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ASSESSMENT

Brazil´s Action Plan within the

Open Government Partnership

Updated VersionMay 6th, 2013

I – Introduction and Background Information

The Open Government Partnership is an international multilateral initiative, which counts on the participation of 58 countries, aimed at making governments more open, effective and accountable by means of the formulation of concrete measures to promote transparency, fight corruption, encourage civil participation and foster the development of new technologies.

Brazil’s participation in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) reflects the country’s commitment to strengthen transparency of Government actions, to prevent and fight corruption and to foster democratic ideals based on citizen participation in decision making processes.

It is the State’s duty to account for its activities and to offer citizens access to public information through accessible and easy-to-use tools, as well as to encourage the broader society to make full use of that information. Moved by this conviction, Brazil launched in September, 2011, its First Action Plan for Open Government.

The actions undertaken during the first year of the partnership reinforce the belief that Brazil's democratic process must be continually strengthened and that government transparency and public access to information provide for greater civil participation and for the enhancement of the quality of political debate. In this sense, the new technologies of communication and information emerge as an important tool for strengthening democratic processes.

The disclosure of this assessment is the reaffirmation of the commitments undertaken by Brazil within the OGP. Bringing together nations and organizations from the civil society engaged in transparency and open government, the OGP is a vehicle for advancing worldwide in the strengthening of democracies and human rights, the fight against corruption and the promotion of innovations and technologies to enhance the governance of the XXI century.

Represented by the Office of the Comptroller General, Brazil was one of the eight founding members of the OGP and has chaired the initiative since its was lauched, jointly with the United States in a first moment - until April, 2012 - and with the United Kingdom until September, 2012. In compliance with the rotation system adopted by OGP, Brazil has left the co-chairmanship in September, 2012, being then replaced by Indonesia. The country is still a

member of the Steering Committee and is currently a member of the Criteria and Standards Subcommittee.

Following this introduction is a self-assessment report of the initiatives undertaken by the country in its first Action Plan within the OGP. This is a second version of the report, developed out of recommendations from the Independent Review Mechanism of OGP and comments from society after the publication of the initial report, which was available online from October, 2012, to March, 2013, thus ensuring to citizens and government officials the opportunity to review the report and to state their points of view.

Brazil’s First Action Plan

OGP´s requirements include the submission of an Action Plan comprising concrete commitments related to the four principles of open government: transparency, citizen participation, accountability, and technology and innovation. These commitments are aimed at enhancing open government through the advance on one or more of the Partnership’s challenge areas: improving public services, increasing public integrity, increasing corporate accountability, creating safer communities and more effectively managing public resources.

That being said, it is worth noting that the Office of the Comptroller General was also responsible for promoting the participation of Brazil in the Open Government Partnership (OGP), coordinating efforts with numerous government bodies and the civil society with the aim of defining a Brazilian Action Plan. Relevant government bodies which developed initiatives related to OGP´s objectives were consulted in the process.

Brazil´s Action Plan in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) was enacted with the aim of strengthening the country´s commitment with the transparency of governmental acts, corruption prevention and fighting and the democratic principles of citizen participation in decision-making processes. Brazil committed to advance the promotion of public transparency and information access, to enhance national practices related to corruption prevention and fighting, to strengthen the management of public funds and to provide public services more efficiently, to promote integrity to public and private sectors and to foster citizen participation in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of public policies.

The commitments undertaken in Brazil’s Action Plan were formulated to reflect the guidelines, principles and challenges that drive the concept of open government, in

compliance with the Decree of September 15, 2011. The Plan included commitments from the Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education, the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic and the Office of the Comptroller General.

As to achieve the objectives of the Open Government Partnership, Brazil has sought to strengthen ongoing initiatives to promote transparency and social participation, as well as to develop new activities in collaboration with national public and private actors engaged with areas addressed in the Action Plan, seeking thereby to establish a fairer, freer and more equal society.

32 commitments were undertaken by the five Federal Government bodies aforementioned. The Plan sought to strengthen the country's commitment to the transparency of government actions, to the prevention and fighting of corruption and to the democratic ideals of citizen participation in decision-making processes. Details on the Action Plan implementation can be found in the third chapter of this report.

Furthermore, the bodies involved in the development of Brazil’s First Action Plan reached the conclusion that 11 other actions that were not originally part of it in fact do contribute to to the country’s advance in open government principles. These initiatives are highlighted in the final chapter of this assessment.

The Plan in Numbers

Body/Agency Number of Commitments

Office of the Comptroller General (CGU) 17Ministry of Science and Technology (MCTI) 1Ministry of Education (MEC) 3Ministry of Planning, Budget, and Management (MPOG)

12

General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic (SGPR)

2

Note: More than one Federal body can be accountable for the same committment

Challenges Number of Commitments

Improving Public Services 4Increasing Public Integrity 22

More Effectively Managing Public Resources 5Creating Safer Communities 0Increasing Corporate Accountability 1

Commitment Status NumbersImplemented 26Parcially implemented 4Not implemented 2

II –Sumary of the Process

Brazil´s first Action Plan was developed through consultations to public bodies from the country´s Federal Executive Branch, organizations from the civil society and the Board of Public Transparency and Corruption Combat, a collegiate advisory body subordinated to the Office of the Comptroller General, whose members are representatives from the government and the civil society.

Given the tight timeframe for the countries to join the initiative and simultaneously formulate their respective action plans, and also considering that Brazil co-chaired the initiative, the first challenge was to carry out a wide consultation process within the civil society on the Brazilian Action Plan. To this end, the aforementioned consultations also comprised a debate held within the National Congress, in an event organized by the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil´s House of Representatives) which gathered public bodies, private entities and organizations from the civil society.

Furthemore, the consultation process with the civil society on the Action Plan also comprised in person meetings, which employed past experiences and existing mechanisms to consult the society, developed by the various Brazilian public bodies and agencies for specific matters.

The body responsible for the implementation and updating of Brazil’s Action Plans is the Interministerial Committee for Open Government (CIGA), established by the Presidential Decree of 15 September, 2011. The CIGA gathers 18 ministries of the Federal Government and is coordinated by the Civil House of the Presidency. The Committee also comprises an Executive Group of seven ministries, whose coordination is the responsibility of the Office of the Comptroller General.

With the aim of engaging a larger number of actors from society, a participatory review process of Brazil’s Action Plan is currently in course, following the methodology for social participation in the revision and monitoring of the Plan, methodology that was jointly formulated by government and civil society.

As a result of the knowledge acquired during the formulation of the first Action Plan, Brazil developed mechanisms to advance and enhance the participatory review of Action Plans as a means of achieving a more democratic process. During the 1st Annual Meeting of the Open

Government Partnership in April, 2012, the Working Group of Civil Society was established in the country. This Group, which gathers 10 organizations from civil society, assists the Executive Group in the development of mechanisms to enhance citizen participation in the formulation process and monitoring of the implementation of Brazil’s Action Plans.

The formulation process of Brazil’s Second Action Plan was more dynamic and engaged several actors from the society and the Government. More than 80 organizations from the civil society throughout different parts of the country were invited to participate in virtual dialogues and an in person meeting. CIGA’s Executive Group has received a total of 32 proposals which were prioritized by civil society representatives in these meetings.

III – Implementation of Brazil’s Action Plan

Brazil has submitted an action plan which comprised concrete commitments to enhance OGP´s different challenging areas. Overall, the country secured 32 commitments undertaken by 5 Federal Government bodies, 26 out of which have been fully implemented, 4 were partially carried out, and only two were not implemented.

