Open governance through public consultation
For the second year in a row, in the monitoring that we have carried out, the municipalities are making more progress in relation to the programs approved by the Municipal Councils compared to those that are delegated as development programs and expenditures by the central government. From the moment we started in 2022 with communications and the processing of findings and facts, various stakeholders have sought to work together to create a strong ecosystem that supports collaborations and partnership agreements.
Civil society, public entities, private sector organizations, traditional authorities and development partners have found scope to collaborate with ALTAX on several development-related issues, including data, awareness creation, resource mobilization and capacity building. capacities. CSO members, partners and members of the media are using the results of the report for advocacy and public awareness as well as to strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships at the sub-national level.
The most important of our expertise’s expectations is that the report will be useful in highlighting challenges with civil society coordination, monitoring and reporting on performance and integrity objectives and indicators.
But a direct effect from all the evaluations and analyzes related to the social audit process carried out is the public consultation, which is now expected to turn into a point of change to further advance the quality of the process.
What results so far regarding open governance and the consultation process, as an integral part of this strategic commitment?
The national objectives are:
I. Open government to increase transparency of government reporting and improve accessibility to information.
II. Open Government to modernize public services and E-Gov.
III. Open governance for ‘Better Regulation’.
IV. Open governance for creating safe communities [1].
Progress as measured by ALTAX: Moderately improved
Achievement of objectives: Partially achieved
Trend: Major challenges remain. The overall objective is achievable
From the verifications for 5 municipalities of the country, the situation observed and presented in meetings during the activities with the local community results as follows:
Berat has a more advanced approach than similar municipalities regarding the publication of information and format but is not the same transparency in 2023. The 2022 Budget and 2022-2024 PBA as well as the 2023 Budget and 2023-2025 PBA were approved at the end of December 2021 and December 2022, respectively, based on the Public Consultation Calendar (not available online).
The decision of the Municipal Council [1] can also be found in the full content of the explanatory report of the 2023 Budget and PBA 2023-2025.
The consultations are placed on disconnected links and create difficulties in the availability of complete data.
The Municipality and the Municipal Council, according to monitoring from publications on the website of the Municipality and on social networks [2] have implemented according to the deadlines the calendar of preparation and discussion according to the steps defined in the law and the instructions of the Budget 2022 and 2023, as well as the PBA 2022 respectively -2024 and PBA 2023-2025.
Dibra has a still incomplete approach regarding the publication of information and format.
The 2022 Budget and PBA 2022-2024 as well as the 2023 Budget and PBA 2023-2025 were approved at the end of December 2021 and December 2022, respectively, based on the Public Consultation Calendar [3].
The decision of the Municipal Council and the full content of the explanatory report of the 2023 Budget and PBA 2023-2025 are not yet available at the time of drafting the Report.
The consultations are placed on disconnected links and create difficulties in the availability of complete data.
However, the Municipality and the Municipal Council, according to monitoring from publications on the website of the Municipality and on social networks [4] have implemented according to the deadlines the calendar of preparation and discussion according to the steps defined in the law and instructions of the 2022 and 2023 Budget, as well as respectively PBA 2022-2024 and PBA 2023-2025.
The 2022 budget and the 2022-2024 PBA as well as the 2023 budget and the 2023-2025 PBA were approved at the end of December 2021 and December 2022, respectively, based on the Public Consultation Calendar [5] and the Consultation Regulation [6].
According to the decision of the Elbasan Municipal Council, the full content of the explanatory and accompanying reports of the 2023 Budget and PBA 2023-2025[7] have been published, albeit a little late. This project will present this approach to the coordinator for the right to information in the Municipality, also demanding transparency according to the legal obligation.
The consultations are placed on disconnected links and create difficulties in the availability of complete data.
The Municipality and the Municipal Council, according to monitoring from various online publications on the website of the Municipality and on social networks [8] have implemented according to the deadlines the calendar of preparation and discussion according to the steps defined in the law and instructions of the Budget 2022 and 2023 as well as the PBA 2022 -2024 and PBA 2023-2025.
Gjirokastra has a still incomplete approach regarding the publication of information and format.
The 2022 Budget and PBA 2022-2024 as well as the 2023 Budget and PBA 2023-2025 were approved at the end of December 2021 and December 2022, respectively, based on the Public Consultation Calendar [1].
The decision of the Municipal Council and the full content of the explanatory report of the 2023 Budget and PBA 2023-2025 are not yet available at the time of drafting the Report.
The consultations are placed on disconnected links and create difficulties in the availability of complete data.
However, the Municipality and the Municipal Council, according to monitoring from publications on the website of the Municipality and on social networks [2] have implemented according to the deadlines the calendar of preparation and discussion according to the steps defined in the law and instructions of the 2022 and 2023 Budget, as well as respectively PBA 2022-2024 and PBA 2023-2025.
Vlora has a more advanced approach than similar municipalities regarding the publication of information and format. It is worth mentioning that the discussions during these sessions are debated and open to the public.
The 2022 Budget and PBA 2022-2024 as well as the 2023 Budget and PBA 2023-2025 were approved at the end of December 2021 and December 2022, respectively, based on the Public Consultation Calendar [3].
The decision of the Municipal Council [4] can also be found in the full content of the explanatory report of the 2023 Budget and PBA 2023-2025.
The consultations are placed on disconnected links and create difficulties in the availability of complete data.
