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Introduction

This document sets out the Welsh Government Open Government commitments we will deliver over the next two years so that government is more open and responsive to citizens, accountable and collaborative.

These commitments form part of the overall UK Open Government National Action Plan 2022-2024, along with commitments from the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

In developing these commitments we have engaged with representatives from civil society and citizens via the Open Government Network Wales. The COVID–19 pandemic however, has had an impact on the extent of this engagement compared to previous years. We will continue to work collaboratively through the Open Government Network Wales on our commitments, and future iterations.

Our commitments for 2022-2024 are:

  1. We will work with a wide spectrum of stakeholders to create digital solutions to deliver better public services, develop the economy and reduce inequalities in Wales.
  2. We will work collaboratively with the translation community to develop technologies that enables Welsh to be used in a wide variety of contexts
  3. We will work towards a more diverse, equal and inclusive Welsh Government workforce.
  4. We will establish a taskforce to work collaboratively to address the findings from the Locked out: liberating disabled people’s lives and rights in Wales beyond COVID-19 report.
  5. We will work collaboratively to tackle climate change and reaching our 2050 net zero carbon target.
  6. We will work with citizens and communities to use, enjoy and value the historic environment around them.
  7. We will work openly and collaboratively to increase awareness and support further integration of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Commitment 1: Digital & Data collaboration

We will work with a wide spectrum of stakeholders to create digital solutions to deliver better public services, develop the economy and reduce inequalities in Wales.

Objective

To increase, encourage and support engagement and collaboration in the development and delivery of digital public services in Wales.

Status quo

The Digital Strategy for Wales was published in March 2021 and has a focus on collaboration and building partnerships.

There are a number of excellent examples where partnership working is currently delivering digital services, such as the SAIL Databank. This commitment aims to build upon this ethos of collaborative working.

Ambition

To create an ongoing active partnership that works collectively to develop and deliver better digital public services in Wales.

Leading implementing organisation

Welsh Government

Timeline

January 2022 – January 2024

OGP values

Access to information, co-production

New or ongoing commitment

New

Other actors involved

Public authorities, academia, community councils, health boards and trusts, education providers, fire and rescue bodies, arms-length bodies, third sector and social partnerships, civil society, the Data Sharing Review Board for Wales.

Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitment New or ongoing Start date End date
1: To work openly during the implementation the Digital Strategy for Wales, including the publication of progress updates New January 2022 January 2024
2: To engage with people and communities to design accessible and inclusive digital and data services that are based upon their needs New January 2022 January 2024
3: To work collaboratively to create a shared ambition for the ethical use of data across public services New January 2022 January 2024
4: To work collaboratively to develop approaches that enable public services to undertake user research with different population groups New January 2022 January 2024
5: To work collaboratively to develop and facilitate an active data community across public and third sector services in Wales New January 2022 January 2024
6: Develop consistency by agreeing and adopting common data and digital standards New January 2022 January 2024
7: To encourage the use of platforms, standards and formats that will support the re-use of data New January 2022 January 2024
8: To publish coding suitable for re-use that has been created by the Welsh Government’s Data Science Unit New January 2022 January 2024
9: To publish information relating the work of the Data Sharing Review Board for Wales including the minutes of meetings New January 2022 January 2024
10: Openly publish information around data sharing proposals approved by the new Data Sharing Review Board for Wales New January 2022 January 2024

Commitment 2: Welsh Language technology

We will work collaboratively with the translation community to develop technologies that enables Welsh to be used in a wide variety of contexts.

Objective

To support, advise and collaborate with the translation community in Wales. Areas for collaboration include computer-assisted translation technology, the adoption of open standards and the release of legacy translations for reuse.

Status quo

Our Welsh language technology action plan supports our ambitions for the Welsh language described in our strategy Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh speakers (2017). A key principal of the technology action plan is building partnerships and we will continue to work collaboratively with the translation community, towards developing technologies to ensure that Welsh can be used in a wide variety of contexts.

