The Database welcomes different types of cases, where the editorial board ensures that the cases admitted to the database are of high quality. All types of collaborative governance cases from all policy domains are welcome. Cases may involve only government entities, only non-government entities, or a mix of the two and may represent successes, failures, or something in between.

The Database uses broad case definition: “A set of actors collaborating on a shared issue over a specified time period within a given geographical space.” The database allows contributors to chart the evolution of collaborations over time. If the actors, issue, or geographical scope change drastically, the data may also be entered as separate but related cases. The key terms and definitions used in the database are:

• Case: A set of actors collaborating on a shared issue over a specified time period within a given geographical space. The database allows contributors to chart the evolution of a collaboration overtime. However, if the set of actors, the focal issue, or the geographical scope change drastically, the data may also be entered as separate but related cases.
• Collaboration: When two or more actors aim to constructively manage their differences in order to produce joint solutions to common challenges.
• Governance: The arrangements and processes through which interdependent but operationally autonomous actors aim to formulate and achieve common goals through collective decision making.
• Collaborative governance: A collective decision-making process based on more or less institutionalized interactions between two or more actors that aims to establish common ground for joint problem solving and value creation.

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We rely on transparency mechanisms and the active connection with authors of the cases to ensure the quality of the cases that are included in the Collaboratie Governance Case Database.

1. Researchers submit case descriptions using the standardized format (Download the form)
2. All cases are checked on clarity, consistency and credibility
   • Cases that are included in the database are preferably used in an academic article, and therefore evaluated according to the peer-review policy of the specific journal.
   • When a case is not included in a published academic article (yet), the editors of the Collaborative Governance Case Database do their utmost to guarantee the quality of the cases. To this end, all cases that are accepted are evaluated by members of the Collaborative Governance Case Database team:
     1. Submitted cases are checked for data consistency and completeness
     2. The data collection protocol (survey questions and interview topic list) is reviewed
     3. The case contributors are interviewed to ask specific questions on how the data about the case was collected
3. Approved cases from all researchers are stored in the online database
4. Participating researchers select cases from database relevant for their analysis
5. Resulting publications cite the cases used

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Not sure if your case would fit the database or do you have additional questions about our review process? Please contact the managing editor (s.c.douglas@uu.nl).