Promoting Civil Participation in Political Decision-Making in the Republic of Moldova

What is the project about?

The project aims to strengthen democratic governance in the Republic of Moldova through effective civil participation at national and local levels. The project seeks to enhance citizen and civil society organisation’s engagement in decision-making beyond elections. It focuses on ensuring that political decisions at local and national levels are informed by recommendations from diverse societal sectors, including women, youth, and marginalised groups, reflecting the needs and opinions of all citizens. The project also strives to motivate young people to actively participate in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard in pilot municipalities. Additionally, it works on developing and improving legislation to ensure effective citizen engagement.

What is the policy context?

The Republic of Moldova’s ambition to improve the quality of local democracy and to facilitate civil society participation in decision-making at all levels are among the commitments in the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028. In Moldova, participatory democracy is advancing through strategies like the Public Administration Reform Strategy 2023-2030, the 2030 National Development Strategy, and the strategy for the development of the youth sector emphasising public consultation and participation in policy making, youth engagement, as well as transparency and accountability. Efforts such as the creation of a parliamentary dialogue platform and the Moldova OGP Action Plan 2023-2025 also further these goals.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe supports these endeavours by monitoring the situation of local democracy and through co-operation to foster closer alignment of the local self-government framework with the principles enshrined in the European Charter of Local Self-Government, and by supporting central and local authorities to implement key standards such as the 2023 Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers on Deliberative Democracy, the 2018 Recommendation on the participation of citizens in local public life, the 2018 Recommendation on Strengthening Civil Society Space in Europe and the 2017 Guidelines for Civil Participation in Political Decision-Making.

Knowledge and awareness

Authorities and citizens, young people, women and vulnerable groups have increased their awareness and knowledge about civil participation tools and entry points into the decision-making process.

A comprehensive civil participation programme will be developed, including the ‘Academy of Civil Participation’ for citizens, CSOs, and local officials in pilot municipalities, complemented by awareness-raising events on participatory methods at regional and national levels. Additionally, tailored information materials, guidelines, civil participation and educational tools drawing on European standards will be developed for the Moldovan context and disseminated to key stakeholders.

Dialogue and participation mechanisms

Effective dialogue platforms and participatory mechanisms are established in selected pilot municipalities to ensure a participatory decision making and an inclusive development and implementation of policies, strategies, and action plans.

Participatory methods like the CivicLab, citizen assemblies, and the ‘Civil Participation in Decision-Making Toolkit’ will be adapted to the Moldovan context and piloted in selected municipalities, supported by a qualified pool of experts. Additionally, workshops and training sessions will be organised for municipal staff and city councils to strengthen their capacity to implement participatory decision-making methods.

Youth participation mechanisms

Youth participation mechanisms are in place and capacities of trainers, teachers and educators to encourage youth participation in the decision-making process is increased.

The school participatory budgeting mechanism will be tailored to the Moldovan education system and implemented in selected municipalities, while the UChange game methodology will be used in youth events to educate and inspire young people on political participation.

Legal framework

Authorities at central and local levels receive recommendations for enhancing the legal framework concerning civil participation.

The project will develop appraisals of national and local regulatory and procedural frameworks for civil participation, with recommendations for their improvement.

Who benefits from the project?

The target groups of the project are public officials and civil servants at local, regional, and central levels, civil society organisations, as well as teachers, educators, and youth workers. The project will involve residents of pilot municipalities, youth-oriented organisations, and youth centres. Ultimately, children and young people, underrepresented groups, and residents of pilot municipalities will benefit from increased opportunities to participate in decision-making.