The Brazilian Action Plan was subject to a small review in March, 2012, which resulted in the extension of the established timeframes for the achievement of certain commitments. With the aim of assessing and monitoring the implementation of the commitments secured in the Brazilian Action Plan, information on the status of the actions related to each commitment goes detailed below.

Status of Brazil’s commitments within the Open Government Partnership

Commitment Deadline* StatusAgency

responsibleIndex Main challenge

Diagnostic study on the values, knowledge, and culture governing the access to public information in the Brazilian Federal Executive Branch

12/2011 IMPLEMENTED CGU • Public Integrity

Diagnostic study on the role of Federal Ombudsman Units in Brazil’s Access to Public Information Policy


Development of a guide and/or prime for public officials on access to information


Research study to identify the demands of society with regard to access to information, with a view to strengthening active transparency policies

06/2013NOT

IMPLEMENTEDCGU • Public Integrity

Development of a model to organize information services for citizens in bodies and entities of the Federal Executive Branch and the procedures for operation of the system governing the access to public information


Development of a Distance Education Program to build capacity of public officials on the issue of access to information


Development and delivery of capacity-building programs for public officials on issues connected to information management

09/2012NOT

IMPLEMENTEDCGU • Public Integrity

Preparation of a Catalogue of Public Data and Information provided on the internet by bodies and entities of the Federal Public Administration


Development and construction of the Transparency Portal’s Data Warehouse

09/2013PARCIALLY IMPLEMENTED

CGU • Public Integrity

Rees tructuring of the Transparency Portal


CGU • Public Integrity

Disclosure of data from the Resource Transfer Agreements and Contracts System (SICONV) in open data format

03/2012 IMPLEMENTED MPOG • Public Integrity

Building of a Platform for the Management of Strategic Information on Science, Technology and Innovation (Aquarius Platform)

09/2012 IMPLEMENTED MCTI • Public Integrity

Development of the National Open Data Infrastructure (INDA)


Capacity-Building Plan for INDA 12/2012 IMPLEMENTED MPOG • Public Integrity

Disseminating Actions for INDA 04/2013 IMPLEMENTED MPOG • Public Integrity

Brazilian Open Data Portal 12/2011 IMPLEMENTED MPOG • Public Integrity

Organization of the 1 st National Conference on Transparency and Social Control (1 st Consorcial)


Organization of the National Seminar on Social Participation

10/2011 IMPLEMENTED SGPR • Public Integrity

Organization of meetings of the Multiannual National Plan (PPA) Inter-Council Forum (2 nd Stage)

10/2011 IMPLEMENTED SGPR • Public Integrity

Establishment of a partnership with W3C Brasil


Establishment of a partnership with the Digital Culture Lab


Organization of the 1 st National Meeting on Open Data


School Development Plan (Interactive School PDE)

09/2012 IMPLEMENTED MEC •More effective

management of public resources

Facil itation of the access to specific databases on the Transparency Portal


CGU •More effective


Disclosure of data from the Unified Suppliers Registry (SICAF )

03/2012 IMPLEMENTED MPOG •More effective


R egistry of National Education Prices 09/2012 IMPLEMENTED MEC •More effective


Co ntract execution and management of Information Technology Services

09/2012 IMPLEMENTED MPOG •More effective


Implementa tion of the Pro-Ethics Company Registry

09/2012 IMPLEMENTED CGU • Corporate accountability

Systemic Integration of Ombudsman’s Units


CGU • Improvement of public services

Continued Training Policy for the Public Ombudsman’s Units of the Federal Executive Branch

09/2012 IMPLEMENTED CGU • Improvement of public services

Control Panel of the Integrated Monitoring and Oversight System (Public Module)

09/2012 IMPLEMENTED MEC • Improvement of public services

P ortal for the Guide of Public Services 09/2012 IMPLEMENTED MPOG • Improvement of public services

* in the case of multiple stages, the final stage is indicated.

Reference

• IMPLEMENTED Project. Commitment accomplished. • PARCIALLY IMPLEMENTED Project. Ongoing/behing schedule projects. • Projects that were NOT IMPLEMENTED.

Details on the commitments undertaken by the country in its First Action Plan within the Open Government Partnership are presented below, including data on the status of these commitments.

Additional Information on the Implementation of the Commitments

Commitment: DIAGNOSTIC STUDY ON THE VALUES, KNOWLEDGE, AND CULTURE GOVERNING THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION IN THE BRAZILIAN FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Challenge: Increasing Public Integrity

Commitment Description/Rationale: To perform a diagnostic assessment of the values, knowledge and culture governing the access to public information among federal public officials with the aim of subsidizing the development of outreach and capacity-building actions on the matter.

Current Status: The research was timely completed on the second half of 2011, and the results were published in December of the same year. A two-staged survey was carried out with authorities from the Federal Executive Branch: firstly, a qualitative survey was targeted at high-level management and advising officials, followed by a quantitative survey targeted at a group of officials ranked at different hierarchical levels and allocated at different federal government bodies.

The qualitative survey comprised interviews conducted by four consultants who talked to 73 (seventy-three) government authorities – officials with a permanent connection with the public administration or holding a position of trust – occupying hierarchically superior positions of leadership, management and advice.

The quantitative stage was based on a sample from a universe of approximately 580,000 public officials from the Federal Executive Branch. Approximately 15 thousand emails were selected, which were sent a link granting exclusive access to the website where the public official could respond to the survey shielded by greater safety. Out of the sample, approximately 986 servants from different bodies of the Federal Executive Branch voluntarily participated in the survey. Sample´s confidence interval reached 95%, with a margin of error of 3.5%.

The results of this research were consolidated in the Executive Summary of the “Diagnostic Research on the Values, Knowledge and Culture Governing the Access to Information in the Brazilian Federal Executive Branch”, available at http://www.acessoainformacao.gov.br/acessoainformacaogov/publicacoes/SUMARIO_FINAL.pdf. The diagnostic assessment showed a diversity of positions, perceptions and practices in the Federal Administration on the matter and pointed out challenges that need to be overcome for the implementation of the Access to Public Information Law.

Commitment: DIAGNOSTIC STUDY ON THE ROLE OF FEDERAL OMBUDSMAN UNITS IN BRAZIL’S ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION POLICY


Commitment Description/Rationale: The federal ombudsman´s units play a critical role in the areas of social control, citizen participation and improvements in public management. Additionally, they are important instances for the handling of information requests.

Increased engagement of the public ombudsman´s units was expected to occur with the enactment of Law No. 12,527, the Access to Information Law. Nevertheless, at that time there was no clear diagnosis of the reality experienced by the approximately 200 ombudsman´s units which operated in the Federal Executive Branch. Such diagnosis would be a critical condition for the development of strengthening actions for such government instances, enabling them to take a leading role in the implementation and monitoring of the Access to Information Law.

Current Status: The project was completed and a diagnosis was delivered, providing relevant information on the operation of the Ombudsman´s Units of the Federal Executive Branch as well as on the understanding of their respective head officers on the Access to Information Law and the role played by the Ombudsman´s Units to ensure the implementation of the aforesaid Law.

Based on the delivered diagnosis, the National Ombudsman´s Office established actions designed with the aim of securing enhanced engagement of the Ombudsman´s Units in the implementation of the Access to Information Law, comprising activities specifically targeted at the Federal Ombudsman´s Units, including workshops and the development of customized primers.

