Participa en AndalucÃa

Acronym of the case:

CFRPA

Web address of the case:

http://www.participaenandalucia.net

Country of the case:

Spain

City/region:

Andalusia

Posting Date:

1 October 2009

Last Edited Date:

02 October 2009

Author:

Juan Francisco Delgado Morales (Consorcio Fernando de los RÃos)

edemocracy | participation | proposal

Type of initiative

Project or service

Case Abstract

Participa en AndalucÃa is an e-Democracy platform promoted by the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise of Andalusia (CICE), aimed at increasing digital participation of citizens, local authorities and local associations of all kinds. Digital participation intends to encourage citizen participation in all aspects of the political and civil spheres through the use of information and communication technologies, generating self regulated local decision making systems. Freeware and new technologies offer a wide range of tools for intercommunication that allow citizens to communicate, express opinions, debate on current issues, form associations or cooperate for cultural, social or political goals.

The aim of this project in to ease the incorporation of the Andalusian society to the Information and Knowledge Society, as set by the Information Society Plan for Andalusia in its digital participation strategic line, the framework for several similar actions including this project.

Managed by the Fernando de los RÃos Consortium since May 2008, and currently in application, this project was started with the aim of providing the Andalusian society with active means for citizen participation, creating a more constructive and caring society through e-Government and through an administration that act transparently and is open to dialogue. Administrations, individual citizens, associations and political groups all find in the project a space for deciding and expressing their opinions, in a fashion that clearly reflects the actual situation of Andalusian towns. This project promotes a common space for the cohesion and integration of the social and public life of our towns.

With over 25 % of the Andalusian towns being associated to the project, and by means of an easy system for the creation and voting of proposals, the project makes the reality of towns closer and available to citizens in an efficient way. It also gives them the chance to change such reality through their opinions and initiatives and provides publicÂ administrations with an opportunity to generate policies that are close to the citizens and promote the development of their towns.

Description of the case

Domain

eGovernment

Topic

eParticipation, eDemocracy and eVoting | Services for Citizens | Open Source | Regional and Local | User-centric Services

Sector

Local/Regional Community Development

Start date - End date

May 2008 (Ongoing)

Date operational

May 2008

Target Users

Administrative | Citizen

Target Users Description

The following groups of interest have been identified:

Individuals, social and cultural agents. The aim is to generate sustainable social and economic development through innovation, the value of human resources, integration in the knowledge society and interrelation with the new global society.

Several different models are devised for the use of Participa en Andalucia, according to the particular needs and features of each region, promoting the interest of individuals to become an active agent.

Enterprises, economic agents and employers. The aim is to encourage initiatives, creativity and business innovation.

To this end, specific services are devised for enterprises, economic agents and employers, providing them with advantages and benefits in their particular fields of interest.

Administrations. The aim is to help administrations commit to provide citizens with more and better services, easing social changes and guaranteeing their levels of service.

Public administrations find in Participa en Andalucia an ideal tool for planning and coordinating their policies, reaching globally and transversally to every administration.

Other priority sectors are:

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Socially excluded groups:

The aim is to extend the use of information and communication technologies to people who lack access for social, cultural or financial reasons. This includes groups that find themselves in a position of disadvantage such as socially excluded groups, migrants associations, youth shelters and hospitalised adults and children.

Â -Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SeniorÂ and disabled citizens:

Specific actions are carried out to show the usefulness and benefits of information and communication technologies in daily life, communication tools and the use of information and communication technologies for entertainment purposes.

Programmes aimed at showing dependent persons the benefits of information and communication technologies are currently under development, taking into account their particular characteristics and needs.

Actions include training for the use of devices, platforms and services specifically conceived to increase their level of independence and their quality of life, providing incentives for the purchase of technical aids.

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Women:

Specific training actions are implemented for women, giving priority to those who belong to socially and digitally excluded groups. The aim is not only training them in the use of new technologies, but also to help them integrate in work and society, thus improving their quality of life.

Scope

Local (city or municipality) | Regional (sub-national)

Status

Operation

Language(s)

Spanish

Policy Context and Legal Framework

Information Society Plan for Andalusia

By means of this initiative, the Andalusian Government adopts an active role in the continuous and increasing process of economic globalisation, through its support to innovation policies, equal opportunities, the fight against social exclusion, e-Government, knowledge of foreign languages and the basic skills required to participate in knowledge society.

The full incorporation of the autonomous community of Andalusia into the information and knowledge society is a priority strategic objective of the Andalusian regional government (Junta de AndalucÃa). The development of this plan has been a joint effort of all the Andalusian regional ministries.

Information and Communication Technologies not only have a technological impact, but also an important effect on the economic development of communities.

the i2010 initiative is the continuation of the eEurope action plan which seeks to make Europe the strongest knowledge based economy in the world. It is a global European information society strategy for economic growth and employment creation. The set of political measures proposed by i2010 are defined in three priority lines, known as the three â€œIâ€s: creation of a single European (I)nformation space; increase in the (I)nvestment in Information and Communication Technologies research; and the promotion of social (I)nclusion via quality digital public services.

