The Memorandum of Co-operation between Non-Governmental Organisations and the Cabinet of Ministers Latvia Dita Erna Sīle 15 May 2017

PARTICIPATION STATISTICS (2015) 168 Advisory Councils 997 NGOs in Advisory Councils PARTICIPATION STATISTICS (2015) 207 Public consultation meetings 164 Regulation and policy document projects discussed in Councils 120 Written public consultations 266 Working groups on singular regulation or policy document projects 716 NGO opinions received within official decision-making process

STATE CHANCELLERY Support the work of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers, including coordination and monitoring of implementation of their decisions Public administration reform and public administration human resources policy Centralised selection of heads of state institutions Development programme for top managers Informing society about the work of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers and democratic values Coordination and implementation of selected projects supported by EU Structural funds Secretariat of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council and The Memorandum of Co-operation between Non-Governmental Organisations Council

MEMORANDUM – BREAKING SILOS Introduced in 2005 based on NGO initiative Signed between the Cabinet (direct public administration) and NGOs It aims to promote effective work of the public administration in the public interest and to ensure the involvement of civil society in the government’s decision-making process The Memorandum is the main co-operation platform between government and NGOs in Latvia Participation is free and open for any registered NGO

THE COUNCIL FOR IMPLEMENTATION The Council equally represents both the public administration and NGOs 8 representatives from each side Chairperson: Director of the State Chancellery Co-chairperson: elected representative from NGOs Meetings each month Transmitted live; agendas, videos and minutes publicly available Public administration experts and NGO representatives can participate without voting rights Secretariat: the State Chancellery

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL VIDEO

THE COUNCIL AT WORK Discussions on Co-operation issues and challenges faced during stakeholder engagement process Assessment of NGO participation in the drafting of regulations and policy planning documents, and implementation of policies affecting NGOs Issues raised by NGOs on problems in certain sectors Decisions of the Memorandum are in form of recommendations, but in practice the Council is used as a mechanism to obtain the opinion of NGOs NGO representatives of the Council: Participate in advisory capacity at the decision making process Delegate representatives for different thematic participatory formations Annual NGO conference organised on topical issues

MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS The intensity and quality of the Council's work have increased over time The discussions result in concrete solutions Rules of Procedure of the Cabinet of Ministers: horizontal NGO issues before deliberation at the Cabinet must be examined at the Council Advice provided by NGOs are translated into policy planning documents, draft legal acts or legislative amendments The Council helps to find settlements to problems by collaborating with officials of public institutions

Thank You Dita Erna Sīle Deputy Head of the Department for Public Administration Policy Head of the Change Management Division State Chancellery of the Republic of Latvia E-mail: Dita.Erna.Sile@mk.gov.lv Phone: +371 67082948 www: www.mk.gov.lv Twitter: /Brivibas36 Facebook: /valdibasmaja YouTube: /valstskanceleja Flickr: /valstskanceleja Instagram: /Brivibas36