Commitment: DEVELOPMENT OF A GUIDE AND/OR PRIMER FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION


Commitment Description/Rationale: The primer "Access to Public Information: an Introduction to Law No. 12,527, of November 18th, 2011," features an overview on the right of access to information and on the Brazilian legislation, with the aim of providing grounds on the matter. It is a useful working tool for public officials responsible for handling society’s requests related to information produced by the Government.

Current Status: The CGU publishes the aforementioned primer on its website– http://www.cgu.gov.br/Publicacoes/, on the access to information portal - http://www.acessoainformacao.gov.br/acessoainformacaogov/publicacoes/index.asp and in all capacity-building events related to information access: on-site training sessions, lectures and seminars where the need to promote broad disclosure of the Access to Information Law within each

government body and agency is addressed. 300,000 primes were printed, of which, until August/2012, 213,935 had already been distributed.

Commitment: RESEARCH STUDY TO IDENTIFY THE DEMANDS OF SOCIETY IN REGARD TO ACCESS TO INFORMATION, WITH A VIEW TO STRENGTHENING ACTIVE TRANSPARENCY POLICIES


Commitment Description/Rationale: To learn about the needs and demands of society with a view to enhancing active transparency policies

Current Status: It is important to bear in mind that when this commitment was formulated Brazil still did not have the Electronic Citizen Information System (e-SIC), a websystem that enables citizens to formulate requests to the Brazilian Federal Government, to monitor the routing, to receive responses and to submit appeals. The e-SIC already comprises a substantial set of information required by society under the Access to Information Law. Therefore, the tool can be used as a means to obtain constant information on the society requests - instead of the portrait that a research would provide -, and it allows for each body or agency to manage the requests targed at them, thus substantially reducing costs. In line with this approach, the bodies and agencies of the Federal Executive released on their websites answers to frequently asked questions. Therefore, the action was not implemented, but the proposed objectives were achieved.

Commitment: DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL TO ORGANIZE INFORMATION SERVICES FOR CITIZENS IN AGENCIES AND ENTITIES OF THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THE PROCEDURES FOR OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM GOVERNING THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION


Commitment Description/Rationale: To facilitate the access of society to public information through the standardization of procedures to be adopted by all bodies and agencies of the Federal Executive Branch.

Current Status: Law No. 12,527/2011, the Access to Information Law (AtIL) was implemented within the Federal Executive Branch by Decree No. 7,724/2012, which establishes that any individual or

legal entity is entitled to submit an access to information request using a standard form which is to be made available in both electronic and physical means, on the internet and at the Citizen Information Service (SIC) desks kept by government bodies and entities

With the aim of facilitating the right of access to public information, the Federal Government has adopted the following strategy in regard to passive transparency (attendance of society´s requests): 1) establishment of at least one physical SIC desk located at the main office of each body and entity of the Federal Executive Branch; 2) establishment of a single electronic system, which is to be used by all government bodies and entities in order to receive access requests and which is to be managed by the CGU. By using this system, the applicant can submit his/her request; can use the protocol number generated upon receipt of such request to monitor the timeframes and receive the response to his/her request by email; can file appeals, complaints and check the received responses.

CGU has closely monitored the establishment of the physical SIC desks at bodies and agencies of the Federal Executive Branch as well as the compliance of timeframes and objectives for the implementation of the AtIL.

Additionally, all bodies and agencies of the Federal Executive Branch hosted e-SICs (virtual SICs). Thus, when accessing the e-SIC online, from the website of any federal body or agency or from the main website kept by the CGU (www.acessoainformacao.gov.br), the applicant may choose which organization he/she wishes to submit his/her request to.

Commitment: DEVELOPMENT OF A DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM TO BUILD CAPACITY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON THE ISSUE OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION.


Commitment Description/Rationale: The continued awareness and training of public officials is one of the pillars that secure the effectiveness of the Access to Information Law. Virtual education is thus a critical tool to expand the impact of capacity-building actions, adding to the success of the new access to information policy.

Current Status: A virtual course targeted at all public officials, regardless of the scope of the activities they perform, was developed with a view to introducing them on the principles of the right of access to information and the Brazilian Access to Information Law.

The objective of the virtual course "Towards a culture of access to Information: Law No. 12,527/2011" is to provide an overview on the Access to Information Law, addressing the

http://www.acessoainformacao.gov.br/

theoretical and conceptual framework, the culture of transparency, the access to public information and the Law itself. The syllabus is structured as follows (10 classroom hours):

Module I - Theoretical-conceptual framework;culture of transparency and access to public information;

Module II - Brazilian Access to Information Law.

By the end of July, 2012, four editions of the virtual course "Toward a Culture of Access to Information: Law No. 12,527/2011" had been implemented. The program offered 7,061 vacancies and registered a total of 6,026 public officials and employees who signed up for the course.

The syllabus is being presently updated to a new version. The launch of new classes should occur in the second half of 2013.

Commitment: DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON ISSUES CONNECTED TO INFORMATION MANAGEMENT


Commitment Description/Rationale: Building capacity of public officials on issues relating to information management adds to the enhancement of public transparency and integrity, as it paves the way for the effective implementation of information access policies. Obviously, citizens cannot be granted access to non-registered or unfound information. It is therefore crucial to keep delivering training and capacity-building activities to public officials that work with information management.

Current Status: The Office of the Comptroller General did not hold the proper techniques for implementing the training policy in the area of information management. A survey was conducted to define which bodies and agencies possessed the required knowledge to take on the iniciative.

The Ministry of Justice, through the National Archives, proposed that a project named "Implementing Document Management Policy in the Federal Government" was included in the second Brazilian Action Plan. The initiative will provide for the training of public officials in the identification, classification and assessment of documents produced and received within the body or agency that are in its innicial or intermediate stage, with the aim of facilitating its use by the Government and the citizens.

Commitment: PREPARATION OF A CATALOGUE OF PUBLIC DATA AND INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE INTERNET BY AGENCIES AND ENTITIES OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION


Commitment Description/Rationale: The catalogue is a tool which shall help society learn and locate data that has already been published by the Federal Government, providing valuable information to researchers, students, press and citizens engaged with social control. Additionally, it shall serve as a benchmark for other projects, notably the Portal of Federal Government´s Open Data.

Current Status: All reports required for the catalog’s elaboration have been delivered. The Office of the Comptroller General is now preparing its disclosure, which is planned to occur between late April and early May.

Commitment: DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRANSPARENCY PORTAL’S DATA WAREHOUSE


Commitment Description/Rationale: The tool shall provide for improvements on the Transparency Portal and on the performance of CGU´s investigation and audit activities, as it organizes information and provides for cross-checks of data with increased quality and speed

Current Status: The project is currently being implemented. Despite the conclusion of the modeling stage, some new bases that were introduced to the initiative after such phase still need to be molded. Difficulties during the outsourcing of the project’s implementation caused CGU to become responsible for its development. Recent addjustments in the project’s main source of information - the Integrated Government Financial Management System (SIAFI) – also had an impact on it. The project shall not be considered an isolated action in Brazil’s Second Action Plan, but shall is be considered a fundamental stage of the restructuring project for the Transparency Portal.

