In Floresti district, in Moldova, four civil society organizations (CSOs) were supported to increase development capacities, strengthen cooperation with local public authorities (LPAs), promote social accountability and good local governance, within the EU4Accountability project (Empowered Civil Society for Greater Social Accountability in Moldova), funded by the European Union.

One of the beneficiaries of the project, was the AO Regional Centre for Social Initiatives and Sustainable Development (AO CRISDD) in the city of Floresti, which aimed, in 2023, to create a platform for discussion between citizens, decision-makers and civil society to strengthen citizens’ capacity to participate in local decision-making, increase social accountability and transparency of decision-making processes.

An example of civil society involvement in good local governance is the city of Floresti and the commune of Stefanesti, supported by information campaigns and training of the population. As a result, tangible results have been achieved in strengthening participatory governance:

– citizens became aware of their responsibility for the development and well-being of the locality;

– citizens learned how the budget process works and the influence of projects financed from the local budget;

– the common vision for the development of localities has empowered people, through the Local Coalitions created for Budgetary Participation, encouraged citizens to propose projects and initiatives, which respond to the real needs of the community.

Mr. Dumitru Stoica, administrator of AO CRISDD said: “Through this project we aimed to strengthen citizens’ knowledge in participatory budgeting, empowerment in participatory democracy and tools for working with local authorities. About thirty people developed skills in the field of human rights, practiced mechanisms of involvement in the decision-making process, and later these people will form the basis of the local coalition for participatory budgeting and participate in the formation of the local budget“.

Signing of the Bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation with the Municipality of Floresti

As the Floresti Local Coalition for participatory budgeting was already established, the project directly resorted to the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation. At the same time, the validity of the Regulation on the mechanism of implementation of the Participatory Budgeting (PB) program, also called “CIVIC INITIATIVE BUDGET”, was extended and the City Council allocated a budget of 200000 MDL for the year 2023.

The signing of the Multilateral Memorandum of Cooperation with the Municipality of Ștefănești and the creation of the Local Coalition for participatory budgeting – served as a catalyst for increasing the participation of citizens and civil society representatives in the local budgeting process. Thus, the expertise of AO CRISDD, the openness of the Stefanesti City Hall and the involvement of AO “Ungherașul Fericirii” from the locality facilitated the creation of the Local Coalition in the commune and the signing of the first ever Regulation on the Participatory Budgeting process; for the year 2023, 20 000 lei were included in the local budget for civil society projects.

This important action for the locality was guided by experts from the EU4Accountability project.

Implementation of citizens’ initiatives through the participatory budgeting mechanism

The AO CRISDD team and the Local Coalitions formed, in collaboration with the town halls, have contributed to the proper implementation of citizens’ initiatives in Stefanesti and Floresti, financed by the participatory budgeting program:

– Development of educational and sports services for 200 children and young people from the Floresti (28000 lei EU funding, 40000 lei LPA funding, 15000 lei citizens’ contribution);

– Improving the rest area in the neighbourhood of the housing block located on Miron Costin Street no. 23 (28000 lei EU funding, 40000 lei LPA funding, 13000 lei citizens’ contribution);

– Improvement of the access ways in the courtyard of the block of flats located on Mihai Viteazul 5, Mihai Viteazul Street (28000 lei EU funding, 40000 lei APL funding, 20000 lei citizens’ contribution);

– The improvement of a children’s playground in the city. Floresti, str. Mihai Viteazul 7/9 (28000 lei EU funding, 40000 lei LPA funding, 15000 lei citizens’ contribution);

– Creation of rest areas and landscaping of green spaces in the courtyard of Miron Costin block no. 32 (28000 lei EU funding, 40000 lei LPA funding, 10000 lei citizens’ contribution);

– Construction of a public fountain in Stefanesti commune (63000 lei EU funding, 10000 lei LPA funding, and citizens contributed to the construction works).

