Waste management, local budgeting and dealing with stray dogs were some of the top concerns that local officials and civil society think can be addressed effectively through stronger community participation.

Local authority leaders and civil society representatives from the North of the Republic of Moldova came together on 7-8 April to exchange innovative approaches for civil participation in decision-making. The Regional Academy in Bălți was organised by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance and the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM).

More than 30 mayors, senior local officials and civil society and youth leaders from Bălți Florești, Dondușeni, Rezina, Edineț, Rîșcani, Soroca, Briceni, Glodeni and Drochia shared their experience and challenges in cooperation and community engagement. Council of Europe experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia/UK, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine introduced European standards and tools to plan inclusive participation;  innovative community consultations, local Citizens Assemblies and the interactive UChange game. Discussions indicated a strong interest in piloting innovative new methods and in strengthening existing efforts such as citizen consultations and participatory budgeting.

On 5-6 May (Chișinău) and 7-8 May (in Cahul) Regional Academies will take place for local authorities and civil society from the Centre and South of the country. The Centre of Expertise will then provide technical assistance to local authorities wishing to strengthen their civil participation processes.

The Regional Academy on Civil Participation was organised in the framework of the project ‘Promoting Civil Participation in Political Decision-Making in the Republic of Moldova – Phase I’, implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, within the 2025-2028 Council of Europe Action Plan for Moldova.