The Municipality of Leova, Republic of Moldova has launched the development of its first Open Government Action Plan with civil society making public participation in decision-making an integral part of this initiative. In 2024, Leova was selected as a Moldovan member of the Open Government Partnership Local Program (OGP Local), a global network of 150 local governments committed to the principles of transparency, accountability, integrity and inclusion.
Supported by the Council of Europe Congress, Leova has organised, on 28 July 2025, the first co-creation workshop of the soon to be amalgamated community, bringing together representatives of the municipality and the nearby villages of Sîrma, Tochile Răducani and Sărata Răzeși, local civil society and residents.
Building on the discussion during the workshop and the results of an online consultation held in June 2025, participants identified two key priorities for the Action Plan:
- The “Municipality in the field” concept, promoting a direct consultation with citizens on all local matters; and
- Participatory budgeting, giving residents of the municipality a say in how local funds are allocated.
“Constructive discussions and the exchange of good practices will guide us in drafting the Local Open Government Action Plan, a key document for strengthening transparency, accountability, and citizens' trust in our local public administration. The initiative is expected to strengthen civic engagement and improve the municipality’s ability to implement inclusive policies”, stated Alexandru Bujoreanu, Mayor of Leova.
Through this process, Leova is setting an example of how open government principles can be effectively implemented at the local level in the Republic of Moldova, serving as a model for other municipalities who want to modernise their public services and engage with citizens more actively.
The co-creation process of the Local Open Government Action Plan is being supported by the project “Promoting Multilevel Dialogue, Open Government, and Human Rights at the Local Level int he Republic of Moldova” (2025–2028), implemented as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