Floresti and Stefanesti communes are examples that demonstrate that the participatory budgeting program is an advantage for the community, contributing to sustainable development, strengthening social responsibility, increasing citizens’ commitment and ownership of the participatory budgeting process.

Mr. Iurie Gangan, Mayor of Floresti stated: “I would like to mention that participatory budgeting has brought a number of benefits to our society and has contributed to raising awareness of citizens’ involvement in the budget process. Residents have learned how the city’s budget is formed, what is spent and how the money is spent. This process also leads to increased transparency in the work of the City Hall“.

Multiplication of good examples and sustainability of the project

The strengthening of the Local Coalitions, during the duration of the project, will ensure the sustainability of the mechanisms for citizens’ involvement in decision-making and the sustainability of the implemented activities. An active civil society will stimulate the commitment of public authorities to implement participatory budgeting by allocating dedicated funding to citizens’ initiatives.

The promotion of participatory governance for active involvement of citizens in the decision-making process serves as a solid foundation for local development, and the project results will motivate other communities to implement participatory budgeting programs and regulate this process.

Background information

The amount of grants offered to the civil society in Floresti district within the EU4Accountability project amounted to 62,600 euro, while 23,200 euro was offered for “Strengthening the participatory budgeting mechanism in the city of Floresti and commune of Stefănești”.

The project “EU4Accountability” (Empowered Civil Society for Greater Social Accountability in Moldova) runs from 2022-2024, and is funded by the European Union, implemented by ALDA, European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and People in Need Moldova. It is implemented in 10 districts (Cahul, Comrat, Cimislia, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Riscani, Straseni, Stefan Voda, Telenesti) and has a total budget of 1.6 million EUR.

To know more about the project click here.

On 11 and 12 June 2024, ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy actively participated in the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Berlin (Germany). Representing the Association at this significant event were Secretary General, Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, and ALDA Representative in Ukraine, Ms. Khrystyna Kvartsiana.

The conference, a major international effort to support Ukraine’s recovery, featured key addresses from Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The event underscored global solidarity with Ukraine and highlighted the critical role of local governance in the nation’s reconstruction efforts.

ALDA’s participation was further enriched by the presence of several notable members and partners, including: Mayor Vadym Boychenko of Mariupol, Mayor Serhiy Morhunov of Vinnytsia, Representatives from the cities of Poltava and Zelenodolsk, All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, MitOst, Cities of Gdańsk and Wrocław, U-LEAD with Europe programme.

During the conference, ALDA vigorously promoted the Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs) programme, which plans to establish 9 new LDAs in Ukraine, in addition to the existing ones in Odesa, in Mariupol and in the Dnipropetrovsk Region, as instruments of social cohesion and stakeholder engagement. This initiative, part of ALDA’s Flagship Initiative in Ukraine, is fundamental to strengthening local governance and community resilience. The LDA programme has been instrumental in fostering democratic principles and sustainable development at the local level, especially vital during the recovery period.

“We are deeply committed to supporting Ukraine through this challenging period“ said Mrs. Valmorbida

“We are deeply committed to supporting Ukraine through this challenging period,” said Mrs. Valmorbida, reaffirming ALDA’s unwavering dedication to the country and its people since the onset of Russia’s brutal invasion.

The conference also provided a platform for ALDA to collaborate with other stakeholders. We express our gratitude to the Committee of the Regions, with whom we recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen our partnership, and to the Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine for providing ALDA with a space at the joint stand on the Recovery Forum.

As Ukraine continues to navigate its path to recovery, ALDA remains dedicated to its mission of fostering local democracy and supporting the rebuilding efforts in collaboration with local, national, and international partners.

On 5 June 2024, the final event of the EU4Accountability project took place in Chișinău (Moldova), marking a significant milestone in Moldova’s efforts to strengthen civic participation and accountability on its path to EU accession. The Civic Engagement Conference, organised by the EU4Accountability project and funded by the European Union, focused on the challenges of civic engagement and the role of citizen participation in decision-making processes at both national and local levels.

