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Sweden

Dialogue with civil society (SE0020)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Sweden Action Plan 2019-2021

Action Plan Cycle: 2019

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Government Offices of Sweden (Ministry of Infrastructure)

Support Institution(s): NA

Policy Areas

Civic Space, Open Data, Public Participation

IRM Review

IRM Report: Pending IRM Review

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: Pending IRM Review

Design i

Verifiable: Pending IRM Review

Relevant to OGP Values: Pending IRM Review

Potential Impact: Pending IRM Review

Implementation i

Completion: Pending IRM Review

Description

One particular aspect of OGP is precisely the promotion of open and transparent dialogue
with civil society and citizens. In a specific communication, the Government has asserted that
Swedish civil society is fundamentally stable and that Swedish policy has helped to improve
the conditions in which civil society organisations operate, but that Sweden also has
challenges that must be taken seriously, including a lack of public sector awareness of civil
society and its conditions. Conducting an open dialogue between the Government Offices
of Sweden and civil society representatives thus strengthens our OGP commitments and
demonstrates the Government’s desire for collaboration on this issue. It is also necessary to
conduct a dialogue with civil society in order to incorporate a citizen and user-centred
perspective in work going forwards. It is naturally important that input and opinions have
been received ahead of drawing up the OGP Action Plan, but it is at least as urgent, if not
more so, to engage in an ongoing dialogue with civil society in order to pick up on its needs
in practical work in the future.

The Government has developed and implemented a specific method for different forms of
dialogue with civil society known as sakråd, i.e. a focussed discussion seeking to improve the
Government’s underlying decision-making data and improve coordination between ministries
in dialogue with civil society. The Government has also worked with civil society
organisations to reach agreement on dialogue and consultation between the Government and
civil society organisations at national level. The agreement operates under the name Nationellt
organ för dialog och samråd mellan regeringen och det civila samhället (National body for dialogue and
consultation between the Government and civil society) (NOD). NOD aims to solve
problems together and supplement existing dialogue structures, including a formalised
dialogue format with civil society called Partsgemensamt forum (Joint-party forum) (PGF). In
PGF the dialogue itself is key. The intention is for the discussions to help to develop political
work to improve conditions for civil society organisations so that they can give people a
voice, provide services to their members and provide welfare services.

Twice per calendar year, the State is to invite participants to a relevant dialogue in such
formalised focussed discussions to obtain civil society input on the opportunities and
challenges of digitisation, especially linked to open data, innovation and collaboration. The
dialogue meetings must be documented. A final report with results, a summary and lessons
learned from the dialogues must be drawn up by the Ministry of Infrastructure.
• Responsible actor: Government Offices of Sweden (Ministry of Infrastructure).
• Other actors: Ministry of Culture, DIGG and other government agencies and
organisations affected.
• Report to be submitted by: December 15th, 2021.
• Contributes towards OGP principles: Transparency, Technology and Innovation,
Participation.

Commitments

  1. Open Data Plan

    SE0017, 2019, E-Government

  2. Make open data accessible

    SE0018, 2019, E-Government

  3. Capacity-building in digitaI sector

    SE0019, 2019, E-Government

  4. Dialogue with civil society

    SE0020, 2019, Civic Space

  5. Starred commitment Citizen-Centered e-Government

    SE0013, 2016, Environment and Climate

  6. Re-Use of Public Administration Documents and Open Data

    SE0014, 2016, Land & Spatial Planning

  7. Transparency in Aid Management

    SE0015, 2016, Aid

  8. Developing a New Format for Dialogue with CSOs

    SE0016, 2016, Public Participation

  9. Putting Citizens at the Centre (Egovernment) of Government Administration Reforms

    SE0008, 2014, Legislation & Regulation

  10. A Step Further on the Re-Use of Public Administration Documents

    SE0009, 2014, Capacity Building

  11. Increased Access to Swedish Aid Information

    SE0010, 2014, Aid

  12. Improved Opportunities for Dialogue and Transparency in Aid Management and Implementation

    SE0011, 2014, Aid

  13. Increased Aid Transparency at Global Level

    SE0012, 2014, Aid

  14. Continuing the Development of the Openaid.Se Platform

    SE0001, 2012, Aid

  15. Ensuring Full Implementation of the IATI Standard by 2015

    SE0002, 2012, Aid

  16. Implementing the Commitments in the Busan Partnership Document

    SE0003, 2012, Aid

  17. Playing a Leading Role in the Building Block on Transparency

    SE0004, 2012, Capacity Building

  18. Contributing to Further Define the Work Towards an EU Transparency Guarantee

    SE0005, 2012, Capacity Building

  19. Engaging in the Open Aid Partnership and Promoting ICT4D

    SE0006, 2012, Aid

  20. Broadening Open Government Commitments

    SE0007, 2012, OGP