Colombia created automated services to process citizen comments and input into the procedures and services of select prioritized sectors.
Problems and Purpose
Commitment 15 of Columbia’s Open Government plan focuses on better access to services and procedures in prioritized sectors. It includes the goals attributed to the Departamento Administrativo de la Función Pública (DAFP) in collaboration with the Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicaciones (MinTIC) which sought to generate a prioritization of automated procedures through citizen contributions, hand in hand with the work carried out by MinTIC for the construction of the Map of Government Route Online. [2]
The goals were as follows:
06/16 : “Priority procedures and services for rationalization and automation incorporating citizen contributions.
06/17: Updated procedures and prioritized services for rationalization and automation incorporating citizen contributions” [1]
Background History and Context
In Colombia, bureaucratic procedures that must be carried out by the national public administration have been negatively perceived. Since the rationalization of the procedures would be a point of relief in terms of quality of life of the Citizens, the DAFP established a program in which people were consulted on the most cumbersome procedures (even when they are not part of the sectors prioritized by the consultation) with the aim of limiting the burden placed on citizens in their interaction with the state.[1]
Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
Departamento Administrativo de la Función Pública [1]
Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicaciones
Participant Recruitment and Selection
Methods and Tools Used
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
Through the participatory process, 16 high-impact procedures for citizens and 43 high-impact procedures for entrepreneurs were identified. Furthermore, 3,710 public servants were trained and advised on Anti-corruption Plan issues, streamlining procedures and the use of the Single Procedures Information System. 30 of the prioritized processes have been streamlined through citizen meetings (six administrative improvements, two regulatory improvements and 22 technological improvements).[1]
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
During the action plan’s second year, efforts to streamline State procedures continued, reaching a total of 545 streamlined procedures in all sectors and government levels, which, according to DAFP estimates, meant savings of more than 18 trillion pesos (around 6 million USD) in operating costs. Of the streamlined procedures, 77 belong to the prioritized sectors: health (31), education (18), environment (14), justice (11) and social inclusion (3). Finally, in the framework of the implementation of the peace agreements with the former FARC guerrillas, 64 new procedures have been identified to be rationalized [1]
Analysis and Lessons Learned
The independent reporting mechanism considered this initiative to have a significant impact on citizen participation, since the “use of participatory strategies for prioritizing and streamlining online procedures...integrate[s] the interests of various social actors in decision-making to improve the services provided by the State.” The report recommended a constant review of the procedures and training to strengthen the SUIT portal, as well as greater collaboration with civil society organizations in order to monitor these processes.[2]
See Also
References
[1] Open Government Partnership. (n.d.). Prioritization Automation Services Procedures and Citizens with Contributions (CO0050). Retrieved from https://www.opengovpartnership.org/members/colombia/commitments/CO0050/
[2] Hernández Bonivento, J. A. (2017). Independent Reporting Mechanism: Colombia Progress Report 2015-2016. Retrieved from
https://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Colombia_Progress-Report_2015-2017.pdf