NGOs learn how things work at City Hall

The collaboration agreement between Chisinau City Hall and National Council of NGOs in Moldova is starting to translate into action. More and more representatives of civil society are attending sessions of municipal departments. Petru Macovei, who attended the City Hall’s ordinary meeting on Monday, told Info-Prim Neo this process was more complex than anticipated. “After the first meeting, you can’t draw major conclusions. I’m sure NGOs will have much work to do in order to understand how things really work in the City Hall and to influence them one way or another”, said Petru Macovei, director of Independent Press Association. Several representatives of the National Council of NGOs in Moldova attended work meetings of the departments of Finances, Education, Youth and Sport, Social Assistance, etc. “NGOs can send representative to any meeting they consider important. There is no strict planning. I chose to attend the meetings of those departments that spend the most money from the City’s coffers”, he said. Petru Macovei explained that this initiative is meant to improve the management of public funds. The agreement between the City Hall and the National Council of NGOs in Moldova was signed on February 23. It concerns the development of a permanent and efficient partnership between non-governmental and municipal structures. Every three months, City departments will have to present a public report of their activity. Responsible deputy mayors, members of the Municipal Council’s specialized commissions, representatives of civil society and mass media will participate in these meetings.