Embracing digital technology to improve exchanges between local authority and citizens is a strategic political commitment.
Improve relations between local authorities and citizens
The challenge for local authorities is to use digital technology to stimulate citizen participation, facilitate exchanges with the population and increase political accountability.
Digital tools, named civic tech
Civic tech
The use of technology to strengthen democratic bonds between citizens and government and improve the political system. This encompasses any technology allowing an increase in the power of citizens on political life, or making the government more accessible, efficient and effective.
in this domain, can be a vector of good local governance for cities. “E-governance” and ’“e-government” are particularly good illustrations of the opportunity digital solutions offer in facilitating exchanges between local authority and users through the dematerialisation of procedures and of citizen participation, the shortening of processing times and increased transparency.
This domain of action shall be completed by part C which guides local authorities through their internal transformation by digital tools.
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Clarify the political expectations of the local authority and commit to accountability
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Perform a diagnosis of e-governance maturity and use of civic tech
For digital technology to facilitate relations with citizens, the local authority and the population must be equipped and connected.
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Identify possible partners and map local civic tech initiatives
Local authorities must play the role of initiator and guarantor of improved relations with citizens.
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Start with pilot actions to initiate a virtuous circle with citizens
E-governance allows increased population participation in decision-making, monitoring of administrative procedures and the payment of taxes.
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Define a roadmap for becoming an “online” city
The local authority should scale up the first pilot actions and make use of civic tech Civic tech
The use of technology to strengthen democratic bonds between citizens and government and improve the political system. This encompasses any technology allowing an increase in the power of citizens on political life, or making the government more accessible, efficient and effective.
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Assess the improvement in citizen perception of local authorities and communicate on the digital transition
Convince the population of the relevance of the approach is condition of success for massive and sustainable use of new digital tools.
