Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Citizens participation in
decision making processes
– local context –
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Local context: Information and civil
society participation
Providing regular and updated information's regarding central
/ local policies, strategic planning, agendas, public hearings
and budget expenditures.
Accessible approaches/ deliveries by the GO incorporates:
Information office, periodic bulletins, brochures, electronic
and printed media, openness on monitoring and watchdog by
CSOs, e-government, providing accessible documents in
time.
Discussion: At what level is the environment where there is
sufficient ground for sufficient information gathering in time
enabled by central/local authorities at your country level?
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Case study: Opening of Offices for Public
Information in Albania
( country and municipal level ):
• Challenges and obstacles in creating
opportunities for citizen’s information from
local authorities in Albania
• Opening of the office for public information
in Tirana, Albania
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Establishment of the offices for
public information in Albania
• The first office for public information was opened
in 1998
• Now more than 16 offices operate in full or
partial capacity in the local level
• 6 offices operate at the central level
• The main donors who supported the
establishment of offices: USAID, SIDA, SOROS
etc.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Opening of the first office for public
information in Tirana – a new experience
• Opening date: 3 February 2003
• Citizens are provided by services carried by 12 municipality
officers
• Citizens come on a daily basis to get standard information
and to apply with standard forms required for processing
documentation
• Citizens could appeal through the office
• Citizens can get information on strategic planning and
budgetary expenses
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Lack of public information – one of the
biggest obstacles in Albania
• The main obstacles:
• Legacy of the previous political system: hesitation in
sharing documentation
• Lack of strategy for sharing information and
communication
• Lack of reforms in judiciary system
• Lack of necessary infrastructure
• Untrained staff
• Lack of resources ( financial and technological )
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
The role of the office for public
information in developing governmental
capacities in Albania
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Improvement in governmental strategy
Improvement of political agenda
Feedback from citizens
Indicators of government performance
Effectiveness in service delivery
Improvement in internal and external communication
Participation in finding the best solutions in relation to
public service
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Local context: Consultation in decision
making process
Consultative decision making has, as its foundation, the theory
that collective intelligence creates and implements better
solutions than authorities alone.
Consultative decision making can be used in all matters and is
implicitly or explicitly related to a wide range of topics
concerning citizens participation and consultative decision
making provides important inputs throughout participatory
processes.
Discussion: At what level is the environment where there is
sufficient ground for consultation levels of participation between
GO and CSOs at your country level?
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Local context: Dialogue in decision
making process
Opportunity for citizens to express their views on the community
policies and central/local administrative effectiveness.
Participation in policy strategies through helping to implement
the processes that incorporate the dialogue as a part of decision
making.
Discussion: At what level is the environment where there is
sufficient ground for dialogue between GO and CSOs at your
country level?
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Local context: Partnership in decision
making process
This is the highest level of civil society engagement in decision
making processes. This level needs to be understood as a
mutual level of cooperation between Government, CSOs and
other potential stakeholders. The successful partnership is
reached only where there is sufficient willingness of authorities
to engage civil society representatives in joint decision making.
Within the partnership agreements, roles and responsibilities
are clearly defined in the process.
Discussion: At what level is the environment where there is
sufficient ground for partnership between GO and CSOs at your
country level?