Policy Evaluation of the Intergovernmental Data Strategy
Commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Panteia conducted a policy evaluation of the Intergovernmental Data Strategy (IBDS). The main objective of this strategy is to strengthen data-driven collaboration within public administration in The Netherlands. This government-wide data policy supports public authorities in responsibly using data jointly to address societal challenges. The IBDS was developed through intergovernmental cooperation and was presented to the House of Representatives on 18 November 2021. The policy evaluation examined the effectiveness and efficiency of the IBDS during the period 2021–2025.
The central research question for the policy evaluation was: “What conclusions can be drawn regarding the (preconditions for) effectiveness and efficiency of the IBDS activities in the period 2021–2025?” This overarching question was approached from a number of perspectives:
• Policy theory – During the period under review, the policy theory was further developed and specified. The IBDS has primarily evolved into a system programme that creates the conditions for responsible data use.
• Objectives – Important foundations and building blocks have been realised, but continued efforts, broader adoption and a longer implementation period are required for the full achievement of the policy objectives. Constraining factors include cultural factors, a perception of the IBDS as complex, legal uncertainty, insufficient clarity regarding governance and mandate in relation to intergovernmental data sharing, limited capacity, significant differences in data maturity and fragmented data management across the participating tiers of government.
• Quality of implementation – The quality of implementation on the “system side” is generally sound and learning-oriented, but embedding and impact across the breadth of public administration remain limited.
• Support – Overall, there is solid principled support, but the structural embedding in priorities, resources and day-to-day practice remains vulnerable.
• Effectiveness and efficiency – The effectiveness of the IBDS mainly lies in creating preconditions and building blocks for responsible data use. These help organisations to take steps in their data maturity and intergovernmental data sharing, although these effects are unevenly distributed across tiers of government and other factors, and vary considerably by type of activity and type of organisation. Efficiency is reasonable but affected by various constraining factors, meaning that a sound assessment will only be possible in the longer term.
Based on the findings, the report provides recommendations to strengthen the IBDS and make it future-proof. These include, among other things, differentiation by type of organisation and level of data maturity, simplifying and strengthening the governance and consultation structures surrounding the IBDS, and focusing on generic, scalable building blocks and scaling up what works.
The full report (in Dutch) can be found here.