Human development and technological advances are mutually reinforced, creating a â€œvirtuousâ€ circle that opens a wide range of possibilities for a developing information society. In the field of telecommunications, the diversity of existing technologies and those being developed will allow ubiquitous communications networks to be rolled out throughout Andalusia, at an affordable price, and with unlimited transmission capacity. Furthermore, the phenomenon of technological convergence enables a natural evolution towards unified fixed and mobile telephony and content convergence from a userâ€™s perspective.

In short, the aim is to create an information society with solid foundations on which a genuine knowledge based economy can be built, and a knowledge society in the widest sense of the word. This is the context in which Andalusia is focussing its efforts to increase the competitiveness of its companies and to maintain growth, contributing to increasing the standard of living and creating more (and better quality) employment.

Project Size and Implementation

Type of initiative

Participation

Overall Implementation approach

Public administration

Technology choice

Standards-based technology | Mainly (or only) open standards | Accessibility-compliant (minimum WAI AA) | Open source software

Funding source

Public funding EU | Public funding regional

Project size

Implementation: €300-499,000

Yearly cost:

€300-499,000

Implementation and Management Approach

Promoted by the Andalusian regional government (Junta de AndalucÃa) and managed by the Fernando de los RÃos Consortium, the Participa en AndalucÃa project is developed according to a strategic plan that directs a set of actions aimed at its implementation. Through the institutional leadership of the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise (CICE), this plan combines general management aspects with a certain degree of autonomy for its implementation in each Andalusian town, through the established local institutions and authorities.

The strategic plan is based on five main lines:

1. Increasing participation:

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Increasing the number of associated towns

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Increasing the number of active agents

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Ensuring territorial equality

2. Consolidation of quality participation:

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Increasing the number of proposals debated in decision organs and the number of initiatives implemented

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Making proposals received by means of new technologies count in the public sphere

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Involving local agents from associated towns

3. Implementing a plan for continuous improvement:

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Ensuring maximum availability, reliability and technological innovation

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Continuously updating the information provided by the platform with innovative content about citizensâ€™ participation and e-Democracy

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Reinforcing the role of the monitoring committees

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Continuously updating and reviewing the rules for participation

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Putting the project at the level of other supra-regional initiatives on e-Democracy and e-Participation

4. Promoting and disseminating the project

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Raising awareness at the local level

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Ensuring the involvement of all agents

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Ensuring recognition

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Developing measures at the regional, national and international scales

5. Developing alliances

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Identifying potential allies

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Signing cooperation agreements with potential allies

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Implementing cooperation agreements with allies

The project will be participated by several different agents:

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Institutional leadership of the project: Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise (CICE).Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Technical management: Fernando de los RÃos Consortium. Manages the Participa platform in Andalusia, which is the technological application that allows to implement the project

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Town councils: Mayors are the highest authority in the local application of the plan.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Guadalinfo centres: In cooperation with this project, centres offer a way to approach new technologies to every citizen, providing direct access to the Participa platform and to e-Democracy in Andalusia.

Regarding resources, needs and requirements for the project, two levels must be considered:

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Human: Outsourcing is employed for the development and implementation of the Information and Communication Technologies tool, and inside staff for the management, administration, operation and maintenance of the services and applications. Contents of the proposals are submitted to postmoderation in order to ensure compliance with the platform regulations. To this end, a supervision chain is devised, from the local coordinator (delegate of the Mayor for the platform), to the administration itself. Centralised monitoring is applied to the dynamics of the project as well as to the detection of needs. Statistical assessment is applied and used for the issuing of appraisal reports and for the dissemination and social communication of the project to the community (regarding contents, activities, etc.)

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Technological: A platform of servers is used for the hosting of contents and the running of applications, with a statistical query module. Basic logistics is required from towns for computer use (terminal, Internet access) and other resources.

Technology solution

The technological solutions for Participa en AndalucÃa are based on the ZOPE/PLONE content management system:

Â lÂ GNU/Linux as operating system.

lÂ Apache web server acting as web server /proxy cache.

lÂ Zope as application server.

lÂ Plone as content management system.

lÂ PostgreSQL as database management system complementing the object-oriented database of Zope/Plone.

Technological choices are based on the compliance of most of the technical requirements:

1.Â Â Â Â Â Freeware technology and products in all cases.

2.Â Â Â Â Â The ZOPE/Plone system allows to run high-productivity web-based platforms that comply exactly with the requirements of Participa en AndalucÃa.

3.Â Â Â Â Â Plone is an already working content management system that was customised according to requirements. It is clearly oriented to content publishing and is a landmark in the current market of freeware content management systems. Plone offers a wide range of content types (documents, links, articles, news, events) that were adapted to improve the data model.

