ALDA Moldova organised a roundtable discussion in Chișinău dedicated to strengthening dialogue between local public authorities, civil society organizations, and institutional partners. The event took place within the framework of the EU-funded project INSPIRED Moldova, which aims to empower civil society and enhance participatory governance processes in the Republic of Moldova.
The roundtable brought together representatives from local and national public administrations, civil society, and international partners to exchange views on the role of civic participation in ongoing reforms of local public administration.
Particular attention was given to the importance of public consultations and digital tools as key mechanisms for improving transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in decision-making processes.
Participants discussed the current legal and institutional framework governing local administration reform, with a focus on voluntary amalgamation processes, decentralization efforts, and the modernization of local governance structures. They also shared views on how local authorities can better engage with young people, improve trust in public institutions, and create meaningful opportunities for youth involvement in shaping local development priorities.
The exchange finally highlighted European practices and digital solutions that can support more efficient, responsive, and citizen-oriented public services.
The event featured the active participation of several mayors from across the Republic of Moldova, who shared their perspectives on the importance of civic engagement at local level. They emphasized the need to strengthen youth participation in local decision-making processes, highlighting youth councils, local initiatives, and participatory mechanisms as essential tools for building more inclusive and future-oriented communities.
A significant part of the roundtable was dedicated to e-governance tools and participatory platforms, including digital consultation mechanisms and open government solutions, as key instruments to strengthen trust between citizens and public institutions and to ensure more inclusive policymaking at local level. In this context, participants highlighted Moldova’s ongoing digital transformation, including the development of the EVO platform – a single point of interaction between citizens and the state aligned with EU requirements, offering integrated digital public services, access to electronic signature services, and consolidated information on service providers, thereby significantly simplifying administrative procedures for citizens.
These developments reflect the country’s accelerated progress in digital governance, with the Republic of Moldova making notable advances in several areas of digitalization, in some cases exceeding practices in certain EU Member States within specific service domains.
The roundtable provided a valuable space for multi-stakeholder dialogue, enabling participants to share experiences, identify challenges, and explore opportunities for cooperation in advancing democratic governance reforms in Moldova.
A special guest of the event, Adrien Licha, Coordinator of the ALDA Secretariat and Eastern Partnership Unit, participated in the panel dedicated to international partnerships. He encouraged civil society organizations in Moldova to become members of ALDA and to join a European network committed to local democracy, civic participation, and cross-border cooperation.
About the Project
INSPIRED Moldova, funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen the role of civil society in influencing public policy and contributing to Moldova’s EU integration process. Through capacity building, dialogue facilitation, and support for participatory mechanisms at national, local, and digital levels, the project seeks to foster a more inclusive, transparent, and democratic governance environment.
ALDA remains committed to supporting local authorities and civil society organizations in building stronger participatory governance systems, promoting democratic values, and enhancing cooperation between citizens and public institutions across Europe and the Eastern Partnership region.