Consultancy Work

The new Public Policy and Sustainability unit’s principal task involved finalising, operationalising and implementing the cantonal energy strategy. In addition to this strategic aim, however, the unit was also involved in a series of day-to-day tasks involving the implementation of existing federal and cantonal legislations. Among others, this included executing the cantonal programmes for the encouragement of investments in the field of energy—programmes which are due to expand over the next few years. In 2012, according to the canton’s Transport and Energy Department, it was unable to fulfil all its tasks. A clear, precise departmental organisational structure and responsibilities had to be set, notably with better job descriptions. In addition, the unit observed deficits and delays to implementation in numerous fields. Guidelines, procedures, objectives and a strategy, as well as a communications policy (on deep geothermal energy, for example) had to be consolidated and precisely defined in order to improve the Departments’ image. The unit also had to examine how to improve the capacities of the Department’s secretariat and deploy ad hoc computer system improvements and archiving tools available to all employees.

Requesting organisation: Canton of Jura’s Department of the Environment and Amenities, Delémont

Principal consultants: Knoepfel P., Boisseaux S.

Other collaborators: Akeret L.; Kneubühler C.

This mandate involved an evaluation of whether the Environmental Protection Department ad the in-house potential to optimise its delivery of construction project notifications from the Cantonal Construction Committee and other cantonal departments (e.g. hydroelectricity, agriculture) to communes. The unit also examined the functioning of similar processes in other cantons (Vaud, Grisons and Fribourg) with a view to benchmarking and estimating the quality and usefulness of these products by their recipients (essentially communes and other departments in cantonal administrations). The study made propositions for improving the Department’s efficiency and effectiveness in this matter.

Requesting organisation: Canton of Valais’ Environmental Protection Department

Principal consultants: Knoepfel P., Boisseaux S.

This consultancy involved analysing the administrative structures in place for managing the canton of Jura’s energy policies. It proposed variants for developing those policies with a view to reinforcing the canton’s activities in the field of renewable energies—activities considered essential because the canton backed decisions at the federal level to cease the use of nuclear energy.

Requesting organisation: Canton of Jura’s Department of the Environment and Amenities

Principal consultant: Knoepfel P.

Development of a cantonal policy for the disabled, as well as a policy for older adults (“Senior+”), with the aid of public policy analysis tools. These tools rely on definitions of the public policy problems which need to be resolved, together with causal hypotheses, interventional hypotheses, identification of a triangle of actors, and the tools for intervention. The approach took the form of lessons and practical work by a group of specialists from the canton of Fribourg’s Social Affairs Department. This group included politico-administrative and social actors from diverse but highly pertinent fields of social policy. The finished product consisted of two conceptual propositions for two new pieces of legislation. The propositions would serve as draft written justification for the two laws. The propositions contained variants, notably with regards to the tools which could be used in interventions.

Requesting organisation: Canton of Fribourg’s Social Affairs Department

Principal consultant: Knoepfel P.

Working group for exchanging experiences. Scientific support for the Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development’s working group on exchanging experiences and continuation of the consulting role.

Requesting organisation: ARE (Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development)

Project Type: EDD/Sustainability assessment

Principal consultant: Knoepfel P.

Other collaborators: Muenster M.

Organisations involved: SANU, Bienne

Requesting organisation: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)

Project Type: FSO-MONET, Chancellery indicators

Principal consultant: Knoepfel P.

Organisations involved: Federal Statistical Office

Evaluation of the potential for internal optimisation of the canton’s Environmental Protection Department, in terms of its production of notifications for construction projects for the attention of communes, the Cantonal Construction Committee and other cantonal departments (e.g. hydroelectricity, agriculture). The unit also examined the functioning of similar processes in other cantons (Vaud, Grisons and Fribourg) with a view to benchmarking and estimating the quality and usefulness of these products by their recipients (essentially communes and other departments in cantonal administrations). The study made propositions for improving the Department’s efficiency and effectiveness in this matter.

Requesting organisation: Canton of Valais’ Environmental Protection Department

Principal consultant: Knoepfel P.

Development of a monitoring and certification system for Jamaican Rum and Jamaican Jerk, as a part of their registration efforts as a distinct geographical indication. This consultancy work resulted in the publication of a manual on monitoring describing all the tests, verifications and inspections to be carried out with a view to an ISO 65 certification.

Requesting organisation: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture

Project Type: Geographical Indications Project JaMayca / Switzerland

Principal consultant: Boisseaux S.

Audit of the Commune of Chavannes’ Social Affairs Service

Requesting organisation: Commune of Chavannes

Principal consultant: Knoepfel P.