Open Geospending: Bridging the Gap Between Policy and the Real World

Abstract

Based on its experience, The Netherlands Court of Audit (NCA) sees a gap between the reality of policy makers (policy world) and the real living conditions of citizens (real world). This gap can be explained by a lack of data, information and knowledge of the real world. Thus preventing policy makers to understand the needs of the citizens and to assess whether their policy measures fulfil those needs. The NCA has found in numerous audits that policy measures are not evidence based. Moreover the NCA found that policy makers lack information on the results of their measures in the real world preventing them from being accountable and from learning. The geodesign framework of Carl Steinitz can assist policy makers in narrowing the gap between the policy world and the real world. It can be used for designing sound policies based on data, information and knowledge of the living conditions of citizens. The geodesign framework should include the design of data, information and knowledge on the impact of government policy in the real world: in other words, policy information. It is the aim of the Netherlands Court of Audit to stimulate the design of policy information that connects the policy world with the real world. This will enable the NCA to audit the effectiveness of policy measures and thus add value for the Dutch parliament and policy makers.

Egbert Jongsma is working as an audit manager for the Netherlands Court of Audit (NCA), the Supreme Audit Institution of the Netherlands. He also is head of the Knowledge Center GIS & Audit of the NCA. Egbert Jongsma can be contacted via email: e.jongsma@rekenkamer.nl.