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Building a Collaborative Governance Model for Local Community

Author: 
Byeong-Sun JeongㆍJi-Yoo Kim
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Abstract

Since the beginning of the 6th mayoral term, the ‘Collaborative Governance Seoul 2.0’ has been propelled as a key policy. Among various policy measures to achieve this goal, institutionalising collaborative governance(CG) at the local level is located at the core, as spatially collaborative projects are taking place in local communities. However, the current institutional grounds and the capacity of local communities are not yet sufficient for realising collaborative governance at the local level. Therefore, this research aims to build a collaborative governance model for the local community.

 

The first step of the research was to identify the current projects in Seoul based on the principles of CG. It was identified that there were approximately 1,126 projects worth ₩7,661,500 million. Among them, the projects that received grants from the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) accounted for the majority; 920 projects (81.7%) worth ₩6,060,700 million. This was followed by identification of formal processes of the CG projects in line with the budgetary processes in the SMG and borough(gu)-level governments. Subsequently, this research examined the current practices and governance structures of CG in three boroughs in more detail.

 

Throughout this process, the following five pending issues were drawn out:

- The SMG-led top down policy process

- Inefficiencies due to the fragmentation of and duplication among policies and projects

- ‘Illogicality’ caused by the public sector-led CG projects

- Lack of opportunity for participation and lack of capacity of local communities

- Lack of efficacy due to tokenism in CG projects

 

In order to tackle these pending issues, a new model for the local-level CG was suggested. The new model consisted of the following three main components: 「Local CG Innovation Plan」(LCGIP), 「00 Borough CG Committee」(BCGC), and 「CG Friendly Budgeting System」(CGFBS). This research focused more on the BCGC and LCGIP, and the CGFBS will be studied more thoroughly in a separate research. The LCGIP is a strategic plan established and delivered by local communities. The aim of establishing the plan is to realise bottom up, participatory, and strategic planning which seeks convergence among relevant policies and projects through joint-up governance. The BCGCs have local partnerships, which are suggested to be established one in each borough and in charge of the establishment and delivery of the LCGIP. Realisation of the LCGIP and the BCGC will only be possible and effective if an appropriate budgeting system exists, and therefore, the CGFBS was briefly examined in this research.



Contents

01 Introduction
1_Background and Purpose of the Study
2_Contents and Methods of the Study
 

02 Review of the Present Situation for the Local Level Collaborative Governance(LLCG)
1_Current Situation of Seoul for the CG
2_Current Situation of Boroughs for CG
 

03 Current Condition of the LLCG
1_Focus Group Interview Regarding the LLCG
2_Survey Results Regarding the LLCG
3_Summary and Implications
 

04 Pending Issues
1_The SMG-led Top Down Policy Process
2_Inefficiencies due to the Fragmentation of and Duplication among Policies and Projects
3_‘Illogicality’ caused by the Public Sector-led CG Projects
4_Lack of Opportunity for Participation and Lack of Capacity of Local Communities
5_Lack of Efficacy due to Tokenism in CG Projects


05 Policy Measures to Address the Pending Issues
1_Policy Direction for Realising the LLCG
2_The Introduction and Operation of the 「Local CG Innovation Plan」
3_The Introduction and Operation of the 「00 Borough CG Committee」
4_The Introduction and Operation of the 「CG Friendly Budgeting System」