Workshops for consulting local authorities on the draft of National Decentralization Strategy

Over two weeks, starting with August 2, 2011, in several localities from Moldova there are conducted consultative workshops with local authorities on the draft National Decentralization Strategy, being organized by the State Chancellery in partnership with the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) and with the support of the Joint Integrated Local Development Programme.

The consultations started on August 2 in Chisinau and will continue in Edinet, Cimislia, Balti and Orhei. In the framework of the workshops, the local public authorities of I^st and II^nd levels from the Central, Southern and Northern regions will meet the representatives of the Government and experts in the field to discuss the draft of the National decentralization Strategy, to submit proposals for completion, improvement of the document, and to express the viewpoint on local development in the context of decentralization, using an approach based human rights and gender equality. As well, the participants have proposed to discuss the internal mechanism for consulting the local authorities, and, at the end of consultations, to submit to the decision makers some recommendations for the improvement of the Strategy and expose the view of CALM on the decentralization reform.

Trough these workshops, the State Chancellery continues the second phase of the public consultation process initiated in April 2011 with a view to improve the draft Strategy, so that the final document to represent a strengthened and consensual viewpoint of the governmental and non-governmental authorities and all members of the society.

The consultation workshop held in Chisinau was attended by Eugen Furculita, advisor to the Secretary General of the Government, his portfolio including also decentralization and establishment of local self-government, Victoria Cujba, Division for decentralization policies of the State Chancellery, Adrian Ionescu, international expert within the Joint Integrated Local Development Programme, members of the Administrative Council and secretariat of CALM, local authorities from the Central region of Moldova. Within this workshop, the Division for decentralization policies made a presentation of the draft Strategy and of the Government vision on the decentralization process. "An important novelty of the draft Strategy is that this document was formulated in terms of human rights based approach and gender equality. The Government aims to ensure equal benefits from decentralization for vulnerable groups, including the discriminated, socially excluded and marginalized categories", Victoria Cujba said. Therewith, Victoria Cujba emphasized that for the implementation of the Strategy there are proposed gradual actions, there is foreseen the development of sectoral roadmaps on specific areas liable to decentralization, ensuring a genuine local self-government. To this end, the opinion of the representatives of local public authorities, civil society and various target groups is consulted. "At the end of the consultations, a summary of all proposals will be prepared, which will be thoroughly analyzed in order to be inserted in the final draft", Victoria Cujba mentioned.

The five workshops are facilitated by the representatives of the Congress of Local Authorities - non-governmental organization that promotes the legal rights and interests of all local authorities from Moldova.

"CALM believes in the cooperation with central authorities based on mutual respect and we will seek to build a platform for dialogue and joint actions aimed to promote the decentralization for the public interest, we will seek to initiate partnership relations with civil society and international organizations in a manner that generates their support in facing the challenges for building a modern local administration, to represent the interests of local public authorities and to strengthen their capacities", Viorel Furdui, the executive director of CALM, said. He also said that the ultimate goal of the decentralisation reform has to be the establishment of a genuine local autonomy and providing quality public services to the inhabitants. The workshop participants debated the content of the draft Strategy on areas of intervention, discussed the institutional framework, the stages of implementation, the impact of decentralization and the Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy, within working groups, in an interactive way.

We remind that the draft of the National Decentralization Strategy was developed within the working groups on decentralization, established by the Parity Commission, with the support of the development partners, representatives of central and local government, civil society, academic and scientific institutions.