Identified risks: The nature and scope of the project represent a huge risk. Additionally, the dynamics of the data disclosured at the portal can be highlighted as one of the major risk factors. Since the beginning of the project, the following bases have been incorporated into the Transparency Portal:

Not-for-Profit Entities Debarment List (CEPIM)

Registry of Expulsion Penalties (CEAF)

Public Properties being used by public officials as dwellings

Salaries of Public Officials

Salaries of Public Officials working abroad

Commitment: RESTRUCTURING THE TRANSPARENCY PORTAL


Commitment Description/Rationale: The project was designed to enhance the access, display and use of all information disclosed in the Transparency Portal. The project prioritizes the disclosure of data in open formats, providing for greater interactivity with citizens.

Current Status: The CGU has revised the messages sent in the last three years through the channel "Contact Us" of the Transparency Portal with the aim of considering the society suggestions for the restructuring of the Portal. The CGU has also established a partnership with the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency with the purpose to develop the information architecture of the new Portal, establishing a new visual standard to be used by the Federal Government. Furthermore, a Data Warehouse (DW) of the Transparency Portal bases is being implemented, which will contribute tothe restructuring of the Portal.

Identified Risks: The implementation timeframe for this commitment depends on the successful development of DW, which under execution. In case of delays in the tendering process or in the deliver of such services, the timeframe estimated to complete this project may be compromised. Furthermore, the Project requires the use of innovative and complex tools to set up the Portal, and the timely implementation of such tools also depends on the success of the related procurement process. Additionally, the disclosure of new information and databases on the portal after the design of the project’s restructuring stage has led to multiple revisions on the navigation and data structure projects, which had an impact on the original timeframe. Finally, the Office of the Comptroller General is currently implementing other processes that are target at

enhancing the quality of services provided to the society, and the extent of the work associated with the results of these studies is yet to be evaluated.

Commitment: PROVIDING DATA FROM THE RESOURCE TRANSFER AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS SYSTEM (SICONV) IN OPEN DATA FORMAT


Commitment Description/Rationale: The disclosure of data related to covenants data in open format enables both society and governments to access information on the transfer of funds from the Federal Government to subnational governments.

Current Status: The project is completed. The disclosure of SICONV´s API can be accessed at api.convenios.gov.br. Such data were also indexed in the Portal dados.gov.br, ensuring greater publicity to relevant information related to the agreements and covenants executed by the Federal Government. As it consists of a programming interface, numerous bodies and agencies from the three branches of government also use it to ensure improved integration with their own systems. This solution also provides for greater publicity of information on SICONV, as it consists of a navigation tool designed to browse through such data.

Commitment: CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLATFORM FOR STRATEGIC INFORMATION MANAGEMENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION (AQUARIUS PLATFORM)


Commitment Description/Rationale: Aquarius Platform was designed to serve as a transparency tool, supplying society with a greater amount of information and working on G2G and G2C axis. It was designed to integrate information from the National Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) System, providing for the publishing of such information on knowledge panels and open data repositories. The division of the Aquarius Platform in charge of the development and implementation of process management practices at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) also plans to promote expressive improvements in the quality and time associated with the services connected to the aforementioned processes through the modeling and automation of critical procedures.

Current Status: Panels on Sector Funds and on Expenditures, integrated with CGU´s Transparency Portal, are finished and available at aquarius.mcti.gov.br. The official launch of such initiative is to be

determined by the MCTI. Two procedures related to the IT Act, which have already been modeled and automated, are still pending final approval and should be launched in November, a moment in which they should be also made available to the society, providing for the monitoring of ongoing proceedings via mobile devices. Panels designed to monitor existing indicators shall be made available as soon as a significant number of instances of ongoing proceedings are functioning. With regard to the establishment of project´s first outcomes, it may be stated that the project has achieved its initial objectives.

However, this project features continuous improvements and panels on scholarships, scientific production and agreements, which are to be launched later this year. Similarly, procedures related to tendering (tendering planning, selection of suppliers/vendors and contract management) as well as procedures related to the compliance with the Access to Information Law and with the control of the use of transportation vehicles are to be launched in the upcoming months.

The continuous improvement of this project comprises further data integration, supply of new panels and modeling and automation of new procedures. Thus, the project is under continuous improvement. September, 2012, the project’s initial date, is associated with its first outcomes, which have already been achieved. Therefore, the commitment was IMPLEMENTED.

Commitment: DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL OPEN DATA INFRASTRUCTURE (INDA)


Commitment Description/Rationale: This action comprises numerous activities related to the institutionalization of INDA, its planning and towards the development of medium and long-term actions to ensure its appropriate implementation.

Current Status: Administrative Ruling No. 4 was published on April, 12 th, 2012, establishing that the National Open Data Infrastructure (INDA) would work as a policy to ensure and facilitate the access by citizens, society and numerous instances of the public sector to data and information either produced or kept by the government. INDA´s Management Committee was established in August, 2012, composed by representatives from the Office of the President´s Chief of Staff, CGU, MCTI, MDS, Ministry of Education (MEC), Ministry of Health, the Secretariat-General of the Presidency of the Republic (SG/PR) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in addition to a representative from Civil Society and another from the academic sector.

INDA´s Action Plan was disclosed to public consultation in September, 2012. It sets the guidelines for the expansion of the open data policy within the Federal Executive Branch, defines several strategic goals and seeks to encourage other bodies and agencies to build their own action plans with increased objectivity and detail. The collaboration with society is one of the guiding principles for the development of INDA. Thus, many actions are being implemented with the aim of incorporating such contributions in a transparent and efficient manner. INDA’s Action Plan was approved in February, 2013. Every internal action of the Plan is currently being monitored, namely:

INDA’s Capacity-Building Plan Disseminating Actions; The new version of the Brazilian Open Data Portal – dados.gov.br; Assessment of existing licences for Open Data in the Brazilian Legal System Maturity Model for Open Data; Second National Open Data Meeting; Provision of technologies to support open data disclosure; Empowerment of the National Open Data Policy; Social Participation in the INDA; Actions aimed at fostering and stimulating the open data ecosystem

Commitment: CAPACITY BUILDING PLAN FOR THE NATIONAL OPEN DATA INFRASTRUCTURE (INDA)


Commitment Description/Rationale: The capacity building plan was designed with the aim of guiding the actions associated with the training of public officials, so they can learn the best practices related to the disclosure of data as a public service. The plan covers all aspects related to this matter, from managerial and strategic issues to technological considerations related to the opening and use of data.

Current Status: The capacity building plan was developed and is currently being implemented. Crash courses and workshops have already occurred and counted on an expressive number of participants. Three technical courses covering the several stages of information life cycle have already been organized, as well as four workshops on the development of data ontology, publication and classification.

Commitment: LAUNCH OF THE BRAZIL OPEN DATA PORTAL


Commitment Description/Rationale: Following an international trend, the establishment of public data catalogues consists of a new model for the provision of public services, through which the government grants all sectors of society with the right to use governmental data , increasing transparency and facilitating the access to public data. The portal also provides for the classification and dissemination of the applications developed by the society when using open data. The portal

also serves as a focal enviroment for the disclosure of related news and events and the publication of regulations, guides and primers within the INDA.

Current Status: The portal was developed through an open and collaborative process established with society. The website (dados.gov.br) currently counts on 82 sets of data, comprising 1,006 different resources. Fifteen applications are disseminated on the website. Federal bodies and agencies are increasingly supporting the Portal with more and more data. The development of the portal was based on an open and collaborative process established with society during all stages of the project. That feature attracted international attention to the project, which was regarded as a successful benchmark for the implementation of a government service with the direct participation of society.

