NGOs from four regions of Moldova – North, Center, South and ATU Gagauzia – will receive grants to the total value of €3.75 million to contribute to the involvement of citizens in the process of planning and providing public services, monitoring public authorities and in the local decision-making process in the public services sector. This will happen through the agency of the €5 million project “Citizens’ Empowerment in the Republic of Moldova” that is financed by the European Union and is implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), IPN reports.
The citizens will be encouraged to address environmental and health problems, to agree the priorities and solutions to related problems together with the public authorities. They will also contribute to building public institutions’ capacities to use participatory and inclusive methods in the process of taking decisions and working out policies. The participation and engagement of citizens in the planning and provision of public services will enable the people to monitor the activity of public authorities and to actively become involved in the local decision-making process. The goal of the project is to engage at least 18 NGOs and 1,800 people in the formulation of local public policies.
GIZ project manager Christina Otto said it is important that the citizens involved in the decision-making process guarantee by their participation that the taken decisions will meet the population’s needs. The provision of high-quality local public services implies the involvement of social groups in the decision-making process. These can be different groups, including vulnerable groups, young people, elderly people, ethnic groups or religious groups. It is important to raise awareness of what the sustainable development of the country means, especially as regards issues related to the environment, water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and energy efficiency.
Marco Gemmer, of the EU Delegation to Moldova, stated the intention is to engage NGOs in water supply and solid waste management initiatives. They hope the project will help to ensure greater democratization at the local level, while the local NGOs will this way enjoy more solid development opportunities.
The project will last until the end of 2021.
