Civil society for European Integration

About the project

Project description

The “Civil Society for European Integration” project is a national initiative implemented by Expert-Grup in partnership with IPRE and Institutum Virtutes Civilis, funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

Within this project, the NGO “Pas cu Pas South Region” was one of the 15 civil society organizations selected to implement local budget monitoring activities through a subgranting mechanism.

At the regional level, the organization carried out activities to monitor the financing of road infrastructure in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and the municipality of Cahul, prepared two budget analysis reports, organized roundtable discussions and information sessions, and conducted advocacy campaigns at both the local and national levels to improve the transparency and efficiency of public fund management.

Status Completed project
Implementation area Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and the municipality of Cahul
Partner Expert-Grup (ведущий координатор), IPRE – Институт европейских политик и реформ, Institutum Virtutes Civilis

Project direction

Goal and objectives

The main objective of the project was to strengthen the transparency and accountability of local public authorities in managing funds allocated to road infrastructure and to encourage citizens' participation in the budgetary process in the context of European integration.

Monitoring the planning and use of funds allocated to road infrastructure in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and the municipality of Cahul

Developing and promoting recommendations to improve the formula for calculating budget transfers

Enhancing transparency in decision-making processes within the monitored local public authorities

Promoting the use of the "usual resident population" indicator instead of the "present population" indicator in the calculation of budget transfers

Increasing citizens' participation in public hearings on local budgets

Raising community awareness about the European integration agenda and European Union funding opportunities

What we aim for

Results

Organization of roundtable discussions in Comrat, Chișinău, and Cahul

Implementation of advocacy campaigns targeting the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development on the financing and management of public road infrastructure

Assessment of the transparency of Road Fund management at the national level through the evaluation of funding allocation mechanisms and the clarity of allocation criteria

Improved transparency in several local governments through the publication of decisions and information on the use of public funds

Increasing in public participation in budget hearings in the municipality of Cahul compared to the baseline year

Organization of information sessions for civil society representatives, public officials, young people, and students

Central public authorities
Local public authorities in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and the municipality of Cahul
Public officials and decision-makers
Representatives of civil society organizations
Young people and students
Local communities, through improved management of public funds

Who we address

Beneficiaries

The change we create

Impact

Contributed to improving the formula for calculating budget transfers by promoting the use of the "usual resident population" indicator, which was subsequently incorporated into the 2025–2027 Budget Circular
Assessed the transparency of Road Fund management at the national level by evaluating funding allocation mechanisms and the clarity of allocation criteria
Increased public awareness of how financial resources allocated to road infrastructure are distributed
Strengthened dialogue between civil society and the Ministry of Finance, as well as the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development
Assessed the management and allocation of the Road Fund in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, including the transparency of decisions concerning the allocation of resources to local governments
Identified shortcomings related to the publication of information on the use of road infrastructure funds
Contributed to tangible improvements in transparency through the publication of local government decisions and the explicit identification of road sections financed in several localities
Monitored compliance with deadlines for transferring funds to local governments and confirmed the elimination of transfer delays in 2024
Increased citizens' participation in public budget hearings
Strengthened the organization's capacity to conduct budget analysis and evidence-based advocacy
Increased the level of awareness among public officials and citizens regarding the European integration agenda and EU funding opportunities
Promoted a stronger culture of transparency and accountability in the management of public funds for infrastructure

Collaboration

Funders and partners

The national project "Civil Society for European Integration" was funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The project was coordinated by Expert-Grup, while the national implementation partners were IPRE – Institute for European Policies and Reforms and Institutum Virtutes Civilis. The NGO "Pas cu Pas South Region" was one of the 15 civil society organizations awarded subgrants and was responsible for implementing project activities at the regional level in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and the municipality of Cahul.

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