Commitment: AWARENESS RAISING ACTIVITIES FOR THE NATIONAL OPEN DATA INFRASTRUCTURE (INDA)


Commitment Description/Rationale: The recent government policy formulated to internalize open data practices needs to be combined with a communication plan that provides for greater dissemination of the INDA’s administrative ruling and the associated Action Plan. This communication plan includes definition of the thematic line on open data within the Electronic Government Program.

Current Status: Several INDA’s disseminating actions were implemented in 2012 in addition to capacity-building activities described in another action within this plan. The portal dados.gov.br was launched in May in a major event which counted on the participation of W3C and CGI. INDA’s Action Plan also comprises a section which describes the integration of subnational open data infrastructures with the national network.

The Ministry of Planning is already organizing numerous actions under INDA’s dissemination agenda within the Federal Executive Branch as well as in other government instances. Most of these actions are continuous and will keep on happening even though this commitment is already considered implemented. The alignment with electronic government should bring INDA’s agenda into electronic government activities related to IT even as to the services provided for the government and to the expectations and demands of society. Thus, the suggested change may be immediately implemented.

Commitment: ORGANIZATION OF THE 1ST NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRANSPARENCY AND SOCIAL CONTROL (1st CONSOCIAL)


Commitment Description/Rationale: The main theme of the 1st Consocial was “The Role of Society in the Monitoring and Control of Public Management” and the main objective of the conference was to promote public transparency and to foster social participation in the monitoring and control of public management, adding to more effective and democratic social control practices.

Current Status: Under the CGU’s coordination, the Conference involved 2,750 municipalities, including all capital cities from Brazilian states and the Federal District, engaging nearly 1 million Brazilians and relying on the direct participation of over 153,000 individuals in event discussions.

This process led to the National Stage, held between 18th and 20th May, 2012, in Brasília/DF. During three days, 1,300 elected delegates from all over the country discussed and approved proposals target at increasing transparency and access to information, at strengthening social control and at advancing in corruption prevention and fighting in Brazil.

The Office of the Comptroller General forwarded approved proposals to public authorities of all government branches and levels, with the aim of raising awareness on the social engagement towards the 1st CONSOCIAL, its outcomes, and the proposals and guidelines approved.

More information about the Conference can be found on the internet at: http://www.consocial.cgu.gov.br/

Commitment: ORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL SEMINAR ON SOCIAL PARTICIPATION


Commitment Description/Rationale: To encourage civil society organizations and the government to invest in innovation and in the formulation of policies that provide for increased social participation and for the enhancement of the ties established between the federal government and the civil society, strengthening the proceedings related to the improvement of services provided by the Government.

Current Status: Out of the promising outcomes that arose from the Seminar, we highlight the proposals and suggestions in order to implement a Social Participation Policy and National System correlated to it. Further information is available at http://www.secretariageral.gov.br/seminario

http://www.consocial.cgu.gov.br/

Commitment: ORGANIZATION OF A MEETING OF THE INTER-COUNCIL FORUM PPA 2012-2015 (2nd PHASE)


Commitment Description/Rationale: The social participation process related to the formulation and monitoring of the Multiannual National Policy Plan (PPA) 2012-2015 brings non-governmental actors to the public planning. That provides for greater legitimacy in decisions issued within the Plan, which becomes a pact established with the Brazilian society. Additionally, the incorporation of National Councils and civil society organizations into the process provides for the aggregation of new information, new perspectives and new possibilities of engagement, which adds to the enhancement of the quality of this instrument.

Current Status: In October, 2011, the II Inter-Council Forum gathered approximately 100 representatives from National Councils and Committees and civil society organizations in Brasília, in an in-person event, which was broadcasted via videoconference to all State capitals and to the participants that chose to follow the event on the internet. The participants were given the opportunity to present proposals during this meeting and the government provided a response on the feasibility of each proposal and on the probability to include them in a multiyear plan bill to be further submitted to the National Congress. Commitments for the implementation of a participatory monitoring of the multiyear plan were also signed during the event.

Reports on the II Inter-Council Forum may be retrieved at: Relatório do Fórum Interconselhos PPA 2012-2015 ; Devolutiva dimensão tática ; Devolutiva dimensão estratégica

Commitment: PARTNERSHIP WITH W3C BRAZIL


Commitment Description/Rationale: The Access to Information Law highlighted the relevance of disclosing data in open format to ensure that the society is capable of reusing them for numerous purposes. The partnership aims to strengthen practices related to the disclosure of data in open format, also providing for the dissemination of knowledge necessary to build capacity of public organizations on these practices.

http://www.secretariageral.gov.br/art_social/forumppa/materiais-de-apoio/Devolutiva_DimensaoEstrategica_Forum%20Interconselhos.pdf/view

http://www.secretariageral.gov.br/art_social/forumppa/materiais-de-apoio/Devolutiva_DimensaoEstrategica_Forum%20Interconselhos.pdf/view

http://www.secretariageral.gov.br/art_social/forumppa/materiais-de-apoio/Devolutiva_Dimensao_Tatica_consolidado.pdf/view

http://www.secretariageral.gov.br/art_social/forumppa/materiais-de-apoio/relatorio%20preliminar.pdf/view

http://www.secretariageral.gov.br/art_social/forumppa/materiais-de-apoio/relatorio%20preliminar.pdf/view

Current Status: The partnership between W3C, CGU and UNESCO was signed in September, 2012, comprising the following objectives:

1. To assist Brazilian states and municipalities in the disclosure of open government data: production of a video and implementation of training activities on transparency and open government data for public managers, government IT technicians and citizens;

2. To publish a Guide on the role played by open data on the transparency of public management and on citizen participation and on engagement: formulation and publication of a theoretical work with the aim of establishing a theoretical and methodological base capable of providing common grounds for the study of the potential of open data in the development, monitoring and assessment of public policies;

3. To organize the Applications Contest with the aim of fostering and awarding the development of applications for the use of open government data;

4. To provide technical support to the Transparency Portal, indicating the web patterns to be used in the development of the new Transparency Portal, acknowledging the provision of open data and the requirements for accessibility.

The partnership, which was signed in September 2012, is in the process of implementing the activities of the first objective. Thus, the video about open government data is already being produced.

Commitment: PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIGITAL CULTURE LABORATORY


Commitment Description/Rationale: The applications developed within this partnership are designed to provide public information, adding to greater transparency in the public management. Additionally, training activities are to be implemented with the aim of engaging people and building capacity on the work with open government data.

Current Status: The partnership was signed an is currently underway. A workshop was held in Florianopolis, SC, in 2012, and others are schedule to happen 2013 with the next happening in Belo Horizonte, Brasil, in April. The Application Contest provided for in the Partnership was launched during Campus Party 2013, and was finalized in the second half of March, 2013.

Commitment: ORGANIZATION OF THE 1st NATIONAL OPEN DATA MEETING


Commitment Description/Rationale: To promote the exchange of experiences and high-level discussions on open data, engaging public bodies and agencies and civil society in the design of actions targeted at increasing the disclosure of open data and at assisting the government in the formulation of new actions.

Current Status: The event took place in Brasília on October 25th – 27th, 2011. It had the participation of speakers from all segments of the society, from all levels of government (federal, state and municipal) and even from abroad. The event was held in parallel with the 2nd National Meeting on Information Technology for Brazilian Municipalities and counted on the attendance of more than 2,400 participants.

