There is considerable knowledge about data-driven approaches available in the public sector, but it is often very fragmented. Part of the Data Agenda Government is to report on the progress of the agenda and to share the available best practices efficiently.
Of course, departments, provinces, municipalities and water boards will remain responsible for the social challenges within their own domain. Not all government organisations can release the same amount of capacity for a data-driven approach. The way in which data is collected and used also differs: one government organisation makes full use of sensors, while another government organisation primarily collects data from administrations or surveys.
Re-inventing the wheel
Quite unintentionally, many areas in the Dutch public sector are reinventing the wheel. Often because organisations do not know how other parties are using data to solve the same type of issue. That is why there is a need for business intelligence about how to take a data-driven approach. This needs to be more than just a library with good examples. It needs to be a living network.
Wider use of municipal initiatives
Secure multiparty computation can be a good solution for analysing sensitive data. This allows data to be analysed without making it public. This allows organisations to work together on solutions while maintaining privacy and protecting the interests of every data subject.
Benefiting from forerunners
In addition to being examples of good practice, forerunners can also share their facilities. The advantage of this is that those lagging behind and smaller organisations do not have to create the sometimes costly and complex facilities, such as a data lab. Some government organisations even have multiple data labs. One example of this is the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management that also has access to the data lab of the Department for Public Works and Water Management. As part of this agenda, the Department for Public Works and Water Management also makes this data lab available to other government parties wishing to use it.
Monitoring with more market knowledge through experimental data analysis
Within the public sector, there is a need for support for a data-driven approach, such as regarding questions about the application of the GDPR. The starting point is always that a public body must take legally founded decisions itself, but it must also be able to turn to a (possibly temporary) help desk for its questions.
It is also important for organisations to be able to test the extent of its data-driven approach. Organisations can do this by using the so-called self-assessment on data governance.
Actions
Sharing knowledge about responsible data-sharing
- Together with Statistics Netherlands and Logius, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is conducting various experiments involving big data. Insight into patterns of users allows us to improve, for instance, mijnoverheid.nl. We are sharing the experience that we are gaining from experiments on big data. (2019 and 2020)
- In the coming years, Statistics Netherlands in collaboration with universities and non-profit organisations, will conduct experiments regarding the use of secure multiparty computation and encryption for new data analyses of sensitive data that many parties are working on at the same time. (2019 and 2020)
- The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is expanding the (Big) Data Knowledge Platform with representatives of provinces, municipalities and water boards. They will join the 250 (data) specialists who have already forged connections via the platform. (2019 and 2020)
- The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations will provide an overview of best practices of a data-driven approach on digitaleoverheid.nl and will regularly add examples. (2019 and 2020)
Making facilities available
- The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is investigating together with all data labs within central government how these data labs can optimally work together. The results of this investigation will be shared with other departments and authorities. (2019)
Information point for connecting and sharing knowledge
- The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations will develop the current Open Government Learning and Expertise Centre (LEOO Expertise Centre) into the Data-Driven Approach Learning and Expertise Centre. This information centre will act as a driver and is aimed at connecting (government) organisations. We are working together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities and Statistics Netherlands. (2019)
- In the Data-Driven Approach Learning and Expertise Centre, we are developing a toolkit for governments to enable them to formulate data-driven policies. This toolkit contains answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), a step-by-step plan, best practices and definitions. (2019 and 2020)
Facilitating self-assessment
- In cooperation with I-Interim Rijk, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations will produce a self-assessment on data governance, which can be used by all government organisations. (2019)
