Citizen Participation and Open Government Strategy
About this good practice
The Participation and Open Government Strategy includes 4 stages to create social value: inform, listen to, collaborate and decide. To do so, were implemented :
1) An open data and transparency portal to publish information about the city and its management (observa.gijon.es)
2) Another portal to allow citizens to contribute to the maintenance, improvement and conservation of the city’s infrastructures
3) A third facility to enhance participative processes : participa.gijon.es so as to create debate before legislation (i.e. 6 million on the budget)
Stakeholders and beneficiaries got involved at a very early stage. The initiative gather together a diversity of actors:
1) Political: City Council (all political parties)
2) Technical: Civil servants with different technical expertise
3) Citizens: Those who live in Gijon
4) NGO’s and local associations (also based in Gijon)
5) Economic partners such as Fundacion CTIC, Tecnalia, Desidedatum (start-up), T-Systems Iberia, Claritic’s…
Expert opinion
The Gijon Participation and Open Government Strategy strengthens collaboration between the city, its citizens, and economic networks through digital platforms that enhance transparency and participatory democracy. The initiative follows four stages—inform, listen, collaborate, and decide—and incorporates tools such as an open data portal for transparency (observa.gijon.es), a platform for citizen suggestions on infrastructure improvements (cuida.gijon.es), and a participatory portal for public debate before legislation (participa.gijon.es). Key stakeholders, including the City Council, civil servants, citizens, NGOs, and economic partners, were involved early on. Supported by €40,600 in ERDF funding and €80,000 from the local budget, the initiative fosters trust and shared governance, serving as a benchmark for developing similar open digital tools in European cities.
Resources needed
Local budget : 80000 euros + investment of political and civil servants
Contributions and support from citizens (improvement, inspection of the city, co-producers of public services…)
Evidence of success
- cuida.gijon.es : Average of 1000 complaints and 275 improvement suggestions per year
- participa.gijon.es: different drafts of municipal regulations i.e. Atmospheric regulation, Urban Sustainable Mobility Strategy, etc
- Eurocities runner up in 2016
Potential for learning or transfer
Gijon City Council has responded to the need for greater efficiency, transparency and participatory democracy by changing how it operates. At the heart of its transformation is a digital platform enabling residents to share responsibility for governing and managing the city and helping it become a stronger and more vibrant place to live and work.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Gijón City Council