Action plan – Pichincha, Ecuador, 2024 – 2027

At-a-Glance

Duration

May 2027

Date Submitted

30th November 2024

Foreword(s)

During the 2019-2023 period, significant progress was made in implementing an Open Government model, which fosters active 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 in the planning, execution, and monitoring of public works and projects. One of the key achievements in 2020 was the approval of the Citizen Participation System Ordinance, which integrates processes like participatory budgeting, sectoral councils, and territorial cabinets, consolidating efficient, equitable management focused on the needs of the territory. In 2022, the Ombudsman’s Office awarded the Prefecture of Pichincha a seal of compliance with the Organic Law on TransparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More and Access to Public Information, recognizing the publication of required information on the institutional website. This achievement reflects the Prefecture’s 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... to transparency in public management.

Building on these achievements, Pichincha renewed its commitment to provincial development by updating the 2023-2027 work plan, presented to the National Electoral Council, titled “For the Reactivation of Life in Pichincha”. This plan outlines 5 routes and 200 strategic milestones, with Route 5: Open Government being a prominent focus. This route aligns with the values of the Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More (OGP).

In 2024, Pichincha was accepted as a member of the OGP Local, marking a significant milestone in the province’s integration into global open governance networks. This recognition reinforces Pichincha’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment, promoting more inclusive and efficient management for the benefit of its entire population. Following this acceptance, on June 18, 2024, the collaborative process of constructing the First Open Government Action Plan of Pichincha began, with active participation from citizens, social organizations, citizen leaders, academic institutions, and other stakeholders. Through co-creation spaces, they identified needs and formulated commitments to address them.

Open Government Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Vision

What is the long-term vision for open government in your context and jurisdiction?

To be a participatory and transparent provincial government that empowers citizens with spaces for dialogue to co-create effective and equitable public policies.

Strategic objectives:

1. Participation: Facilitate citizen participation in decision-making.
2. Transparency: Guarantee access to public information and promote a culture of openness and transparency.
3. Collaboration: Promote alliances between government, civil society, and the private sectorGovernments are working to open private sector practices as well — including through beneficial ownership transparency, open contracting, and regulating environmental standards. Technical specificat....
4. Innovation: Utilize technology to improve interaction and public services.

The success of open government hinges on a commitment from authorities and the active participation of citizens. By working together, we can build a more effective, transparent government that is more responsive to the needs of the population in Pichincha province.

What are the achievements in open government to date (for example, recent open government reforms)?

The GADPP, in compliance with the Organic Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information – LOTAIP, through the institutional website in the transparency module, allows citizens to access information on administrative management

The GADPP, in addition to complying with the constitutional mandate, the Organic Law on Citizen Participation, and the Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy, and Decentralization (COOTAD), adheres to the accountability process outlined by the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control. This process involves the authority employing mechanisms and processes of citizen deliberation, justifying its actions, assuming responsibility for its decisions, and providing timely responses and reports on the outcomes of its management

Citizen participation has also been a priority for the GADPP. The focus has been on empowering citizens in public decision-making, reinforcing their active role, and promoting mechanisms for participation in public affairs management.

What are the current challenges/areas for improvement in open government that the jurisdiction wishes to tackle?

In the 2021 period, one hundred and sixteen (116) citizen oversight were carried out, according to the accountability report presented to the CPCCS for that year.

The Open Government model is grounded in citizen participation, growing a foundation for public policy issues that are developed and implemented. Empowering and involving citizens in the governance of public institutions presents a challenge. It is necessary to shift citizen thinking from seeking solutions to their needs to actively engaging and integrating themselves in finding those solutions.

In an increasingly complex social and economic reality, it is crucial that citizens, who live and understand their daily needs firsthand, actively contribute to the formulation of public policies. Adequate decision-making requires the knowledge, experiences, opinions, and values of citizens. The successful implementation of challenging decisions largely depends on the consent, approval, and support of citizens.

What are the medium-term open government goals that the government wants to achieve?

The co-creation of the First Pichincha Action Plan aims to:

• Strengthen and promote spaces for dialogue and citizen participation in the province of Pichincha.
• Bring the Prefecture and its management closer to the citizens.
• Strengthen actions based on the pillars of open government.

How does this action plan contribute to achieve the Open Government Strategic Vision?

This First Open Government Action Plan of Pichincha proposes as a central axis the strengthening and promotion of spaces for citizen participation and transparency in public management. It aims to position the people of Pichincha as fundamental actors in the governance and management of the Decentralized Autonomous Government of the Province of Pichincha.

How does the open government strategic vision contribute to the accomplishment of the current administration’s overall policy goals?

This model focuses on citizenship and allows citizens to:

• Express their needs and participate in the search for solutions.
• Access public information in a timely and easy manner.
• Participate in the design, monitoring, follow-up, and evaluation of public policies.
• Strengthen their capacities and knowledge on issues of common interest.
• Innovate and energize economic activities.
• Visualize better social scenarios.

