Dutch gov't needs to invest in own expertise to tackle big problems, policy advisor says

The government needs to invest in improving its own expertise, according to the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR). “The Netherlands can only tackle the major challenges in security, housing, and climate with a government that understands what needs to be done and manages it effectively,” the council stated in an advisory report that was released on Tuesday. The WRR would like to see the Cabinet appoint a special commissioner with “broad powers” to help make that a reality.

This commissioner would ensure that “all branches of the central government possess the expertise and methods of working that are essential for a competent and knowledgeable administration.” They added that this is currently far from a reality on a national and local level.

Although the expertise of civil servants has traditionally been strong, the WRR noted that over the years, “significant shortcomings and vulnerabilities” have emerged. The government often solves these issues by hiring external workers.

Apart from the costs, “this creates dependencies” and is not always well organized, the WRR observed. The council advises the government to invest in multi-disciplinary teams and to “rotate civil servants more strategically.” They also feel that the support offered to MPs and municipal councilors can be improved, as it is currently “relatively modest,” the report noted.

The council thinks the government should enlarge its “strategic thinking capacity” for significant issues, like safety or climate change. To achieve this, specialists working for, for example, the central government must be given the space to develop alternative policies “without being constrained by the political situation at the time.”

External specialists should also be used by the government; this could help in gathering important perspectives, but this can be done in a more “selective and strategic” way than is currently the case.

In the report, the WRR also called for more long-term vision from the government. “A government that thinks ahead does not only look at which specialists they currently have available, but also what they will need for tomorrow or the day after that.” The council thinks that, because knowledge keeps developing, the government should keep learning.

The end of the report called for realism. “Be realistic and don’t demand the impossible,” the authors of the report said in advice to administrators, civil servants, politicians, and the media. They added that even the most expert government is “not infallible.”

The WRR thinks that the space to experiment deserves protection from “overstretched expectations, inflated performance demands, and overheated blame practices.”