The Municipality and the Municipal Council, according to monitoring from publications on the website of the Municipality and on social networks [5] have implemented according to the deadlines the calendar of preparation and discussion according to the steps defined in the law and instructions of the Budget 2022 and 2023, as well as of the PBA 2022 respectively -2024 and PBA 2023-2025.
In the presentation in November 2022 of the 2023 Budget Report from the point of view of the citizens of …[1] it was an increased attention from civil society representatives in relation to citizens’ demands and comparing the findings of local organizations with the facts presented by ALTAX experts.
The report showed that the Municipal Councils and the public consultation process need as much opposition and voices articulated with the logic of financial arguments in defense of citizens’ demands.
Meanwhile, the report was transmitted directly during the activity, as well as formatted in the online media[2], where it received evaluations and requests for an even further presentation of these facts, which help the parties to find a common dialogue.
Public consultation based on several years of monitoring should have a participation threshold of individuals that we will continue to propose to the Committee on Legal Affairs… of the Assembly for legal change along with other proposals listed below.
Seeing that the qualified comment of the citizen’s voice based on the analysis of the facts and arguments is also missing, the consolidated recommendations of the organizations of different expertise are obviously missing as well.
The measures included in the objectives and priorities of the PBA fail to create a closed cycle of action plan related to all the supporting measures that are necessary to implement the priorities.
Although ALTAX has made comments and requested that this consultation be based on the change in the law on public consultation, we will repeat to the Municipal Councils the possibility that during the public consultation until the legal change, a session/s can also be programmed within the Consultation Calendar with local civil expertise based only on analysis and facts.
This dialogue and hearing can be directed to civil society organizations with expertise, but also business and professional organizations, as well as labor organizations, which can provide a comment/recommendation closer to the needs of citizens but can also be potential monitors for how the City Hall funds and state budget transfers were spent.
If these organizations do not have the necessary capacity to carry out consultation, then the main effort of the central government and local governments should be directed towards networking the expertise of civil society and professionals at the national level.
The great and unique value goes towards increasing the quality of the decision-making process, as well as to have a participatory budgeting, but also testing an openness of governance based on the principle of inclusiveness.
Public consultation and transparency should receive special attention and care in completing the data that is planned and that is reported.
It is necessary that the obligation to consult be changed by establishing a condition that the minutes of the consultation are confirmed with arguments by the public representatives.
This approach helps for effective transparency and accountability in the implementation of this law, which remains among the few instruments for public participation in decision-making.
Based on the reactions of the citizens in the Survey conducted by ALTAX, we suggest that the drafting of the citizen dialogue calendar for the topics of debate between civil society and citizen initiatives with the local government, be annual activities, as a more extended part of communication with citizens and for civic values.
To further factor and strengthen the voice of citizens and in their function, the experts, and partners of ALTAX find that Deliberative Dialogue [1] should be introduced as a new mechanism in the communication between citizens and local government.
The deliberative dialogue, included in the report of the year t, also included in the report of the previous year, we insist on seeking as an innovation for a communication based on the common goals identified between citizens and identified interest groups, where people fall agree and use agreement to find a solution to problems.
This dialogue, by ALTAX, will continue to be instrumentalized with the creation of a synchronized Calendar according to the calendar of the local government for decision-making on the most critical issues, such as: draft projects during the drafting of strategies, decisions on the fate of more than one narrow group of citizens, decisions on local fiscal policies, decisions on the annual budget and PBA, etc.
[1] another way to have a contentious dialogue, without winners or losers
[1] https://altax.al/product/buxheti-2023-ne-kendveshtrimin-e-qytetareve-te-beratit/
https://altax.al/product/buxheti-2023-ne-kendveshtrimin-e-qytetareve-te-dibres/
https://altax.al/product/buxheti-2023-ne-kendveshtrimin-e-qytetareve-te-gjirokastres/
https://altax.al/product/buxheti-2023-ne-kendveshtrimin-e-qytetareve-te-vlores/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/@altaxeconomiccenter3236
[1] http://Gjirokastra.gov.al/konsultime-publike/
[2] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064816655215
https://www.facebook.com/BashkiaGjirokaster1
https://www.facebook.com/SpahiuRahim
[3] https://vlora.gov.al/plani-vjetor-per-procesin-e-vendimmarrjes-me-pjesemarrje/
[4] https://www.vendime.al/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Vendim-nr.96-30.12.2022-Buxheti-Afatmesem.pdf
[5] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064479622983
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066360228798
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044308605471
[1] https://www.vendime.al/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/vendim-100.pdf
[2] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065314517616
https://www.facebook.com/BashkiaBerat
https://www.facebook.com/ervindemo.al
[3] http://dibra.gov.al/konsultime-publike/
[4] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064816655215
https://www.facebook.com/BashkiaDiber1
https://www.facebook.com/SpahiuRahim
[5] https://elbasani.gov.al/kalendari-i-konsultimeve-me-publikun-per-pba/
[6] https://elbasani.gov.al/rregullorja-e-konsultimeve-me-publikun/
[7] https://elbasani.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Relacioni-PBA-2023-2025-Faza-I.pdf
[8] https://elbasani.gov.al/bashkia-elbasan-ka-nisur-konsultimet-publike-per-programin-afatmesem-buxhetor-2023-2025/
[1] https://ogp.gov.al/uploads/2019/7/20190709194647_nap-albanian-version.pdf
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