Open Government Participation Officer Network Reformation

Implemented Mar 19, 2020
Amended Apr 20, 2021

1

Each ministry takes turns in proposing topics for voting at collaborative meetings

  1. To enable ministries to think proactively about incorporating open government elements into their business and to enhance public-private partnerships through collaborative meetings, ministries are required to come up with at least one topic to be voted on at the collaborative meetings each year.
  2. In accordance with the “Guidelines for Processing Collaborative Topics in Open Government Collaborative Meetings,” all ministries are allowed to propose topics at collaborative meetings without the need for a vote, but work together with the Public Digital Innovation Space (PDIS) in processing; or they may propose topics for ballot in line with the year’s duty roster schedule, which will be decided at the monthly open government participation officers (PO) work meetings whether to become topics for collaborative meetings.
  3. Given the balance between and burden on the ministries, in the case of a month (quarter) when it is a ministry’s turn to present a topic for voting, it may not be required to do so if it has hosted two or more collaborative meetings that year. A duty roster will be drawn up based on the records of ministries hosting collaborative meetings in the past, with those with a higher frequency being placed in the last quarter.
  4. The selection of collaborative topics in collaborative meetings is based on the principle that there is a need for inter-ministerial collaboration due to the complexity of the issues at stake, divergent views of multiple parties, and active public participation. In case of deviation from the above guidelines or practical difficulties in collaboration, the PDIS team may, in conjunction with the National Development Council (NDC), discuss and amend the topics with the proposing agency.
  5. To give greater impetus to the Open Government National Action Plan, it is suggested that the authorities behind each commitment give priority to the multi-stakeholder forums or other issues necessitating public-private partnerships that are required for the pledges as topics self-proposed or by vote.
  6. The collaborative topics in collaborative meetings should involve inter-departmental matters and can be co-sponsored and co-hosted by multiple ministries; and to facilitate business promotion, ministries can swap the rotation months (quarters).

2

Take turns to be a table leader at collaborative meetings

    Given that the integration of the open government concept and operational methods can only be achieved through practical implementation, ministries are required to have their POs or staff rotate a table leader twice a year in collaborative meetings, so as to sharpen their chairing and interpretation skills required for dialogue with multiple stakeholders. The table leader's rotation may be made with the chair of the collaborative meetings.

    3

    Reinforce feedback review mechanism for collaborative meetings

      After the collaborative meeting, the PDIS team will invite the hosting/co-hosting POs to review the process of organizing the collaborative meeting and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement in both directions. Should a suggestion for improvement be of a general nature or involve policy, it will be considered to be brought up at the PO monthly work meetings, with the minutes of the meeting taken to be published, or the ministers without portfolio asked to coordinate with the relevant officials.

      4

      Commendations for significant open government cases

        In view of the substantial contribution made by POs or staff of the ministries in handling significant open government cases, the PDIS team will sign a letter requesting their respective agencies to give commendations to staff rendering meritorious service for significant and difficult cases.

        5

        Staff responsible for a significant open government task are allowed to devote themselves to the assignment within a certain time limit

          Should the PO in charge and staff be distracted by their day-to-day business from working on a major open government case, the PDIS team may coordinate with their respective agencies, as necessary, to allow them to focus on that task for a specific period of time.

          6

          The PDIS team assists agencies in promoting open government on multiple fronts

          1. The PDIS team has prepared the "Open Government Collaborative Meetings - A Teaching Guide" to assist agencies at all levels, through the provision of relevant courses, to understand the concept of open government, learn about the operation and mechanism of collaborative meetings, and integrate public-private partnership elements into their daily business. The PDIS team will continue to prepare and provide information on relevant lesson plans and render necessary assistance to authorities in their open government operations.
          2. In addition to organizing relevant courses or meetings, if there is a need for popularization or the identification of a target group in the agencies, the POs of all ministries may invite the ministers without portfolio to deliver lectures or courses in person, provided that a full program is planned and accompanied throughout.