Improve open data exchange between local and central government (RS0052)

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? In a public administration system, the management of data flows, their accuracy and efficient exchange between the entities of that system are of key importance. Local self-government is independent of the central government, but the system of government cannot function effectively without good cooperation between these two levels of government. The same applies to data found in public companies, as they are the basis for the services most commonly used (traffic, energy, electricity, water, etc.). The data that is created and stored at the local level is necessary to the central level for good management and decision-making processes based on said information. However, the exchange of information between these two levels is sometimes not done in a satisfactory manner, primarily because there are no general rules governing this process, but the solutions are different in the case of different departments, which leads to different levels of efficiency. Access to data generated at the local level is of great importance for the work of the central government, and vice versa. Data exchange is often delayed, which negatively affects the work of both levels of government, and lowers the quality services to users. The data format is often non-standardized and tabulated as part of a narrative report (machine-readable and difficult to process and analyze). The method of reporting does not always contain clear instructions, so data from various sources flow to the central institution, which then needs to be further processed. Local governments are often required to submit the same data several times in different formats, by different public administration bodies. Also, the control of accuracy and quality of data is significantly reduced due to the undefined process. This can have a negative impact on the quality of conclusions and strategic decisions made at the central level, based on the processing of data generated in a way that is not centralized. Therefore, it is necessary to enable a fast, simple and standardized process of data exchange, primarily from the local to the central level of government. Keeping records in an open format (machine-readable format) would significantly contribute to better access to data throughout the administration system. So far, the activities of the national project "Open Data – Open Opportunities," which is a comprehensive intervention aimed at introducing data-opening policies and practices in the Republic of Serbia, have covered both the national and local levels. One of the most significant results in the field of regulation is the adoption of the Law on Electronic Administration (which prescribes the obligation to open data), as well as the related bylaws, the most important of which is the Decree on the method of working of the Open Data Portal (Official Gazette of RS, No. 104/18). 52 This Decree regulates more detailed conditions on the establishment and method of working of the Open Data Portal, including organizational and technical standards, as well as other issues relevant to the functioning of the Portal. On the Portal, sets of open data are published by public administration bodies, institutions, public companies, special bodies through which the regulatory function is exercised, as well as legal and natural persons entrusted with public authorities. The Regulation on the manner of working of the Open Data Portal defines the general legal framework in this area. In addition to this regulation, there are initiatives and initial results for the development of recommendations and models for data opening, for which it is necessary to create additional internal rules for data submission from local to national level of government, which would ensure the implementation of these recommendations and models.

What is the commitment? The commitment includes improving access to public sector data within the public authority system, improving data exchange between the provincial, local and central levels, and providing legal and organizational implementation mechanisms, which will enable the implementation, bearing in mind the independence of local self-government.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem? The commitment refers to the development of a uniform methodology and protocol for sending data from the place where they originate to the competent central institutions (including the manner and format of data collection). This practice is currently carried out in a way that is not efficient and represents a burden for local governments. A standardized methodology and training for its application would contribute to the generation of centralized data records that would be ready for publication in an open format, reuse, and visualization and analysis. This would form the basis for decision-making based on data. The goal is to improve and enhance the flow of information, its quality and accuracy and to have it generated, stored and updated in an open format. The obligation includes the development of binding instructions for the way data will be collected, the classification of the most important data types, selection of a data class that will be specially standardized, training of all relevant entities and monitoring the implementation and application of prescribed instructions on a pilot example. In this way, the identified problem is directly answered. The commitment also includes improving the internal flow of information within institutions and technical assistance for opening data.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? The commitment is relevant in relation to transparency because it deals with mechanisms meant to encourage the opening of data at all levels of government and their publication on the Open Data Portal, especially at the local level, as well as opening the data of public companies, raising quality and standardization of data and thus improving their availability. Prescribing models and prioritizing certain types of data increases their availability, both for bodies in the public authority system and for users 53 outside the system (civil society organizations, the economy, citizens). In that way, the realization of the right to information is enabled, and demanding that right is encouraged. The commitment is also relevant in relation to public responsibility, because it refers to the definition of rules and internal regulations on the local level, which assign the regulation of data access through the development of decisions of local governments and public utility companies for opening data, by areas and sectors of work, as well as the model of the rulebook on data collection, technical instructions and the model of job descriptions for introduction into the rulebooks on systematization. Finally, the commitment contributes to technology recognition in order to increase government openness and accountability, and promotes new technologies for the purpose of information sharing and citizen participation.

Additional information The commitment follows the goals of the eGovernment Development Program, one of which is specifically related to data-opening and raising the quality and standardization in the field of open data. The commitment also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Objective 16.6 (Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels), as well as Objective 16.10 (Ensure public access to information and protection of fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements).

Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable Start Date: End date: 1. Analysis of the current situation regarding the generation and use of data in the selected local government (what data is collected or generated, what is their quality, for how long, for what purpose, who generates them, how often and in which format, how they are stored and for what they are used, who uses them and how, who reports and on what basis and who manages the given data) I quarter of 2021 (March 2021) III quarter of 2021 (September 2021) 2. Prioritization of data sets by purpose, usage value and requirements from the central level based on the Analysis as well as development of general recommendations for opening data in selected local self-government units III quarter of 2021 (September 2021) IV quarter of 2021. (December 2021) 3. Development of an open data structure model for priority sets based on Analysis and prioritization IV quarter of 2021 (December 2021) I quarter of 2022 (March 2022) 54 4. Development of recommendations and models for amending/adopting internal acts for the institutionalization of the data opening process I quarter of 2022 (January 2022) II quarter of 2022 (April 2022) 5. Trainings and technical support for the application of the developed models and publishing on the Open Data Portal II quarter of 2022 (April 2022) III quarter of 2022 (August 2022)

Action Plan Review

Commitment 10: Standardisation of Local Level Public Sector Data

Results Report

Commitment 10. Standardization of local-level public sector data

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Modest

● Completion: Limited

● Did it open government? No early results to report yet

Among the five activities in this commitment, the Office for Information Technologies and eGovernment completed one - the analysis of the state of play regarding generating and using the data in local self-governments. [47] The remaining activities were not started.