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CHAPTER SIX: CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION
OVERVIEW
6.01 It is necessary to identify and involve key stakeholders in the evaluation process. This is consistent with the Scottish Executive's desire to promote participatory governance in Scotland 18 and ensures that the broadest base of expertise is brought to bear on the CtOG programme. The voluntary sector in Scotland has already shown a concern to engage with the CtOG programme 19.
6.02 This chapter summarises the roles that partners in CtOG could play.
CONSULTATION AND PARTNERSHIP IN CTOG EVALUATION
6.03 CtOG is a partnership between Scottish Executive, local government, voluntary sector and, to a lesser extent, the private sector. Indeed, as stated earlier, CtOG Objectives have already been incorporated into a range of funding streams external to the main work programme, including the ROAs (delivered via local Community Planning Partnerships - see page 14 for a full explanation of their role), Futurebuilders Scotland guidance and the Big Lottery Fund. CtOG is also a crosscutting priority for the Enterprise Networks.
6.04 The success of CtOG is to some extent dependent on the actions of agents who are not explicitly working within the CtOG framework, e.g. UK Government, and some private sector and voluntary sector bodies. However, even in these instances, the culture engendered by CtOG will indirectly shape the nature of the day-to-day interventions and strategic decision-making of these bodies. CtOG is, potentially, an all-pervasive presence - as much an ethos and a vision, as a tightly specified programme of work.
6.05 CtOG partnership comprises four elements. CtOG partnership is evident in the delivery of the work programme. CtOG either sets targets for local delivery agents or requires local delivery agents to set targets, which are consistent with CtOG. In this way, local delivery agents are responsible for target setting, implementing a work programme and monitoring progress toward the Target outcome.
6.06 CtOG partnership is also required at the stage of evaluation to ascertain the extent to which Targets, Objectives and Aims (poverty outcomes) have been achieved. One key recommendation for evaluation is for a qualitative stream of work for the evaluation of CtOG Objectives and CtOG Aims. CtOG partners - as partners in delivery and as bodies more generally concerned with these areas of interest - will be well placed to assist the CtOG externally commissioned evaluation team with the identification of suitable candidates for evaluation research.
6.07 In this report, CtOG has been conceived as a collective project involving partners throughout Scottish society. Thus, it has been recommended that the process of CtOG be evaluated. By definition, the evaluation of CtOG as a process implies the active and critical participation of CtOG partners and others, not directly involved in CtOG by influenced by it and concerned with it.
6.08 Finally, CtOG is conceived as an on-going dialogue within Scottish civil society. A recommendation has been made to produce user-friendly digests, educational resources and accessible summaries to engage interest and foster debate on CtOG to establish its presence as a participative and collective project. Partner agencies and Scottish citizens will be the target audience for these publications.
SUMMARY
CtOG is a partnership and careful consideration has been given to multi-dimensional ways in which partners engage with each stage and each level of CtOG activity. CtOG Objectives have also been incorporated into a wider range of other funding streams, external to the main CtOG delivery programme.
Partners perform four key roles in relation to delivery, evaluation and development of CtOG: delivery of the work programme directly linked to the CtOG Targets; participation in the evaluation; participation in the wider processes linked to CtOG delivery; and through dialogue and debate around CtOG progress and future policy.
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