Level of Participation

• Information 
• Consultation 
• Dialogue 
• Partnership

Integration by the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption

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Developed practice(s)

Depending on the subject matter, different levels of participation is chosen.

Step(s) of the political decision-making process at which the practice was implemented

• Inputs/Incentive ideas for policy 
• Agenda Setting of policy

Integration by the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption

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How the initiative was implemented

Situation

Based on the challenges of representative democracy, something needs to be done to restore confidence in the democratic system. The societal development that has taken place towards the individual society, populism, and the lack of legitimacy for politicians, is largely based on recent technological developments and that one can reach many and be anonymous on the internet.  By increasing the closeness between politicians, public officials and citizens, the opportunity is created to together increase knowledge and understanding of each other, and the life situation people are in and what societal challenges we face. By exploring our societal challenges together, we also believe that we will be able to more easily find solutions and ways to create sustainable change together.  The initiative is created through conversation and dialogue when elected representatives, public officials and citizens together explore society's challenges and formulate common solutions. The initiative is aiming to realize the Örnsköldsvik municipality vision "We build best together".  We use the term citizen dialogue in this initiative as a collective term for all types of meetings between citizens and the political organization that have a purpose to increase the political conversation regardless of which method is used and what level, consultation, dialogue both broad and collaborative, and partnership.  The initiative for citizen dialogue can be taken from politicians and public officials. But initiatives can also address from individual citizens, groups of citizens or CSOs who, on their own initiative, pursue issues that may be the subject of a citizen dialogue process.  The political organization is dependent on an influx of, for example, citizens to create a broader anchoring, a tolerance and, above all, a sustainability in the decisions to be made. For this interaction to take place, a responsive municipality is required that is active and prepared to raise even complicated, complex, and conflict-filled issues that different actors shed light on or discover together.  In the work with citizens participation there is a division of responsibilities, and the municipality does not have the role as a one-way giver that collects wish lists and then serves a smorgasbord of measures and initiatives. The whole point of this work is to highlight the common commitment and responsibility that exists to achieve a societal change. Even though the municipality will always be the legally responsible for decisions made, the anchoring and the way to a decision for a change is something that is best done by us working together with the civil society, NGOs and CSOs. 

Activities performed

In the dialogues the actors handle issues that span over a large area and at all different levels. To have a clearer focus on each matter of concern and to ensure that the “right” participants are included there is a model for categorize the issues into simple, complicated, complex, and urgent issues. Depending on the level of an issue, different methods are required to handle and meet the issue. It is important in each meeting to be prepared to re-evaluate the level of the issue and to be prepared to reformulate and lay out a new plan for solving or continued work with the matter of concern.  Here is a short explanation on the different levels of issues. 

• Simple questions - Simple questions are ones that you can find simple solutions to and that there are often clear routines, laws, and guidelines to relate to. These are often questioning that are close to one and affect one's everyday life and by being helped or that clear information is shared, it can be answered and remedied.  Example: Desires for things you want to exist to facilitate your everyday life or benefit your interests such as outdoor gym, art decoration, outdoor lighting, etc. 
• Complicated issues - In the case of complicated issues, more knowledge and facts about the issue may be required and more may need to be involved.  Several linear problems that can be handled logically step by step with evidence and proven experience.  Expert knowledge is used and should be used. Results can usually be measured and made visible. Example: When the municipality becomes an intermediary between actors, when demands are made on volunteers to solve assignments, when requests go against decisions made, when several budget areas and laws clash with each other. 
• Complex issues - In connection with complex issues there are always tense, either latent or already visible that should not be underestimated. Complex issues require long-term work and cannot be solved at once and with one activity, but a process is required where you together try to understand and learn about the problem to find ways and possible solutions to move forward. Dynamic - constant change. Non-linear relationships - difficult to define other than snapshots. Knowledge needs to be created together between actors. Many parts that are interdependent - visible and invisible. Cannot be solved once and for all. Examples: Integration, security, economy, vulnerability such as abuse and poverty. 
• Urgent issues - Urgent issues are when there are rapid and major changes in a society or within a group that effects on several levels. An urgent issue does not have to be only about negative issues, although it will most likely do so. A type of positive but perhaps urgent issue could be a large establishment of a company, which requires some knowledge and that a lot of people need to move to the municipality. Measures after an accident, for example the school fire in Kopmanholmen.  When it comes to urgent issues, it is in the first step at the employee level to deal with.

Tools and mechanisms applied

• In the work with the initiative on citizens dialogue, different methods are used to create creative meetings based on conversation and participation. In all meetings, there is a facilitator / process leader who does not participate in the discussions but structures and leads the meeting and are responsible for the documentations and conclusions.  
• The methods, in short, are all based on a joint dialogue with those that are affected or have an interest in the specific issue. The dialogues can be held at different facilities, and in different format. It can be an “walk-and-talk" in an environment that is of importance for the matter of concern. It can be at an entrepreneur's facility, or it could take place in a community hall.  The municipality committees are also a form of citizens dialogues. So are the partnerships and cooperation in different areas. One method that are applicable to complex issues is a method called “360 degrees”. This method is useful when there are many actors with different perspectives. The dialogues start with collecting all actors' perspectives and then a joint citizen's dialogue take place.  
• This method is crucial to ensure good legislation and minimize the collateral negative side effects. All actors have the same possibility to contribute with valuable perspectives and each perspective have the same value. Other tools and mechanisms are an easy and open access to information. The different dialogues are published in local newspapers, on the municipality's website, and in newsletters.  When applicable will other forms of methods be used as well. Such as partnership, consultation, research, petitioning and different forums.  The methods, tools and mechanisms are all in place and the matter of concern or the specific issue will determine what structure that is applicable.