There is a thriving translation community in Wales covering a range of activities from terminology and discussion forums through to the provision of open source software portals. This commitment will build upon the foundations already laid by volunteer technologists, by large enterprises and by the public sector.

Ambition

To enable more use of Welsh and to increase the amount of Welsh in the linguistic landscape in Wales.

Leading implementing organisation

Welsh Government

Timeline

January 2022 – January 2024

OGP values

Access to information, open data, co-production, working with citizens, collaboration

New or ongoing commitment

New

Other actors involved

Civil society, Welsh translation community, technology companies, the public sector.

Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitment New or ongoing Start date End date
1: Continue to support and encourage developments for computer-assisted translation, including machine translation and sharing translation data New January 2022 January 2024
2: Encourage the use of open standards in computer-assisted translation New January 2022 January 2024
3: Continue with our engagement with the translation community in Wales New January 2022 January 2024
4: Encourage parallel English<>Welsh language legacy translations to be released under a suitably permissive licence, so they can be made available for re-use, thereby increasing the amount of Welsh in the linguistic landscape in Wales New January 2022 January 2024
5: Continue working towards delivering the Work Packages that are described in our Welsh Language Technology Action Plan New January 2022 January 2024

Commitment 3: Diversity in Welsh Government recruitment

We will work towards a more diverse, equal and inclusive Welsh Government workforce.

Objective

To increase diversity in the Welsh Government’s workforce.

Status quo

We have recognised that some groups are within our workforce are under-represented. This commitment aims to address this situation.

Ambition

To ensure that ours is an organisation that fully reflects the diversity of Wales and that we encourage a rich and diverse workplace, where everyone feels able to be themselves, and no one feels discriminated against.

Leading implementing organisation

Welsh Government

Timeline

January 2022 – January 2024

OGP values

Access to information, diversity, inclusion

New or ongoing commitment

New

Other actors involved

Diversity organisations and networks

Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitment New or ongoing Start date End date
1: To implement our Workforce Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2021-2026, which sets out our vision to become an organisation which fully reflects the diversity of Wales at every level, is anti-racist and anti-discrimination of all types New January 2022 January 2024
2: To publish annual diversity data in the Employer’s Equality Reports New January 2022 January 2024

Commitment 4: Disability rights and equality

We will establish a taskforce to work collaboratively to address the findings from the Locked out: liberating disabled people’s lives and rights in Wales beyond COVID-19 report.

Objective

To establish a taskforce that will be co-chaired by a minister and a representative of disabled people/disabled people’s organisations.

The taskforce will work collaboratively to address the inequalities highlighted by the Locked Out report, oversee the implementation of actions arising and include disabled people in decisions that affect their lives.

Status quo

The Locked Out report has highlighted the disproportionate and adverse impacts of Covid pandemic on disabled people.

Ambition

To improve the lives of disabled people in Wales.

Leading implementing organisation

Welsh Government

Timeline

December 2022 – March 2026

OGP values

Co-production, collaboration, civic participation, diversity

New or ongoing commitment

New

Other actors involved

Disabled people in Wales, disabled people’s organisations, Welsh public services, Welsh Commissioners

Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitment New or ongoing Start date End date
1: Establishment of a Disability Rights Taskforce New November 2021 March 2023
2: Identification and development of actions to address inequalities and strengthen and advance rights of disabled people New January 2022 March 2023
3: Implementation of actions to address inequalities and strengthen and advance rights of disabled people New November 2021 January 2024

Commitment 5: Climate change and carbon reduction

We will work collaboratively to tackle climate change and reaching our 2050 net zero carbon target

Objective

To work collaboratively with citizens, communities, businesses, the public sector and other stakeholders towards tackling climate change, achieving our net-zero ambitions and to deliver a greener and fairer future in Wales.

Status quo

Welsh Government has been working collaboratively to develop plans to address climate change. This commitment will build upon this work.

Ambition

To transition towards a low carbon society, which is vital to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales and to meet international obligations.

