1. Nick Thijs Public Management Institute University of Leuven - Belgium The Flemish local government Network on Quality CAF Training Event "the Common Assessment framework in action" Maastricht (NL), 16-17 November 2006

2. The Flemish local government Network on Quality The Flemish local government Network on Quality “Sharing of ideas in local government” Content – Facts & Figures – Context & History – Aims & Targets – Activities – Results – Future – Tips & Tricks

3. Facts & Figures Belgium federal country: – 3 regions (Flemish, Walloon and Brussels) – 3 communities (Flemish, French, German) – 10 provinces – 589 municipalities (308 Flemish municipalities) – public centres for social welfare

4. Context & History (1) – Growing dynamics in local government New rules concerning personnel policy (1999) Several rules on strategic planning Quality decree for the public centres for social welfare New decree on local government (2005) – Spread of the quality movement Belgian quality conferences Initiatives in several municipalities and public centres for social welfare … – Training and education for local government – Need and explicit question for sharing and networking

5. Context & History (2) Problem –Few opportunities to meet –No structural framework for meetings Need: –Sharing of ideas and experiences –Sharing of good practices –Sharing of information “Bench learning” NETWORK

6. Aims & targets – Informal framework – Bench learning – Sharing of knowledge and experience – Forum – First step in quality management – Supporting the current dynamic

7. Activities – Network meetings (2 a 3 year) – Informal contacts between members – Conference on quality in local government – Website Bench learning sharing dynamic /sharing sharing

8. « Resultats» –Network 40 organisations –2005: 1st Conference on quality in local government (340 participants) –2006: 2e Conference on quality in local government (250 participants) www.limburg.be/kwaliteitscongres/www.limburg.be/kwaliteitscongres/ (also in English) - 2007: 3rd Conference on quality in local government (250 participants) – www.kwaliteitsnetwerk.be www.qualitynetwork.bewww.kwaliteitsnetwerk.bewww.qualitynetwork.be

9. Future – increasing the Network – building portal website (reference on quality management public sector) – conferences supporting the dynamic – « product oriented» network meetings

10. Tips & Tricks + Network easy for « bench learning » + People meet partners/companions + Network internal possibility in big organisations = « Taking » is o.k., BUT also « giving » (Two-way-traffic) = Ambition to results “from sharing experiences to striving for concrete results” -continuity through structural security and legitimacy

11. NICK THIJS –Email: nick.thijs@eipa-nl.com Public Management Institute - University of Leuven http://www.publicmanagementinstitute.be Parkstraat 45 3000 Leuven Belgium