Implementing online mechanisms to increase participation in decision-making (TNDAR0001)

Commitment ID

TNDAR0001

Commitment Title

Implement online mechanisms to increase participation in decision-making

Problem

Implementing online mechanisms to increase participation in decision-making seeks to address several key problems:

• Limited Public Engagement: Traditional decision-making processes often do not adequately include or reach a broad segment of the population, leaving many voices unheard.
• Transparency and Trust: A lack of transparency in decision-making can lead to mistrust between the public and governing bodies. People may feel decisions are made behind closed doors without sufficient public input or oversight.
• Accessibility Issues: Physical meetings or events for public participation can be inaccessible for many due to geographic, economic, or personal constraints (e.g., mobility issues, time constraints, lack of transportation).
• Speed and Efficiency: Traditional methods of gathering public input can be slow and cumbersome. Online mechanisms can streamline the process, making it easier and faster for both the public and decision-makers to communicate.
• Information Overload: Without structured and accessible online tools, citizens might struggle to find relevant information about ongoing and upcoming decisions, making it difficult for them to participate meaningfully.

By addressing these issues, the commitment aims to create a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient decision-making process that empowers citizens to have a direct and impactful say in governance.

Status quo

Current state of the problem: public participation in decision-making processes is severely limited. According to recent surveys, only 15% of citizens regularly participate in public consultations or city council meetings. A large portion of the population feels disconnected from government decisions, citing barriers such as lack of awareness, lack of access to participation opportunities, and the perception that their input will not make a difference. Furthermore, current mechanisms for participation are often outdated, relying heavily on physical meetings or paper submissions, which do not include all members of the community.

Actions already taken:

• Pilot projects: The Dar Chaabane El Fehri Municipality has begun pilot projects to test online platforms for public participation. These projects have shown promising results, with increased participation rates.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Efforts have been made to raise awareness of the importance of citizen participation. Campaigns have used social media, community events, and partnerships with local organizations to encourage more people to participate.
• Adopting Electronic Forms, remote sessions via the Internet, and direct interaction via live broadcasting via social media sites as working tools aimed at increasing interaction and communication between the municipality, citizens, and civil society.

Action

The commitment entails developing and launching an online platform designed to facilitate direct communication and engagement between citizens and decision-makers. This platform will include features such as idea submission portals, voting mechanisms for proposals, interactive surveys, real-time feedback channels, and forums for discussions on policy issues.

Expected Results:

• Increased Public Participation: A significant rise in the number of citizens actively participating in decision-making processes.
• Enhanced Transparency and Trust: Improved transparency in governmental decision-making, fostering greater trust between the public and governing bodies. - Greater Accessibility: An accessible platform that allows all community members, regardless of geographic or socioeconomic barriers, to engage in public consultations.
• Faster Feedback Loops: More efficient collection and analysis of public input, allowing for quicker and more informed decision-making.

Overall Objective: The primary objective is to create a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient decision-making process by leveraging digital tools to enhance public participation. By doing so, the commitment aims to strengthen democratic processes and improve the quality and legitimacy of decisions made by governmental bodies.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

The commitment to launching a citizen engagement platform addresses the problem of limited public participation, transparency and accessibility in decision-making processes. By providing an accessible online interactive space, it ensures broader and more representative citizen participation, overcoming physical and geographical barriers. The platform enhances participation through features such as real-time idea submission, voting and feedback, promoting a more inclusive and participatory governance process. Improved transparency through visual decision-making processes builds trust between the public and the government, while faster and more efficient feedback loops enable timely responses to citizen input.

Expected Outputs and Results:

Outputs: A fully functional online platform with interactive public engagement features. Regular engagement reports documenting levels of public engagement. Summaries of public consultations reflecting citizen input into decisions.

Outcomes:

• Increased rates of citizen participation in decision-making.
• Enhanced trust and transparency between citizens and the government.
• More informed and acceptable policy decisions that reflect the needs and desires of the public.
• Strengthened democratic processes with active and meaningful citizen participation.

This commitment ultimately leads to a more inclusive, transparent and responsive governance system, effectively addressing issues of limited participation and access to decision-making.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

This commitment aligns with the long-term goal of fostering inclusive and participatory governance as identified in the Open Government Strategy. The aim is to create a government that actively engages with its citizens, ensuring that their voices are heard and their inputs are integrated into the decision-making process. By leveraging digital tools and online mechanisms, this commitment seeks to:

• Increase Civic Engagement: Encourage more citizens to participate in governance through accessible and interactive online platforms.
• Enhance Transparency: Provide a transparent view of governmental processes and decisions, fostering greater public trust.
• Promote Accountability: Ensure that decision-makers are held accountable to the public by making the decision-making process visible and participatory.
• Strengthen Democratic Processes: Support a more vibrant and responsive democratic system where citizens can have a direct impact on policies and governance.

Overall, this commitment contributes to building a more open, transparent, and accountable government that prioritizes citizen engagement and inclusive decision-making.

Primary Policy Area

Civic Space, Digital Governance, Right to Information

Primary Sector

Cross-sectoral, Media and Telecommunications, Public Services (general)

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?