CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IS KEY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Representatives of civil society organizations, local and central level government bodies and experts discussed public participation in the context of local development planning at a cross sector roundtable held at the Grand Hotel, Prishtina on June 14. The meeting aimed to further the discussion on one principle of good governance – civic engagement in decision-making processes.     

“Participation of citizens in decision-making is seen as one of the key elements of civic societies and democratic processes,” organizers outlined at the roundtable, a joint initiative of ATRC, UN Habitat and the Office for Good Governance within the Prime Minister’s Office.
According to the organizers, participation of citizens in decision-making is also “an effective way in which the government and public can work together to address development issues such as the improvement of local infrastructure, shelter, reduction of poverty, upgrading the urban environment, economic development and improvement of the safety standards for children and women in urban areas.”     
While government representatives urged civil society to develop strategies for linking citizens with the government, NGO representatives complained that civil society has been ignored by the government.
Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network suggested that a new standard for civil society participation in decision-making processes be established in Kosovo.  

Pulled quote:
“Civil society should serve as a bridge between decision-makers and citizens.”
- Margriet Struijf, Head of the Netherlands Office in Prishtina    

After sharing experiences on the engagement of civil society in decision-making processes, participants identified conditions which need to be met to improve this process, such as: reforming the election system, establishing closer cooperation between NGOs and political parties, opening information centers for citizens in every municipality of Kosovo, activating citizens, building citizens’ trust in government institutions, increasing government officials’ participation in public debates and increasing donor support for locations throughout Kosovo.  
This roundtable was developed in cooperation with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Local Government Administration and Council for Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms.   

Rreze Duli Executive Director of ATRC and Ardian Gjini Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning during roundtable discussion

“Participation of citizens in decision-making is seen as one of the key elements of civic societies and democratic processes,” organizers outlined at the roundtable,

Participans at roundtable on civil society and public participation that was organized by ATRC, UN Habitat and the Office for Good Governance within the Prime Minister’s Office