For over a decade we have been working with our clients towards effective and efficient policy making by simplifying rules and regulations, optimising government processes and improving service-delivery. We see it as part of our broader, social responsibility to make a contribution to economic growth, job creation, public participation and good governance. We will give you a short introduction to our services:
Regulatory reform
The aim of regulatory reform projects is to provide an accurate insight into the quantitative and qualitative impact of rules and regulations. Also, we identify regulatory burden reduction measures. We have executed a large number of these projects for public administrations in different countries. During these projects we piece together a complete picture of all the effects of rules and regulations, together with relevant stakeholders. Based on this, we can identify and help to implement reduction measures designed to achieve direct and tangible improvements. These regulatory reform projects contribute directly to the prevention of future regulatory burden.
You can find more information about this service on our website:
- AB baseline measurements
- Regulatory Impact Assessments
- Reducing regulatory burdens for specific business sectors with the CAR Methodology
- Reducing regulatory burdens with the SCM
- Designing regulatory reform
How local governments can cut red tape
The aim of red tape reduction projects for local authorities is to provide them with the tools they need to improve the ease of doing business and to stimulate economic growth and employment opportunities in the local economy. During these projects we look at a variety of key indicators for service delivery and analyse the way in which regulations have been translated into core processes. Based on this, we can improve service delivery by redesigning regulations or requirements and optimising core processes. We draw upon our experience with reducing red tape in over 300 municipalities, provinces and other regional authorities.
You can find more information about this service on our website:
Boost your red tape reduction skills
The aim of our training program is to share our knowledge and experience with you, and provide you with all the tools necessary to successfully initiate and implement regulatory burden reduction programs. That can be challenging. A certain amount of experience is required to fully understand the causes of regulatory burden and which solutions are most efficient and effective. All our trainers have over ten years of experience in carrying out regulatory burden reduction programs and baseline measurements. Our training program will be specifically tailored to your needs and we will work closely together to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and experience.
You can find more information about our training program on our website:
AB Baseline measurements
Laws and regulations are necessary, but regulating a society and an economy imposes costs on businesses and citizens. Nevertheless, business and citizens complain about Red Tape and all obligations to comply with government formalities. An AB baseline measurement provides governments with the necessary information to understand what these complains are about by quantifying the burdens and providing reduction measures.
Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA)
A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) provides insight in the impact of newly proposed (or changes in existing) legislation on citizens and businesses. These impacts can be positive or negative. Examples are an increase of regulatory burden, the need for new investments, significant market effects/impacts, or other socio-economic and societal effects. An understanding of the effects of proposed legislation is crucial if you want to improve legislation and government processes.
The CAR Methodology – A business sector approach
Businesses incur costs complying with obligations laid out in various laws and regulations. To determine the extent in which all these regulatory costs impact on profits, we developed the CAR methodology. This methodology provides us with a clear and unambiguous insight into the impact of legislation on profitability and viability in a specific business sector. This insight enables a sector to bring specific regulatory pressures to the attention of government authorities.
The Standard Cost Model (SCM) – A national approach
Businesses and citizens spend annually time and money to comply with (information) obligations codified in rules and regulations. Sira Consulting provides you the tools and/or capacity to measure these regulatory burdens and to identify reduction measures. Indeed, with effective and efficient regulations we create space for innovation, economic growth and social participation. Besides these effects reducing regulatory burden also, cuts costs for governments, ensures transparency and reduces corruption.
Designing regulatory reform
Regulatory reform concerns the improvement of the quality of government regulation. Regulatory reform is about designing and evaluating policies and regulations transparently, with evidence, and backed up by the views of businesses, citizens and other stakeholders. Regulatory reform may cover all policy areas and aims for targeted regulation that goes no further than required, in order to achieve policy objectives and bring benefits at minimum cost.
Reducing local red tape
Municipalities, provinces and other local authorities often are the first point of contact when they encounter constraining regulations or slow procedures. We support local authorities in their efforts to reduce unnecessary local regulatory burden
Improving public services
Good service-delivery by local public authorities can reinforce economic growth. The Mark of Good Public Services (MGPS) allows local authorities to significantly improve their service-delivery to businesses.
We developed the MGPS in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and in co-creation with a dozen pilot-municipalities, the Dutch association of local authorities, and representatives of various business associations. The MGPS methodology has been implemented in well over 160 local authorities such as municipalities and provinces.
Local Impact Assessment
Choices have to be made whenever local authorities establish municipal by-laws. A Local Impact Assessment helps local authorities by making all the effects of policy choices clearly visible. This makes Local Impact Assessments an important element of any policy-evaluation-cycle.
In-house trainings for public authorities
Our in-house trainings for public authorities are designed to teach you and your team how to best use available methodologies (such as SCM, CAR or MGPS), or how to conduct baseline measurements and RIA´s, or how to develop your project-management skills (such as planning, budgeting and stakeholder-management).
Master Class regulatory reform
In close collaboration with the University of Hasselt we organise bi-annual master classes in regulatory reform. Our master classes are always taught by an expert in the field and we guarantee that the instructor teaching the master class will have plenty of knowledge, experience and charisma.