Promoting Communities Participation in Local Governance in Central and South Eastern Europe

Pamfil C¹*, Daniel S¹*

1. Local Development Group, Bucharest, Romania, Europe

Better governance is a development imperative for all Central and South Eastern European countries. Accountability and transparency are at the heart of efforts to improve governance in this region. Corruption often flourishes where institutions are weak, where the rule of law and formal rules are not rigorously observed, where political patronage is rife, where the independence and professionalism of the public sector have been eroded, and where the civil society lacks the means to generate public pressure.

The programs focusing on decentralization/citizen participation/building transparency and accountability in the decision making process supported by international donors community may lack of sustainability elements. Too often, what originates the so-called “decentralization” and/or “citizen participation programs” is more in the terms of reference of international aid projects and less in the overall policy making of a community or another.

Hence, the two experts propose to identify and evaluate the mechanisms for transparency and accountability that have been applied in this region (Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia), what elements of sustainability have been included from the designing phase and how they have complemented each other. In addition, this paper/presentation will debate policy options for improving the capabilities of national and local governments to better cooperate with civil society and international donors.

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