Commitment: SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (INTERACTIVE SCHOOL PDE)

Challenge: More efficiently managing public resources

Commitment Description/Rationale: The Interactive School PDE assists the school to develop its strategic planning in a virtual environment, covering from the identification of critical problems up to the development of action plans for each imbalance, including the definition of objectives, goals, strategies, actions that need to be implemented and the necessary resources for that. It should add to the democratic management in schools, strengthening their autonomy to carry out administrative and pedagogic actions and enhancing the efficiency of existing resource management practices.

Current Status: The Interactive School PDE was set up to a selected group in September,

2011 and, as of January, 2012 onwards was open to all public schools. The disclosure of

school plans online comprises the set of new functionalities expected to be operating in the

second version of this platform, the 2013 Interactive School PDE, which is already available

and incorporates other applications used by the Ministry of Education (MEC) which directly

interact with public schools.

Commitment: FACILITATION OF THE ACCESS TO SPECIFIC DATABASES ON THE TRANSPARENCY PORTAL


Commitment Description/Rationale: Data related to the transfer of public funds to beneficiaries of social programs and unemployment compensation as well as data related to the use of public funds in emergency situations or public calamity. The disclosure of such data allows society to monitor the use of these funds and to exercise social control.

Current Status: Information related to the “Seguro-Defeso” (insurance for fishermen during the off-season) and to the Payment Card of the Civil Defense has been regularly published on the Transparency Portal since December, 2011. In 2012, the “Seguro-Defeso” recorded an average of 26,610 visits per month. The Payment Card of the Civil Defense registered an average of 2,015 visits per month. The disclosure of information related to Unemployment Compensation is behind schedule, as CGU found roadblocks hindering the access to this database.

Risks: Delays in data availability due to the need for the information to be correctly and completely disclosed in the Portal, obtained from a reliable database.

Commitment: AVAILABILITY OF DATA OF THE UNIFIED SUPPLIERS REGISTRY (SICAF) AND AGREEMENTS


Commitment Description/Rationale: The acronym SICAF stands for the Unified Suppliers Registry. Each supplier willing to participate in a procurement process carried out by the Federal Government must be registered and qualified in the SICAF. The purpose is to disclose these data through a web-based Application-Programming Interface (Web API). The creation of this API opens numerous possibilities for the use of these data, ranging from a simple consultation to sophisticated integration with other systems. Thus, this action is aimed at enabling both society and public managers to access information on the companies that supply the Federal Government with goods and services.

Current Status: SICAF data were opened and may be accessed at api.comprasnet.gov.br. Additionally, such data has been indexed at the Brazilian Open Data Portal, available at dados.gov.br.

Commitment: REGISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION PRICES


Commitment Description/Rationale: The process adds to the improvement of the quality of materials/equipment used in public schools, providing for a substantial reduction in their cost. Thus, the provision of public services related to education is improved and further efficiency is then aggregated to the management of resources related to the implementation of public policies.

Current Status: There are currently 14 (fourteen) ongoing processes related to the National Registry of Prices (RPN) for the acquisition of different products and equipment. However, the RPN was used to record more than eighteen product categories, including: school furniture, school buses, uniforms, IT equipment, etc. Additionally, new projects may benefit from the aforementioned registry of prices, including: kitchen equipment and utensils, school supplies, children´s toys, refrigerated trucks, etc.

Commitment: CONTRACTING AND CONTRACTUAL MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES


Commitment Description/Rationale: The Brazilian government is committed to improving IT procurement processes and the provision of information technology services performed by the Federal Government by means of rationalizing the contractual execution and management of such services, and of using consolidated methodologies on IT governance. These actions lead to an increase in the efficiency in the management of public funds and add to the enhancement of public integrity.

Current Status: In February, 2012, the SLTI issued the Administrative Ruling SLTI/MP No. 2 with the aim of streamlining the implementation of IT actions and of providing for the hiring of public IT companies in those cases where the legislation in place admits waivers of competitive bidding. Since September, 2011, more than 400 SISP officials have been trained

in various subjects, such as: development of IT managers, including distance learning modalities, improvement of software process, software testing - fundamentals, process and techniques, management of software configuration, process analysis and improvement – MASP.

The following events were also organized during this period: “Technical SISP Meetings”, “Technical Meeting on the Safety of Information and Communications”, “IT Governance and Electronic Government Meeting”.

In 2011, a study was conducted with the purpose of indicating the best way to implement a solution to automate the hiring process set forth in the Administrative Ruling SLTI/MP No. 4/2010. It comprised the prospection of free and proprietary systems with the aim of assessing their potential compliance with SISP´s needs, with the MCTI and with the Administrative Ruling SLTI/MP No. 4, of 2010. The assessment of BPMS tools was carried out and, according to the Work Group, such tools feature strategic advantages and are aligned with project´s objectives.

In 2012, the project for the Implementation of a Central of Shared Services was initiated with the aim of concentrating support functions related to the processing of ordinary activities performed by APF bodies, including the hiring and provision of selected IT services.

With regard to the hiring of IT services, the SLTI has been coordinating numerous joint hiring proceedings with the purpose of adding to the standardization of these processes and to the reduction of government costs through scale gains and through the exercise of the purchasing power of the State. The following joint procurement processes are still open: “tokens”, “desktops and notebooks” and “network assets”.

With regard to IT governance, two guides were published in 2011 with the aim of assisting government bodies and agencies: the “Guide on the Establishment and Operation of IT Committees” and the “Guide on the Methodology applicable to Project Management”. The second version of the PDTI guide was published in May, 2012. Additionally, in order to supply SISP´s bodies with general guidelines, the General Information Technology Strategy (EGTI) was approved in 10/2012, highlighting the need to encourage the use of governance methodologies and related strategies. Affected bodies are to secure the compliance of their respective PDTIs with the EGTI.

During the years 2011 and 2012, several actions aligned with this commitment have been implemented. The initiative has matured and gained new scope within the Ministry of Planning. It has become a continuous action, included within projects devoted to the subject that seek results that are aligned with the Commitment Description / Rationale. Therefore, the commitment was implemented.

Commitment: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRO-ETHICS COMPANY REGISTRY

Challenge: Increasing Corporate Accountability

Commitment Description/Rationale: Companies should also help fight corruption by positively positioning themselves in a healthy competitive environment and by adding to the implementation of best practices in integrity. Aligned with such objective, the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU), in partnership with Ethos Institute, launched the National Registry of Companies Committed with Ethics and Integrity – the Pro-Ethics Company Registry, with the aim of encouraging the private sector to develop concrete actions to promote ethics, integrity and the prevention of corrupt practices, and also acknowledging the existing good practices in that field.

Current Status: The Pro-Ethics Company Registry is fully operational and complies with regulations defined and approved by the Steering Committee – a collegiate instance composed by representatives from the CGU, the Ethos Institute, the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban), the BM&F Bovespa, the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC), the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex), the Brazilian Institute of Independent Auditors (Ibracon) and the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises (Sebrae). The Steering Committee is responsible for analyzing the applications to join the Registry and for voting on the admission of new companies, as well as discussing and voting on the updates of the eligibility criteria that must be met by companies prior to integrating the list.

The companies that join the Registry commit to invest in measures to prevent corruption. Such measures are disclosed and disseminated within the business community, providing for the continuous growth of such innovative action. As of the date it was launched, more than 130 companies applied to join the Pro-Ethics Company Registry. Fifteen companies met the eligibility criteria and currently integrate the list. With regard to companies that have not yet joined the list, many of them are adapting internal proceedings and developing organizational policies in order to meet Registry rules and criteria.

