Qassim Region Municipality recognizes the growing role of electronic participation in strengthening the relationship between the Municipality and the various segments of society and enabling them to become part of the decision-making process by providing valuable information and serious suggestions that contribute to improving the Municipality's work. This reflects the Municipality's belief in the importance of community participation and in listening to opinions and ideas that support some of the projects and initiatives currently and prospectively undertaken by Qassim Region Municipality before their approval and implementation.

All segments of society may participate and express their opinions through the Municipality's electronic platforms to discuss various issues, topics, and developments related to the municipal sector. Such participation may contribute to and support the formulation of decisions and laws by the Municipality's decision-makers and the development of the services and products provided by the Municipality.

Objectives of the Electronic Participation Policy

The primary objective of the Electronic Participation Policy is to establish the necessary controls and rules governing the use of electronic participation tools and to clarify the procedures and responsibilities involved in this process, so that the policy serves as a reference for managing the various aspects of electronic participation in an optimal manner and ensures the achievement of the objectives for which it was established. The policy also plays an effective role in providing the awareness and scientific knowledge necessary for the success of electronic participation practices.

Scope of Application of the Electronic Participation Policy

The Electronic Participation Policy applies to all topics, opinions, discussions, and surveys that are presented and circulated through the electronic participation tools provided by Qassim Region Municipality through its electronic portal or through social media websites and applications, whether such participation or contributions are made using computers, smartphones, or tablet devices.

Electronic Community Participation Tools and Channels

Qassim Region Municipality provides a number of electronic participation tools, including comments, suggestions, opinion polls, targeted surveys, and complaints, in addition to social media channels (X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Snapchat), direct communication through the Contact Us form, or national electronic participation platforms. The available methods of participation are specified for each topic presented for discussion.

Stages of Electronic Participation

The electronic participation process goes through standard stages until a final decision is made. The Municipality has the right to modify, accelerate, or bypass certain stages depending on the topics presented. These stages include the following:

First: Presentation

The Municipality publishes topics for the target audience or the general public and invites electronic participation in the decision-making process through its electronic portal or through social media websites and applications. The presentation includes:

• Participation Topic: An introduction to the topic, the objectives of presenting it, the participation period, the available means of participation, and information about the internal department responsible for the decision-making process.

• Identification of the target group invited to participate electronically.

• Expected Impact: Clarification of the importance and role of the target group in decision-making, and the extent to which the topic is related to and affects their interests.

Second: Publication

The Municipality publishes topics on its electronic portal and presents them to the general public for electronic participation. The Municipality may also use additional publication channels depending on the nature of the topics presented, including national platforms or social media websites and applications.

Third: Collection of Electronic Contributions

After opening and managing the available electronic participation channels in accordance with the Electronic Participation Policy, the Municipality collects and categorizes the contributions. During this stage, the Municipality also communicates and responds, where possible, to contributions that require clarification or assistance.

Fourth: Analysis of Contributions

After the specified participation period has ended and the contributions have been collected, the Municipality closes participation on the topic. At this stage, the contributions are reviewed and analyzed, and appropriate contributions are used in decision-making and policy development.

Fifth: Decision-Making and Announcement

Following the analysis of the contributions, the Municipality reviews them and makes its decision, while providing appropriate responses to all or some electronic contributions, where possible. The Municipality then announces its response and the decision taken through its electronic portal, along with any other media channels it deems appropriate.

Sixth: Closure and Archiving of Participation

After the decision is announced, the participation topic is formally closed and all documents related to the electronic participation process are archived. A report covering all stages of the participation process is also prepared and archived. This report may include, for example:

• Study and assessment of the initial situation and justification of the need for the electronic participation process.

• Presentation documents.

• Communications carried out by the Municipality during the contribution collection stage.

• Detailed statistics on the participation process.

• Decisions and policies adopted as a result of the participation process, including the mechanisms and justifications for their adoption and development.

• A report on achievements and challenges encountered during the participation process, together with future recommendations.

Qassim Region Municipality's Commitments

Qassim Region Municipality places great importance on achieving the added value of opinions and consultations that support the improvement of the Municipality's performance and enable it to provide its services to beneficiaries in the best possible manner. This may take place through discussions with experts or interested parties, or by inviting citizens, residents, or relevant entities to contribute their views, expertise, and suggestions through the electronic participation tools available on the Municipality's electronic portal or other relevant participation platforms.
The nature of the topics presented for discussion focuses on the Municipality's need for consultation and participation through expertise and opinions, the relevance of such topics to the public, and their direct impact on them. The topics also depend on the objectives intended to be achieved by presenting them for discussion. Topics are open to everyone for participation and expression of opinion unless the Municipality considers it necessary to specify a particular target group for consultation.
The Municipality undertakes to review contributions periodically. However, it is not obligated to review or respond to all contributions due to their large number or the repetition of information contained in them.
Interaction and participation through the Municipality's electronic participation channels constitute implicit consent to the Municipality's right to use such contributions in decision-making processes and the formulation of future legislation. The Municipality is also committed to publishing and archiving the results of electronic participation processes; however, this does not constitute an absolute binding obligation upon the Municipality.
The Municipality is responsible for responding to followers' inquiries within the scope of its responsibilities as promptly as possible during official working hours, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, excluding Fridays and Saturdays. In some cases, a response may need to be delayed until the required information is obtained from the relevant department.

What We Expect from Participants and Followers

Electronic interaction and participation on the Municipality's electronic portal pages or through social media websites and applications constitute implicit acceptance of the terms and controls governing such participation. Qassim Region Municipality encourages its visitors to review the guidelines and controls set out below and to comply with them in all contributions. These guidelines are intended to maximize the benefit of participation, ensure adherence to participation ethics, and promote proper and constructive communication and interaction between the Municipality and participants:

• Participation should be serious, objective, clear, and concise, and comments should focus on enriching the topic presented for discussion.

• Participation should be written in clear language, with due regard to the rules of Standard Arabic grammar and spelling whenever possible.

• Participation must comply with the teachings and values of Islam, national customs and traditions, and the applicable laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Participants must observe proper standards of dialogue and refrain from racism, sectarianism, tribalism, defamation, insinuation, or disparaging others or their efforts.

• The same contribution should not be submitted more than once on the same topic presented for discussion.

• Care and accuracy must be exercised when quoting religious texts, including Qur'anic verses and Hadiths, in order to avoid distortion or errors, and such texts should not be used outside their appropriate context.

• Intellectual property and copyright laws and rights must be respected, and references and sources used in any contribution or participation must be clearly identified.

• Personal information, such as names, contact details, and addresses, must not be published, and promotional content for any other entity is prohibited.

• The Municipality's electronic participation systems must not be misused in any manner that could affect their performance, security level, speed, continuity, or the ability of others to benefit from them.

• Links intended to provide or download files, viruses, corrupted data, or unrelated content must not be submitted.

Disclaimer

The Municipality reserves the right not to publish or to remove any contribution that it considers inconsistent with its policies or with the laws applicable in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under no circumstances shall the Municipality, its employees, or its representatives be held legally liable for any consequences arising from the publication of comments or observations through its electronic participation channels or for any consequences resulting from such publication.