End of Commitment Report – Integration of under-represented groups

Name of Evaluator

Asociación GIGAPP

Email

info2@gigapp.org

Member Name

Aragón, España

Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... Title

Action plan – Aragón, Spain, 2021 – 2023

CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action...

Integration of under-represented groups

Action

Launching projects that promote the empowerment of groups that have greater opportunity costs in order to mobilise them in political and citizen participationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to m... More. One of the opportunities in this field is the combination of open government and social innovation, particularly focusing on fostering and promoting participation among groups that traditionally remain on the fringes of participatory processes and, in general, of public life: women, youths, children and immigrants. Through projects like Aspasia (participation + feminism), Open Kids (children’s participation), Social Impact Academy (youths), Hateblockers (alternative digital narratives) and Gobierno Fácil (disabilities and mental health), a breeding ground of communities is being created, bringing the government to them and vice versa. The objective here is not only open dialogue but also community engagement by creating mixed communities with shared aims.

Problem

Full political engagement and citizen participation have an opportunity cost that only citizens and groups that are better-off can often afford due to the obstacles to access arising from work- and family-related obligations or social integration. In addition, the technical vocabulary and legalese used by the administrations to communicate with citizens is not usually adapted to the different target profiles, thus generating in practice a kind of political and citizen participation that standardises society, excluding certain groups.

1.1 What was the overall level of progress in the commitment implementation at the time of this assessment?

Substantial

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

• OpenKids Initiative (milestones 1.01 to 1.08).
• Social Impact Academy Initiative (1.09 to 1.11).
• Hateblockers Initiative (milestones 1.12 to 1.17).
• Aspasia Initiative (milestones 1.18 to 1.20).
• Easy Government Initiative (milestones 1.21 to 1.24).

The general assessment of this commitment shows a high (substantial) level of compliance on time. As we will detail later, some of these initiatives have been awarded and enjoy international recognition.
In general, it can be said that the progress of this commitment and the fulfillment of the substantive milestones included here contributed significantly to the greater openness of the government. Some of these projects show exceptional progress in terms of openness, where underrepresented groups were able to have a voice, train, raise awareness, and participate in the improvement of public services and documents.

Provide evidence that supports and justifies your answer:

• Implementation Assessment- OGP Aragon 2021-2023

1.2 Describe the main external or internal factors that impacted implementation of this commitment and how they were addressed (or not).

Although some of these initiatives had already begun before this first action plan began, these are notable actions, the development and implementation of which also operated within the period of validity of this plan.

The thematic priorities assessed here were identified, configured, and specified in the co-creation phase. With its inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr..., it was also possible to incorporate part of the work already started by the LAAAB to promote spaces for reflection and participation that are inclusive, relevant, specific, and oriented to such groups and needs. Regarding the actions defined and included in this Action Plan, the main learning identified by the monitoring entity is that the space-ecosystem of innovation and citizen action that the LAAAB of Aragón has built and maintains is an effective and necessary space to promote a more inclusive, open and innovative democracy, which allows genuine models of citizen participation, relevant and effective, as well as specific and
oriented to specific products and results.

This ecosystem has proven to be capable of articulating innovative initiatives to serve groups that have historically been relegated or not considered in public debate and public policies. It has also proven to be capable of promoting more inclusive participation and changing the way we interact with people for the better, giving closeness and trust to citizens.

1.3 Was the commitment implemented as originally planned?

Most of the commitment milestones were implemented as planned.

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The general assessment of this commitment shows a high (substantial) level of completionImplementers must follow through on their commitments for them to achieve impact. For each commitment, OGP’s Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) evaluates the degree to which the activities outlin... (18 completed, 4 with substantial progress and two not started.

Provide evidence for your answer:

• Implementation Assessment – OGP Aragon 2021-2023

2.1.1. – Did the government disclose more information; improve the quality of the information (new or existing); improve the value of the information; improve the channels to disclose or request information or improve accessibility to information?

Not Applicable

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

This commitment focuses on the integration of underrepresented groups. The vast majority of initiatives and milestones are associated with the creation and development of spaces and instances of participation.

2.1.2. – Did the government create new opportunities to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation inform or influence decisions; improve existing channels or spaces to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation/ inform or influence decisions; create or improve capabilities in the government or the public aimed to improve how the government seeks feedback from citizens/enables participation/ or allows for the public to inform or influence decisions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

Some of these projects, such us Social Impact Academy, Aspasia and Easy Government show exceptional progress in terms of openness, where underrepresented groups were able to have a voice, train, raise awareness, and participate in the improvement of services and public documents. With them there was an opening of genuine spaces for interaction (either because they were previously non-existent or because they had innovative elements in their design) and because of the demonstration of their consolidation as projects that have allowed changes in government practice from different fronts. and purposes.

Provide evidence for your answer:

• Implementation Assessment – OGP-Aragon 2021-2023

2.1.3 Did the government create or improve channels, opportunities or capabilities to hold officials answerable to their actions?

Not Applicable

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

This commitment focused on the integration of underrepresented groups, with which the vast majority of initiatives and milestones are associated with the creation, development of spaces and instances of participation.

2.1.4 Other Results

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

2.2 Did the commitment address the public policy problem that it intended to address as described in the action plan?

Yes

3. Provide at least one lesson or reflection relating to the implementation of this commitment. It can be the identification of key barriers to implementation, an unexpected help/hindrance, recommendations for future commitments, or if the commitment should be taken forward to the next action plan.

Regarding the actions defined and included in this action plan, the main learning identified by the monitoring entity is that the space-ecosystem of innovation and citizen action that the LAAAB of Aragon has built and maintains is an effective and necessary space to promote a a more inclusive, open and innovative democracy, which allows for genuine, relevant and effective citizen participation models, as well as specific and oriented towards specific products and results.
This ecosystem has proven to be capable of articulating innovative initiatives to serve groups that have historically been relegated or not considered in public debate and public policies. It has also proven to be capable of promoting more inclusive participation and changing the way we interact with people for the better, giving closeness and trust to citizens.

Through its work and projects, it can be said that the LAAAB Aragón has been able to implement changes in the usual practice of the government, from changes in the use of administrative documentation, adapted to the needs of specific groups with clear language, to the deployment of a territorial child and youthRecognizing that investing in youth means investing in a better future, OGP participating governments are creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in government processes. Technical ... participation policy strategy based on local actions, among many more.

The open government approach is successfully inserted into the DNA of the work carried out within the LAAAB. Under the definition of this strategic line of integration of underrepresented groups, it would be possible that the future actions of the LAAAB will guide its work on new projects or on the reactivation of successful ones, which seek, for example, to serve and give voice to the Romani community, to the agenda against depopulation to the immigrant population in its diversity, from older adults in situations of social vulnerability or unwanted loneliness to the different target groups of care policies.