Leading implementing organisation

Welsh Government

Timeline

January 2022 – January 2026

OGP values

Civic participation, co-production, collaboration, access to information

New or ongoing commitment

New

Other actors involved

Educational establishments, public sector, businesses, citizens, communities, environmental organisations

Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitment New or ongoing Start date End date
1: To build upon our citizen, community and stakeholder engagement activities that will be described in a new Engagement Plan on the delivery of Net Zero Wales to be published in early 2022 New January 2022 January 2026
2: To develop new innovative digital engagement tools to help us reach a wide range of stakeholders in order to help in the co-production of climate change strategies, plans and actions and to improve carbon literacy and support behavioural change. New January 2022 January 2026
3: Hold on-going stakeholder engagement events including an annual Wales Climate Week event in 2022, 2023 and 2024. New January 2022 January 2026
4: Continue to work closely with children and young people to develop our climate change strategies, plans and actions and to create educational resources, which enable learning about environment and climate change. New January 2022 January 2026
5: Engage across all areas of society in Wales to ensure that the positive and negative impacts of our journey to net zero carbon emissions and a greener, stronger, fairer Wales are distributed fairly to our citizens and communities. New January 2022 January 2026
6: Work with key stakeholders to improve understanding of climate change and effect behavioural change amongst businesses, communities and society. New January 2022 January 2026

Commitment 6: Historic environment

We will work with citizens and communities to use, enjoy and value the historic environment around them.

Objective

To work collaboratively with citizens and communities to connect them with and to enjoy their local monuments, landscapes and historic buildings.

Status quo

Cadw (Welsh Government’s historic environment service) has established many partnerships with citizens and communities to help care for and enjoy the historic environment. This commitment will continue with, and enhance this way of working.

Ambition

A Wales where our historic places are cared for, understood and shared by everyone.

Leading implementing organisation

Welsh Government

Timeline

January 2022 – January 2024

OGP values

Civic participation, co-production, collaboration and diversity

New or ongoing commitment

Ongoing

Other actors involved

The Welsh Archaeological Trusts, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, other heritage bodies, citizens, community groups.

Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitment New or ongoing Start date End date
1: To work towards widening citizen and community access to heritage and the historic environment. New January 2022 January 2024
2: To work with citizens and communities to understand their views, values and relationships with the historic environment and to undertake partnership projects with them. New January 2022 January 2024
3: To provide funding for projects across Wales to enable citizens to engage with heritage and the historic environment. New January 2022 January 2024
4: Encouraging and enabling the appropriate use of Cadw sites, making them more accessible and relevant to citizens and communities as valued spaces. New January 2022 January 2024

Commitment 7: Well-being of Future Generations

We will work openly and collaboratively to increase awareness and support further integration of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Objective

To lead the next phase of embedding the Well-being of Future Generations legislation in Wales.

Status quo

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 continues to shape how Government and the public sector in Wales meets the needs of current generations, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Welsh Government and public bodies have been integrating Well-being of Future Generations Act into the work that they do, since its introduction in 2015. This commitment will build upon and continue this work.

Ambition

To realise the benefits of the Well-being of Future Generations Act in what Government and public bodies do, and how they work.

Leading implementing organisation

Welsh Government

Timeline

January 2022 – January 2024

OGP values

Civic participation, access to information, civil participation, collaborations, co-production

New or ongoing commitment

New

Other actors involved

Future Generations Commissioner, local authorities, academia, community councils, health boards and trusts, education providers, fire and rescue bodies, arms-length bodies, third sector and social partnerships, civil society

Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitment New or ongoing Start date End date
1. To continue to engage the Well-being of Future Generations multi-sector stakeholder forum to drive forward the next phase of embedding the Well-being of Future Generations approach across Wales. New January 2022 January 2024
2. To bring together evidence on likely future trends affecting Wales well-being to support decision-making. New January 2022 January 2024
3. To review the list of public bodies subject to the Well-being of Future Generations Act. New January 2022 January 2024
4. To continue our activities to raise awareness of the Well-being of Future Generations and to encourage organisations to adopt the ‘5 ways of working’ (Sustainable Development Principle). New January 2022 January 2024