Engagement and Coordination in the Open Government Strategic Vision and OGP Action Plan

Please list the lead institutions responsible for the implementation of this OGP action plan.

• Planning Department – GAD Province of Pichincha
• Directorate of Popular and Solidarity Economy – GAD Province of Pichincha
• Gender Directorate – GAD Pichincha Province
• Directorate of Stake Citizen – GAD Province of Pichincha
• Directorate of Rights – GAD Province of Pichincha

What kind of institutional arrangements are in place to coordinate between government agencies and departments to implement the OGP action plan?

• Organic Law on Citizen Participation.
• Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy and Decentralization (COOTAD).
• Development and Territorial Planning Plan for Pichincha 2023 – 2027.
• Cooperation agreement with FUNDAPI.

What kind of spaces have you used or created to enable the collaboration between government and civil society in the co-creation and implementation of this action plan? Mention both offline and online spaces.

To co-create this Action Plan, the following activities were carried out:

• Meeting to establish the Open Government Multi-Stakeholder ForumRegular dialogue between government and civil society is a core element of OGP participation. It builds trust, promotes joint problem-solving, and empowers civil society to influence the design, imple... Pichincha.
• Virtual work tables to receive proposals with citizen participation.
• Face-to-face work tables for receiving proposals with citizen participation.
• Receiving proposals through an online form on the institutional website.
• Extended meetings of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum for selecting proposals in collaboration with the directorates of the Prefecture’s various work areas.

What measures did you take to ensure diversity of representation (including vulnerable or marginalized populations) in these spaces?

The co-creation of the First Open Government Action Plan of Pichincha involved various methodological phases aimed at engaging the widest possible range of people in its collaborative development. These phases included:

• Creating new spaces for dialogue between the Prefecture and its citizens.
• Forming the Multi-Stakeholder Forum: This forum comprised representatives of civil society, 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 ..., the productive sector, leaders, men, women, and members of priority attention groups and diverse communities.
• Receiving, evaluating, and validating proposals for innovative solutions to territorial challenges.

Who participated in these spaces?

The formation of the Pichincha Open Government Multi-Actor Forum was carried out through a call to the different sectors of the community of the province, this is focused on the grouping of representatives of the productive sectors, academia, the citizens, leaders of social organizations, especially groups of priority and gender attention, representatives of civil society organizations, in addition to the involvement of the various areas of the Prefecture, which are detailed below continuation:

Representatives:

• Citizens of the parishes.
• Citizens of gender groups.
• Citizens of gender diversity.
• Citizens of the Productive Sector, which includes the Economic Sector Popular and Solidary.
• Youth representative.
• Technicians from the Planning Department.
• Secretary of the Transparency Committee.
• Technicians from the Directorate of Citizen Participation.
• Technicians from the Gender Directorate.
• Technicians from the Productive Axis Directorates.
• Civil Society: FUNDAPI
• Academia.

How many groups participated in these spaces?

15

How many public-facing meetings were held in the co-creation processCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders (e.g., citizens, academics, private sector) is at the heart of the OGP process. Participating governments must ensure that a dive...?

2

How will government and non-governmental stakeholders continue to collaborate through the implementation of the action plan?

Priority would be given to the creation of consultative spaces for public management, through dialogue and citizen participation for the exchange of information, which promotes the development of public policies, projects, and proposals for the prevention, protection, and care of victims and survivors of gender violence and care groups.

Please describe the independent Monitoring Body you have identified for this plan.

ESPE University.

Provide the contact details for the independent monitoring body.

• Esthela Elizabeth Salazar Proaño, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Coordinator, eesalazar1@espe.edu.ec

What types of activities will you have in place to discuss progress on commitments with stakeholders?

• Meetings.
• Virtual work tables.
• Face-to-face work tables.

How will you regularly check in on progress with implementing agencies?

Through the presentation of quarterly progress reports on compliance with commitments, to generate proposals for improvement if necessary

How will you share the results of your monitoring efforts with the public?

Through socialization meetings with citizens and publication in institutional media.

Endorsement from Non-Governmental Stakeholders

• Eduardo Bejar, Director, FUNDAPI
• Flor Toapanta, Representative, Lilas in Action Collective
• Devy Grijalva, Trans feminist activist,
• Tito Ibarra, President, General Meeting of the El Pisque System
• María Elena Quimbiamba, Representative, Antonio Gramsci Foundation

Commitments:

• Co-creation of the model of Management of intersectoral tables on rights, gender, and sexual diversity generic of Pichincha.
• Co-creation of the management model of the table intersectoral economic and productive table of Pichincha.
• Co-creation of a government platform, Pichincha Open with open information and data.

First Open Action Plan of Pichincha 2025-2027
Primer Plan de Accion del Gobierno Abierto de Pichincha 2025-2027
Pichincha Open Government- Proposals for the First Action Plan