Commitment: SYSTEMIC INTEGRATION OF OMBUDSMAN UNITS

Challenge: Improving Public Services

Commitment Description/Rationale: The systemic integration of federal ombudsman´s units shall enable the National Ombudsman´s Office to develop an objective view with regard to the provision of public services by different bodies and agencies. Based on such knowledge, the National Ombudsman´s Office shall suggest the adoption of measures to correct and avoid failures and omissions in the provision of public services.

Amendments in the scope and name of the project: The National Ombudsman’s Office chose to rename the commitment “Participatory Construction of the Federal Ombudsmen System” and to establish a stage prior to the formulation of a draft decree or bill that will institute the federal ombudsmen system.

This objective stage was specifically designed to create the necessary mechanisms to develop an overview of the situation of all federal ombudsman´s units, so as to support the formulation of the aforementioned regulations. Thus, a consultancy was articulated, in partnership with the Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management, to facilitate the systematization of laws, decrees and other regulations relating to federal ombudsman’s units.This partnership is being finalized.

Current Status: With regard to the participatory formulation of regulations, the project is currently behind schedule because of the previously mentioned amendment of scope. Nevertheless, this participatory process remais the main priority of the National Ombudsman´s Office to be achieved in 2013 and important stages of this project are being implemented.

The results of this consultancy were presented and discussed in a technical workshop held in Brasilia in March 20, 2013. The workshop counted on the participation of approximately 30 federal ombudsmen, besides consultants from the Ministry of Plannig, Budget and Management (MPOG).

Additionaly, to complement the gathering of information on the federal ombudsman’s units, the National Ombudsman’s Office developed two projects: the construction of a data warehouse, which will enable the organization of a database and the analysis of a large volume of information, and will favor the knowledge management, and the creation of the Collection Project, by means of which the National Ombudsman’s Office will consolidate a wide range of information on federal ombudsman’s units, with their consent.

Besides, the 3rd General Ombudsmen Meeting was held in Brasilia, and counted on the participation of nearly 200 ombudsmen units throughout the country. During the event, the fundamentals of the Federal Ombudsmen System were extensively discussed.

The next step for the construction of the aforementioned system is the elaboration of draft regulations, which will be made available on the Internet to allow for broad public consultation.

Review of the Timeframe: The project for the creation of the Federal Ombudsmen System will be reinserted in the Brazil’s Second Action Plan for the Open Government Partnership, but with different timeframe. Given the design specifications as well as the need to carry out extensive public consultation on the draft normative that will regulate the system, the project is due to be implemented by September, 2014. Additionaly, the project was renamed "Participatory Construction of the Federal Ombudsmen System" for greater suitability with its scope.

Identified risks: Lack of participation is one of the main risks, since the federal ombudsman’s units may not disclosure data or carry out proposals for the normative act that shall regulate de Federal System. The National Ombudsman’s Office understands that this possible lack of compliance can lead to the construction of a System not entirely adapted to the reality of Brazilian ombudsman’s units, thus undermining the effectiveness of its actions.

Commitment: CONTINUING TRAINING FOR THE PUBLIC OMBUDSMAN UNITS OF THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH


Commitment Description/Rationale: The ombudsman´s units of the Federal Executive Branch are a relevant tool for the enhancement of social control, citizen participation and improvements in public management. Combined with other councils and conferences, they integrate the National System of Social Participation.

The approximately 170 ombudsman´s units of the Federal Executive Branch jointly receive almost one million applications (complaints, suggestions, compliments, alerts and information requests) per year, which puts them at the core of the relationship established between government organizations and the society.

The investment required to build capacity of public officials who work at ombudsman´s units needs to be based on a coordinated and continued policy, enabling such organizations to perform their activities with excellence.

Current Status: The project was completed and met the proposed objectives. Upcoming steps include the implementation of activities related to the advance of the Continued Training Policy for Ombudsman´s Units (Profoco) for the next period.

As expected, the virtual “casoteca” (case library) was set up in a joint effort with the Brazilian National School of Public Administration (ENAP). It currently features 11 cases

which have been submitted by other ombudsman´s units and which may be electronically accessed at http://www.cgu.gov.br/Ouvidoria/Casoteca/index.asp.

The Continued Training Policy for Ombudsman´s Units (Profoco) was launched in August, 2012, establishing the guidelines for the development of training and capacity-building activities for ombudsman´s units, based on participatory and cooperative principles.

In this sense, the Profoco comprises the organization of courses that foster the continued and autonomous training process of the staff of associated ombudsman´s units. Courses contents prioritize the idea of continuity as the main purpose is to secure the continuous progress of the student during his training process.

Commitment: DASHBOARD FOR THE INTEGRATED MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT SYSTEM (PUBLIC MODULE)


Commitment Description/Rationale: The Ministry of Education (MEC) and its associated agencies1 developed a Dashboard in order to help their top managers to monitor strategic actions and to ensure greater transparency to the implementation of MEC programs. This virtual system provides for the online disclosure of several indicators related to the main programs implemented by the Ministry and its agencies, enabling both managers and citizens to filter the requested information. The Brazilian government is committed to implement this system and to increase the number of indicators available in the Control Panel for public consultation.

Current Status: The MEC has made efforts to increase the number of indicators displayed in the Control Panel, jumping from 74 to 92 indicators published online. The Ministry has also coordinated actions with the Managerial Information Center (NIG) to ensure the quality of the disclosed information and to perform the appropriate update of both existing and new indicators. This work now follows strict procedures within the Ministry, which adds to the provision of updated and valuable information.

Commitment: PUBLIC SERVICES PORTAL (PORTAL GUIA DE SERVIÇOS PÚBLICOS)


Commitment Description/Rationale: In 2011, the Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management (MPOG) commissioned the Center of Study on Information and Communication Technologies (CETIC.br) to carry out a research on the role played by the internet in the provision of electronic public services, government information to the society and the release of tools designed to ensure greater society-government interaction.

This research pointed to a few barriers with regard to the use of electronic government: (i) concerns with safety and protection of user´s data (mentioned by 16%); (ii) difficulty to effectively reach the government through electronic means (11%); and (iii) frustration with the delay to get a response to the submitted request (4%) and with the impossibility of completing e-gov operations (5%).

The MPOG developed the Portal for the Guide of Public Services with the aim of mitigating some of the barriers listed above, enabling the user to find numerous information on public services, which are often scattered around government portals and in service letters published by government bodies and agencies, in an easier and more centralized way.

Current Status: The Portal is under development and accessible at http://www.servicos.gov.br, it currently hosts the following information:

875 registered services;

15 registered service letters;

45 registered government bodies/ombudsman’s units;

27 (State) Portals / 285 (Municipal) Portals;

IV- Lessons Learned and Next Steps

Brazil’s First Action Plan for Open Government can be described as a milestone for the consolidation of public policies in the areas of transparency, access to information, social engagement and accountability. The Plan resultated from a voluntary commitment taken by the Brazilian Government before the international community, which enhanced the dialogue between government and the civil society with the aim of establishing concrete measures to ensure greater public access to information, increase social engagement, promote the prevension and fighting of corruption, improve public and private integrity and harness new technologies.

