openness
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Create Central Communication Policy
NO0014, 2011, Fiscal Openness
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0015, 2011, E-Government
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Public Data Use
NO0016, 2011, Public Participation
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Statistic Publication
NO0017, 2011, Access to Information
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Public Opinion Survey
NO0018, 2011,
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0019, 2011, Public Participation