“The Impact of NGOs and Mass Media on Government Transparency in the Border Regions of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Romania”

Project duration: September 2010 – April 2011

The cross-border project “The Impact of NGOs and Mass Media on Government Transparency in the Border Regions of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Romania” was implemented with the financial support of the East-East: Partnership Beyond Borders Programme of the International Renaissance Foundation, the Soros Foundation Moldova, and the Soros Foundation Romania.

The project was carried out by the “Public Resources and Initiatives” Charity Foundation in partnership with:

• Chernivtsi Regional Civic Association “Bukovynski Perspektyvy” (Ukraine),
• International Association of Small and Medium Business “Small Euro Business” (Republic of Moldova),
• Charity Foundation “Ana” (Romania).
• Project Objectives:

The project addressed two major challenges:

1. Low levels of public awareness and participation in decision-making processes by local authorities.
2. Lack of coordination among civil society organizations in the border regions of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania when engaging with government authorities.

The main goal defined by the “Public Resources and Initiatives” Foundation was to facilitate experience exchange and the dissemination of best practices of NGOs in the Upper Prut Euroregion concerning transparency, government activity monitoring, and the development of cooperation mechanisms between NGOs, media, and local authorities. This was aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency of public institutions in Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania, and fostering the development of civil society.

Key Activities:

As part of the project, three international seminars were held:

1. November 4–7, 2010 – Suceava, Romania

Seminar: “Development of Mechanisms for Public Participation in Local Government Decision-Making in Romania”

• Participants: 40 (10 from Ukraine, 10 from Moldova, 20 from Romania)

2. January 21–24, 2011 – Chernivtsi, Ukraine

Seminar: “Uniting the Efforts of NGOs in Border Regions of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania in Building Civil Society”

• Participants included NGO leaders from Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Odesa regions (Ukraine), Suceava County (Romania), and Bălți Municipality and northern districts of Moldova.
• Also participating were researchers, media representatives, local and national government officials, as well as the Consul General of Romania in Chernivtsi, Ms. Tatiana Popa, and diplomatic adviser Dorin Popescu.
• Total participants: 47 (12 from Romania – including 2 Romanian Consulate representatives, 8 from Moldova, 27 from Ukraine)

3. February 24–27, 2011 – Bălți, Republic of Moldova

Seminar: “The Role of NGOs and the Media in Enhancing Transparency, Responsibility, and Accountability of Public Authorities”

• Total participants: 34 (10 from Ukraine, 10 from Romania, 14 from Moldova)

The seminars brought together NGO leaders, government and local authority representatives, journalists, and academics from border regions of the three countries. As a result of the trilateral meetings, the Cross-Border Platform of Non-Governmental Organizations for Interregional Cooperation was officially established.