E-PARTICIPATION AS A PROCESS AND

PRACTICE: WHAT METEP CAN MEASURE, WHY

AND HOW?

Second meeting of the Task Force on Access to Information under the Aarhus Convention
(Geneva, Palais des Nations, Switzerland, Salle VIII)
16 - 17 December 2013

Development Management Branch (DMB)

Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM)
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
Citizen Participation
UN Public Administration Glossary:

“…implies the involvement of citizens in a wide range

of policymaking activities, including the
determination of levels of service, budget priorities,
and the acceptability of physical construction
projects in order to orient government programs
toward community needs, build public support,
and encourage a sense of cohesiveness within
neighborhoods.

UN World Public Sector Report 2008 http://www.unpan.org/Directories/UNPublicAdministrationGlossary/tabid/928/language/en-

US/Default.aspx

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 UN Conference on Sustainable
Development
stressed effective governance at
local, national, regional and global
levels as representing the voices
and interests of all

resolved to enhance participation

and effective engagement of civil
society

Source: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/66/288&Lang=E
What is METEP?

METEP is a diagnostics &

analytical tool for
measuring and evaluating e-
Participation
practices

http://www.unpan.org/dpadm/ .. 4
E-Participation
is the process of engaging citizens
through ICTs in policy and
decision-making in order to make
it participatory, inclusive,
and deliberative

http://www.unpan.org/dpadm/ .. 5
Engaging citizens is beneficial:
 At the early stages
 Through the implementation
stages by facilitating dialogue
 To receive feedback

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Common participatory activities
 e-Campaigning, including e-Petitioning
 Community building / Collaborative e-
environments
 e-Consultation
 Online deliberation
 Information provision online
 e-Polling
 e-Voting

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3 main stages of e-participation
1. e-Information – provision of
information on the Internet
2. e-Consultation – organizing public
consultations online
3. e-Decision-making – evolving
citizens directly
in decision processes

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METEP’s assessment goals
1. Help identify and eliminate barriers for
participatory policy making
2. Help create and exploit effective public
engagement e-tools that are accepted by
citizens
3. Help develop capacities for
evaluating e-participation progress
for best practice exchange and
continuous learning

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Assessment formula

http://www.unpan.org/dpadm/ .. 10
METEP’s Proposed diagram

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Assessment

Public
Engagement
Process

Public Input
Process

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Target audience

senior/mid-level
government officials
other categories of
representing legal
public managers
departments
(or equivalent units)

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Self-Assessment Questionnaire
 Part 1: Fact Based Questions - a
factual observation

 Part 2: Experience Based

Assessment - assess, based on
direct experience

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Thank You