The formulation and implementation of Brazil’s Action Plan is a continuous learning process. Following the review of the medodology for civil participation in the formulation and implementation of the first Action Plan, the Working Group of Civil Society was established. The Group gathers 10 organizations from the civil society and assists the Executive Group in the development of mechanisms for enhancing citizen participation in the formulation process and monitoring of the implementation of Brazil’s Action Plans. As a result, the Second Action Plan was formulated through a more participatory, open and transparent process, which resulted in 32 proposals for commitments that were forwarded to the Executive Group of CIGA.

With the aim of emphasizing the importance of enhancing the transparency of the implementation of actions and to provide for continuous monitoring of the process, Brazil plans to develop a portal for the Open Government Partnership. Information on the OGP is currently available at the Office of the Comptroller General’s website, in a specific section. The development of the portal shall faciltate the access to information on the Open Government Partnership and the monitoring of commitments undertaken by the Brazilian Federal Executive Branch.

The partnership with organizations from the civil society and with other government bodies and agencies to achive the objectives of the Open Government Partnership also deserves to be highlighted. With the purpose to assist the Government and the civil society in the formulation of concrete commitments, the Office of the Comptroller General has developed guidelines on how to structure commitments for the Second Action Plan, thus clarifying the principles of open government and the OGP areas of challenge, and stressing that commitments should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

After careful assessment on the First Action Plan, it was acknowledged that some actions/activities were formulated as commitments, but had actually no finalistic objectives. Thus, these actions/activities were mere steps required to the achievement of an OGP true committment. In this sense, the challenge for the development of the second plan was to provide the necessary guidance to minimize such occurrences.

Many commitments do not end when they are considered implemented, since they create new challenges, thus allowing the country to move forward towards an increasingly open government. For example, the enaction of the Law of Transparency (LC 131/2009), which obliged all levels of the government (federal, state and municipal) to disclosure on the internet their accounts, was an important step towards open government data, but several challenges were yet to come: technological mechanisms had to be developed so that each entity of the federation could abide the Law; terminologies needed to be accessible to the population, and it was necessary to evolve on the appropriate description of metadata available for open data.

Brazil second action plan is under construction and is expected to be presented in April, 2013. Its development is being made with the help of civil society organizations and with open participation to any Brazilian.

V- Moving forward in Open Government

With the development of its first Action Plan, Brazil has sought to advance in several critical areas to enhance open government. The Partnership went beyond the formulation of commitments, causing the country to be infected by its spirit. It is relevant to highlight the fact that, since the launch of the Brazilian Action Plan within the OGP, the Federal Brazilian Government adopted other relevant initiatives which were not regarded as commitments, but which got to advance the implementation of Open Government practices in Brazil:

Disclosure of the salary of public officialsThe monthly, individualized and detailed salaries of all federal government employees in Brazil have been disclosed in the Transparency Portal since June, 2012. Such data can be easily accessed by inserting the servant´s name or the name of the body or agency s/he is assigned to work or exercise her/his duties at or by downloading a spreadsheet disclosed in an open format.

Standarlization of the webpage with Access to Information Law No. 12,527/2011 (LAI)The Federal Government established a single model for the Access to Information webpage with the aim of ensuring the effective implementation of the Access to Information Law (LAI) and defined the type of information to be disclosed in the webpages of public bodies and agencies.

On-site training of government officials with the aim of implementing the Access to Information Law – Law No. 12,527/2011 (LAI)In addition to the distance learning course provided for in the Action Plan, the Office of the Comptroller General organized on-site courses for approximately 700 civil servants from the federal government whose work is directly connected with the application of the LAI. The courses were offered to 38 government bodies, 80 associated agencies and 52 state-owned companies.

Development of the Electronic Citizen Information System (e-SIC)The Office of the Comptroller General developed the e-SIC (Electronic System for the Citizen Information Service) which enables any individual or legal person to forward access to information requests to bodies and agencies of the Federal Executive Branch. Thanks to this system, it is possible for anyone to: a) file a request, monitor related timeframes based on

request´s registration number and receive a response to the submitted request via email; b) file appeals, complaints and check the received responses. The purpose is to facilitate the exercise of the right of access to public information.

Review of Transparency Portal’s section on the 2014 World CupThe section on the 2014 World Cup, which highlights information related to the transparency of investments made to this major Sporting event, was entirely reformulated. Improvements comprised the creation of an electronic system, developed by the CGU, which allows online feeding of information on works, services, procurement processes and other government initiatives. The purpose was to ensure the timely disclosure and update of data and documents related to projects and undertakings to be implemented in the host cities of this event. Additionally, now it is possible to monitor information both by host-city criteria and by thematic investment areas (like airports and arenas).

Registry of Expulsion PenaltiesIn September, 2012, the Office of the Comptroller General launched the Registry of Federal Government´s Expelled Staff, a database ran by CGU itself which comprises the expelling sanctions (discharge, cancellation of retirement pension and removal from position of trust or function held in commission) which have been applied since 2005 to public servants of the Federal Executive Branch. As of August 30th, the initial list comprised 3,027 expelling sanctions applied to 2,552 officials. These figures differ from one another because in many cases the public servant is subject to more than one penalty as a consequence of the decisions issued in distinct lawsuits. The source of information is the Federal Gazette. The registry is updated on a monthly basis.

Support to the establishment of public spending observatories at the state levelThe CGU and the Inter-American Development Bank (BID) signed a partnership with the states of Bahia and Santa Catarina with the aim of establishing state public spending observatories. Established in 2008 by the CGU, the Public Spending Observatory is a permanent unit of the Office of the Comptroller General which applies cutting-edge information technology on public spending databases in order to prevent and avoid the misuse of public funds, to improve internal control and to support public managers.

Not-for-Profit Entities Debarment List (CEPIM)The Not-for-Profit Entities Debarment List (CEPIM) was established to inform the society, government bodies and local governments about the not-for-profit private entities that are

forbidden to execute contracts, transfer contracts or partnership agreements with the Federal Government. The CEPIM was launched in March, 2012.

Establishment of a Special Procurement and Public Contract for Major Events Committee at the Ministry of JusticeThe Ministry of Justice, through the Extraordinary Secretariat for the Security of Big Events (SESGE), is responsible for the coordination of public security efforts in all major events to be held by the Federal Government in the coming years, including the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2014 World Cup. The Special Procurement and Public Contract for Major Events Committee was launched in December, 2011, with the aim of securing the integrity and transparency of major contracts to be executed by the Ministry. The Committee is composed by other government bodies, including the Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management, the Office of the Comptroller General and the Public Olympic Authority. The Committee is responsible for concentrating the hearings of potential suppliers in a public agenda, accessible to any interested company, and for authorizing the implementation of Ministry´s contractual procedures related to major events.

National System and Policies for Social ParticipationWithin the aim of consolidating Social Participation as a government and management method, the National Secretariat for Social Affairs under the Secretariat-General of the Presidency of the Republic, has worked to bring this debate to the government level, having organized the Government Forum for Social Participation earlier this year (2012), which was composed by Social Participation managers from several ministries and government agencies with the aim of discussing and establishing a set of guidelines for the enhancement of social participation within the Federal Government. Such debate comprised the joint formulation of a National Policy for Social Participation and its related National System for Social Participation, which was subject to contributions based on the discussions held with federal government bodies and agencies, public policy councils, organized civil society and social movements.

Establishment of a partnership between the Ministry of Planning and W3C BRASILAn open data policy requires the development of a set of activities that provide for the disclosure of data in open format, enabling the society to reuse such data for various purposes. This partnership was established with the aim of coordinating a set of activities designed to speed up and strengthen the technological advances, adding to an increased expansion of open data policy within the Federal Executive Branch.

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