The EU4Accountability project, implemented across 10 districts of the Republic of Moldova, supported the capacity development of local authorities and CSO staff. It empowered 59 CSOs to conduct small-scale projects in civic engagement, participatory budgeting, and policymaking. This project exemplifies the cooperation between civil society and local public authorities aimed at improving the social accountability of local and central public authorities by strengthening the capacities of civil society organisations (CSOs).

“Citizens should know that the EU means stability, prosperity, and transparency, and the EU is ready to continue supporting Moldova’s efforts on the European integration path. We support community empowerment in Moldova, and I urge you to remain active and involved in implementing and monitoring public policies. Increasing the transparency of central and local government is crucial because the future and the power are in your hands.”

EU Ambassador, Mr. Janis Mazeiks

“A lot has happened in the last two years. We could say that the project has managed to reflect the realities here in Moldova and the region. We have shown that through local democracy, which is a concrete way of addressing and solving problems, the EU4Accountability initiatives allow our local communities to have European visions. We hope to continue benefiting from this.”

ALDA Secretary General, Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida

The conference featured two pivotal panel discussions. The first panel focused on the implementation of access to information laws. The second panel addressed current challenges in decision-making, identified priority actions, and established cooperation strategies between authorities and CSOs. Key participants included representatives from the Government, local authorities, and civil society. Key discussion points included the difficult access of local NGOs to national decision-making processes, lack of representativity, an outdated transparency law, and the obstacles that hinder the effectiveness of new cooperation platforms.

Speakers addressed key challenges in Moldova’s decision-making processes. Participants highlighted obstacles such as scarce resources, a lack of direct communication with policymakers, and insufficient recognition of their role, which hampers their ability to influence policies that affect their communities. Another critical point discussed was the lack of representation in decision-making bodies. Panellists emphasised the mismatch between governing institutions and the diverse population, leading to decisions that neglect the needs of marginalised groups and smaller communities, thus amplifying their voices in governance discussions.

The EU4Accountability project is funded by the European Union and is implemented by a consortium comprising the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), and the Czech organisation People in Need. The event was organised in cooperation with the think tank Centre for Policies and Reforms (CPR Moldova).

The inhabitants of the villages of Sireti, Negresti and Scoreni, benefit from a multifunctional Community Centre, which was opened with the aim of strengthening the capacities of civil society, facilitating and encouraging community meetings, providing access to information and services to residents, while serving as a meeting and activity space for young people.

The opening of this Centre is the result of the work of the NGO “Siretenii de Pretutindeni“, the involvement of the ten initiative groups created and the support of the City Hall of Sireti, within the framework of the “EU4Accountability” Project.

During the inauguration event, ALDA emphasised the need and usefulness of the Centre for over ten thousand citizens

Present at the inauguration event of the Centre, ALDA representatives, together with the mayors of the three localities, young people and active citizens, emphasised the need and usefulness of the Centre for over ten thousand citizens. At the same time, the representatives of the LPAs mentioned that the projects aimed at developing the responsibility and involvement of citizens in the process of local governance are more than necessary, because they directly contribute to the understanding of administrative processes, and the result is oriented towards finding efficient solutions for the community.

Within this Centre, an Advocacy Strategy will be developed and it will aim at regulating activities to influence local public policies, monitor budgets and procurement procedures relevant to certain projects for the local community and accumulate project proposals oriented towards the development of the localities.

Moreover, the inhabitants of the three neighbouring villages of Sireti, Negresti and Scoreni, including representatives of the LPAs, showed interest in learning from each other’s good practices on transparent processes in local public institutions, participatory budgeting and civic involvement and in developing their communities through joint efforts.

The project “EU4Accountability” (Empowered Civil Society for Greater Social Accountability in Moldova) runs from 2022-2024, and is funded by the European Union, implemented by ALDA, European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and People in Need Moldova. It is implemented in 10 districts (Cahul, Comrat, Cimislia, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Riscani, Straseni, Stefan Voda, Telenesti) and has a total budget of 1.6 million EUR.

To know more about the project click here.