End of Commitment Report – Strengthen the population’s engagement for monitoring the implementation of the Municipal Agenda 2030.

Name of Evaluator

Neusa Maria Bastos Fernandes dos Santos

Email

[email protected]

Member Name

São Paulo, Brazil

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 – São Paulo, Brazil, 2021 – 2024

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...

Strengthen the population’s engagement for monitoring the implementation of the Municipal Agenda 2030.

Title

Strengthen the population’s engagement for monitoring the implementation of the Municipal Agenda 2030.

Action

The commitment aims to strengthen the population’s engagement in monitoring the implementation of the Municipal Agenda 2030 and implies actions aimed at establishing an official information channel on the indicators and action plans of the Sustainable Development GoalsOGP countries are experimenting with open government innovations to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16+ which includes peaceful, just and inclusive societies... in the scope of the municipality of São Paulo; the Elaboration and implementation, with the participation of civil society, of a Communication and Engagement Plan for the 2030 Municipal Agenda; and carrying out continuous training processes on the theme for various groups.

Problem

Low engagement of the population in monitoring the implementation of the Municipal Agenda 2030.

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

Complete

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The 3rd Open Government Action Plan for São Paulo, proposed after a dynamic 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..., resulted in 4 Commitments. Commitment 2 aims to strengthen public engagement in monitoring the 2030 Municipal Agenda, enhancing 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 in São Paulo City Hall (PMSP), anchored in 4 Milestones:
Milestone 2.1. ObservaSampa platform as the official channel for the 545 indicators of the 2030 Municipal Agenda and the Action Plan for implementing the 2030 Agenda, monitored annually.
Milestone 2.2. Integrated communication page for all municipal plans, including the Action Plan for implementing the 2030 Municipal Agenda, made available and periodically updated.
Milestone 2.3. Draw up and implement, with the participation of civil society, a Communication and Engagement Plan for the 2030 Municipal Agenda.
Milestone 2.4. Ongoing training actions to implement the 2030 Municipal Agenda.
The progress of Commitment 2 was satisfactory, as 21 of the 23 planned action steps had been achieved.

Provide evidence that supports and justifies your answer:

Sao Paulo’s Third Open Government Action Plan

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

The main external and internal factors that impacted the implementation of Commitment 2 can be listed as:
High level of commitment and participation from the different actors in civil society (Inspro, Delibera Brasil and Instituto Cidades Sustentáveis) and government (Executive Secretariat for Planning and Priority Deliveries, Secretariat for Greenery and the Environment, Municipal Secretariat for Finance, Open Government Coordination, Municipal Secretariat for International Relations).
Alignment of Commitment 2 with Open Government values such as transparency, public participationGiving citizens opportunities to provide input into government decision-making leads to more effective governance, improved public service delivery, and more equitable outcomes. Technical specificatio..., and/or public accountabilityAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, public accountability occurs when ”rules, regulations, and mechanisms in place call upon government actors to justify their actions, act upon criticisms ... More as defined by the Open Government declarationThe Open Government Declaration is the declaration of commitment to upholding the principles of open and transparent government, approved by the founding countries of OGP in 2011. Countries are requir... and the OGP governance articles.
The potential of Commitment 2 to generate significant impacts such as, for example:
ObservaSampa platform as the official channel for the 545 indicators of the 2030 Municipal Agenda and the Action Plan for implementing the 2030 Agenda, monitored annually.
The 3 editions of Virada ODS (municipal event on the SDGs) that took place in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Course offered by UMAPAZ on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Publication of the 2030 Agenda Monitoring Report.
Survey of municipal employees’ initial perception of the SDGs and the City Council’s actions related to the 2030 Agenda.

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:

Commitment 2 was anchored by 4 milestones and 23 action steps. Two action steps were not met:

Action step 2.3.4. Implementing the “SDG Ambassadors” project, which will select around 100 adults (aged between 18 and 60) to be mentors on the theme of the SDGs in primary schools in the municipal educationAccountability within the public education system is key to improving outcomes and attainment, and accountability is nearly impossible without transparent policies and opportunities for participation ... network in the authorial cycle.