4.Â Â Â Â Â The Python programming language allows the easy integration of other applications, frameworks, languages and databases.

5.Â Â Â Â Â It is a standard-based system, which ensures maximum compatibility and interoperability with potential future tools. A platform based on the Zope/Plone content management system is easily integrated in distributed environments through its native XML-RPC functionality.

6.Â Â Â Â Â A sophisticated role-based security system for the protection of contents. Ploneâ€™s sandbox architecture ensures that even in the event of the system being compromised, intruders would not be able to access the server or network.

7.Â Â Â Â Â Intelligent folders and updates. Plone automatically generates RSS news from folders and search results inÂ order to provide customised delivery of information.

8.Â Â Â Â Â It complies with the accessibility standards of section 508 of the U.S. Government and WAI-AA of W3C for users with mobility impairment of reading limitations. Its Javascript alternative mode works in every browser.

9.Â Â Â Â Â Fully compliant XHTML and CSS keep a high level of compatibility with search engines and browsers.

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Showing 15 comments

Manuel Francisco DoÃ±a Montoya

Participa en Andalucia.

06 November 2009 | 3584 Visits | Rating: 5 (maximum:5)

Su exito es que es un proyecto tecnolÃ³gico muy prÃ³ximo a las inquietudes de la CiudadanÃa.

Eduardo AlarcÃ³n OtÃ¡lora

Proyecto de e-participaciÃ³n en AndalucÃa

04 November 2009 | 4310 Visits | Rating: 5 (maximum:5)

Vota por este proyecto de participaciÃ³n on-line en la administraciÃ³n local de AndalucÃa.

Excelente iniciativa

04 November 2009 | 0 Visit | Rating: 5 (maximum:5)

A ver si entre todos conseguimos que esta participaciÃ³n y la administraciÃ³n on-line sea una realidad.

Ana Valiente

Apuesta por la ParticipaciÃ³n Ciudadana en AndalucÃa.

04 November 2009 | 4314 Visits | Rating: 3.5 (maximum:5)

Da tu voto a este proyecto de e-ParticipaciÃ³n, un gran trabajo de la AdministraciÃ³n Andaluza.

participaciÃ³n | ciudadana | andalucia | innovaciÃ³n | guadalinfo

Anomymous

Participa en Andalucia

03 November 2009 | 4504 Visits | Rating: 4 (maximum:5)

Un Proyecto innovador y consolidado en nuestra region.

Animo!!!!

Es la mejor iniciativa!!

Un gran proyecto

03 November 2009 | 4496 Visits | Rating: No votes

Un excelente proyecto para la participaciÃ³n e implicaciÃ³n de los ciudadanos en el desarrollo de la administraciÃ³n local y regional

Un gran proyecto.

03 November 2009 | 5152 Visits | Rating: 4 (maximum:5)

Un gran proyecto de participaciÃ³n ciudadana, tiene todo mi apoyo :)

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A very good project of eParticipation for de Andalusian's people :)

eParticipation | spain

JOSE MARQUEZ ESPEJO

Saludos desde CÃ¡diz

27 October 2009 | 4493 Visits | Rating: No votes

AhÃ va un nuevo voto a "Participa en AndalucÃa"

Powerful empowerment citizen tool

25 October 2009 | 4832 Visits | Rating: No votes

Congratulations toÂ the regional authorities and so many local municipalities for implementig this powerful tool, which bringsÂ Â new empowerment citizen tools.

A very interesting proyect

22 October 2009 | 4578 Visits | Rating: No votes

My congratulations of this proyect "Participa en AndalucÃa", an interesting regional proyect of Andalucia.

I think is an oportunity of the cityzen to express his opinionion in his town.

I hope this proyect will be the champion.

Bye

19 October 2009 | 4712 Visits | Rating: 1.7 (maximum:5)

Participa en AndalucÃa es un gran proyecto ya que permite la participaciÃ³n de los ciudadanos en los proyectos de su municipio

Santiago Velez

Â¿CuÃ¡nto uso se estÃ¡ haciendo realmente?

19 October 2009 | 0 Visit | Rating: 3 (maximum:5)

Me parece una buena idea lo de "Participa en Andalucia", pero Â¿cuÃ¡nto se estÃ¡ usando realmente?

Este tipo de proyectos muchas veces se quedan a medias porque no los usa realmente la gente. Â¿CuÃ¡l es el secreto para que sÃ los usen?

participa en andalucia

16 October 2009 | 4758 Visits | Rating: 5 (maximum:5)

want to vote by the project of take part in andalucia since it seems me very interesting because it is well that there is a place where the people of the municipios expose his ideas , criticize, needs that sees in his municipality

Future Project

07 October 2009 | 4875 Visits | Rating: 2 (maximum:5)

In my opinion it's a future project that involves the entire society, provides us an opportunity to engage with public administration. If we want to change something, this is the way.