CAF Training Event the Common Assessment framework in

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

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

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

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

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 NETWORK “Bench learning”

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

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

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

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

• 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

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