Action step 2.3.5. Recognizing schools, companies, and professionals through the implementation of the “ODS SP Award”

These projects were not implemented because the Basic Technical Assistance Agreement for “Project BRA/23/003” between the UNDP and PMSP was not renewed. The decision followed an internal evaluation aligned with the municipality’s strategic guidelines, according to the Municipal Secretariat for International Relations (SMRI). Also, per SMRI, the justification was technical: the UNDP was migrating to a quantum system, delaying and making some processes unfeasible. As a result, access to the SMRI grant was not possible.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Commitment no.2 – Evidence

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?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

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

Commitment 2 focuses on strengthening public engagement in monitoring the implementation of the 2030 Municipal Agenda. Through this Commitment, the government has disseminated more information, improved the quality of information (new or existing), improved the value of information, improved the channels for disseminating or requesting information, and improved accessibility to information. The following action steps stand out:
Action step 2.1.1. Monitor the 545 indicators of the Municipal Agenda 2030
Action step 2.1.2. Carry out/conduct research to evaluate the availability of the Municipal Agenda 2030 indicators with civil society
Action step 2.1.3. Update the Municipal Agenda 2030 indicators annually
Action step 2.1.4. Offer training on the ObservaSampa platform, which includes the SDGs, to interested parties via EMASP or another platform
Action step 2.1.5. Publish the Report to communicate and monitor the implementation of the actions of the Action Plan and the progress of the indicators of the 2030 Municipal Agenda.

Provide evidence for your answer:

2030 Agenda Monitoring

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.

The government created new opportunities for citizen feedback to inform and influence decisions, improved existing channels for citizen feedback, and enhanced capacities in government and the public to improve citizen engagement.

Delivered:
Action step 2.3.1. To draw up, in a participatory process, a guiding document with the main communication and awareness-raising strategies for strengthening the 2030 Municipal Agenda in the municipality.
Action step 2.3.2 Mapping channels and broadcasting materials on the 2030 Municipal Agenda, according to the guidelines of the Communication and Engagement Plan.
Action step 2.3.3. Carry out the Virada ODS in a territorialized way, covering the city’s five macro-regions.
Actions step 2.3.6 Survey of municipal employees’ initial perception of the SDGs and the City Council’s actions related to the 2030 Agenda
Actions step 2.3.7 Produce and disseminate a regular bulletin on the implementation of the 2030 Municipal Agenda for municipal employees
Action step 2.3.8 Hold debates and disseminate material on the 2030 Municipal Agenda at the 2022 and 2023 Sustainable Turnarounds
Action step 2.3.9 Collaborative coverage of the 2030 Municipal Agenda with the Imprensas Jovens

Not delivered:
Action step 2.3.4. Implementing the “SDG Ambassadors” project, which will select around 100 adults (aged between 18 and 60) to be mentors on the theme of the SDGs in primary schools in the municipal education network in the authorial cycle.
Action step 2.3.5. Recognizing schools, companies and professionals through the implementation of the “ODS SP Award”

They weren´t implemented because the Basic Technical Assistance Agreement for “Project BRA/23/003” between UNDP and the PMSP was not renewed.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Communication Plan 2030 Agenda

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

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

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

Through Commitment 2, the government has improved channels, opportunities, and capacities to hold employees accountable for their actions through the following lines of action:
Action step 2.4.1 To offer the “Monitoring and evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Ibero-American Cities” distance learning course at the Municipal School of Public Administration of São Paulo – Emasp, aimed at municipal civil servants and councillors.

Action step 2.4.2 Implement the UMAPAZ Sustainable Schools Program.

Action step 2.4.3 Offer training and educational materials on the SDGs for anyone interested via a free learning path.

Action step 2.4.4 Offer training on the SDGs for anyone interested via the Open Government Agents Program.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Training activities

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

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

Commitment 2 is an instrument for promoting, strengthening, and fostering transparency, accountability, 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, and technology and innovation initiatives in the São Paulo City Hall (PMSP). Focusing on the UN 2030 Agenda, Commitment 2 addressed public policy issues with an emphasis on the following action steps:

2.2.1. Identify existing plans and instruments in the municipality, including a brief description of their main objectives

2.2.3. Improve the page proposal, using different filters/views, within the WG2A, in order to define the final format of the integrated communication page for municipal plans, validated with the WG2A and FGC (content and minimum layout, subject to some changes)

2.2.4. Creation of a communication page for all municipal plans.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Integration of Plans

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.

1. Revitalize the “SDG Ambassadors” project, attracting a greater number of mentors to disseminate and communicate the SDG themes in the city’s primary schools.
2. Work towards renewing the UN partnership and continuing the basic technical assistance agreement.
3. Annually monitor the management of indicators for the 2030 Municipal Agenda and its Action Plan.