Monitoring Transparency of Local Public Authorities: A Joint Effort of Civil Society

On December 16, the team of the Regional Community Development Center (CRDC) took part in a working session together with seven civil society organizations active at the local level, from Șoldănești, Bălți, Cahul, Tohatin, and Chișinău. The meeting aimed to examine how the transparency of mayoralties can be assessed within a broader mentorship programme dedicated to strengthening the role of civil society in promoting good governance.

During the session, the institutional audit methodology for local public authorities, developed by CPR Moldova – Center for Policies and Reforms, was presented. The methodology is structured around three essential pillars for ensuring transparent public administration:

• access to information,

• proactive transparency, with a focus on open data and official websites,

• public participation in decision-making processes.

Discussions among participants highlighted the importance of the active involvement of non-governmental organizations in monitoring the activities of local public administrations, formulating evidence-based recommendations, and bringing citizens closer to public decision-making processes. The exchange of experience confirmed that independent monitoring and cooperation among civil society organizations are key tools for increasing accountability and transparency at the local level.

In the coming period, the involved organizations will work on the development of monitoring reports — a complex process that will include desk research, surveys for relevant stakeholders, interviews with public officials, and the use of other analytical tools. The results of this effort will contribute to the formulation of concrete recommendations aimed at improving decision-making processes and strengthening good governance in local communities.

The activity was organized by CPR Moldova within the projects “Improving Access to Information and Promoting Institutional Transparency,” with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy, as well as under the INSPIRED Moldova initiative, funded by the European Union.