Establishing a Permanent Citizens’ Forum for Local Policy Development (ALBSN0001)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Action plan – Elbasan, Albania, 2025 – 2027
Inception Report: Not available
Commitment Start: Jun 2025
Commitment End: Feb 2027
Institutions involved:
- Municipality of Elbasan
- Municipality of Elbasan
- Municipality of Elbasan
- Municipality of Elbasan
- Municipal Council
- Tjeter Vizion
- Women’s Center For Rights and Culture
- Forumi i Gruas
- Strong Municipalities
- Fatkoje
- Academic University
- Media
- Active Citizen
- RTSH Media
Primary Policy Area:
Primary Sector:
OGP Value:
- Civic Participation
- Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability
- Access to information
Description
Commitment ID
ALBSN0001
Commitment Title
Establishing a Permanent Mechanism for Dialogue - Citizens’ Forum for Local Policy Development
Problem
The Municipality of Elbasan, despite having undertaken important steps to promote transparency and accountability—such as the Transparency Program, participatory budgeting, public consultations, and the establishment of regulations for the Local Public Safety Council (KVSP)—continues to face challenges in building sustainable mechanisms for broad citizen participation in decision-making. The lack of regular dialogue with the community, especially with vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and rural residents, means that local policies do not always reflect the real needs of citizens. Civil society organizations also face barriers due to the absence of institutionalized collaboration channels. This gap becomes more critical during key phases of local governance, such as budget preparation and strategic planning. This commitment aims to strengthen existing efforts and ensure more inclusive and responsive governance.
Status quo
Currently, the Municipality of Elbasan has mechanisms such as public consultations and community invitations via social media, but citizen engagement remains limited, formal, and unstructured. Participation does not begin at the policy design stage, nor are citizens involved in working groups with municipal staff and experts. A clear example is participatory budgeting—Elbasan was among the first municipalities to launch it, now a legal obligation. Citizens frequently propose projects for infrastructure, kindergartens, or nurseries, but their names and proposals are never published. Furthermore, if a proposal is not implemented, citizens receive no formal explanation or response. This weakens transparency and public trust, and limits meaningful citizen influence on local policymaking.
Action
The Municipality of Elbasan is committed to creating a permanent and inclusive mechanism for structured dialogue with citizens through the Citizens’ Forum for Local Policy Development. This forum aims to ensure community voices are reflected in all phases of strategic planning and policymaking.
Based on the October 2024 Cooperation Agreement with NDI and SHAV, the Mayor established an internal municipal working group to oversee implementation. An open call was launched on the municipality’s website and social media, inviting civil society, activists, and media to join. Formal invitations were also sent to the Municipal Council leadership, CSOs, media, and active citizens.
The Mayor then issued a decision to officially establish the Forum, composed of representatives from the municipality, civil society, the council, media, and citizens. The mechanism includes an online platform, annual public forums, publication of reports, and continuous open participation, reinforcing transparency, trust, and inclusive governance.
How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?
Establishing a Permanent Citizens’ Forum with regular meetings and involvement in every stage of local initiatives is expected to ensure that 80–90% of citizens’ voices are meaningfully heard. The digital platform and forums will be supported by continuous communication through social media and the official municipal website, which already hosts a dedicated “Open Municipality” section featuring OGP commitments and Elbasan’s specific actions. Announcements and invitations to public consultations—such as the Urban Waste Management Plan or the Gender Equality Plan—help increase awareness, transparency, and public trust. Expected outcomes include higher levels of citizen participation and more community-driven, responsive policymaking.
What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?
This commitment directly supports the long-term goal of embedding a culture of participatory democracy at the local level. It contributes to strengthening inclusive governance by ensuring all community members, especially women, youth, and marginalized groups, are actively involved in public decisions. It aligns with the broader vision of building transparent, responsive, and citizen-centered institutions that uphold open government principles.
Primary Policy Area
Public Procurement
Primary Sector
Public Services (general)
What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?
| Civic Participation | This commitment is relevant to civic participation because it builds public trust by ensuring that citizens are represented through civil society organizations and community activists.This commitment is relevant to civic participation because it builds public trust by ensuring that citizens are represented through civil society organizations and community activists.This commitment is relevant to civic participation because it builds public trust by ensuring that citizens are represented through civil society organizations and community activists.This commitment is relevant to civic participation because it builds public trust by ensuring that citizens are represented through civil society organizations and community activists. |
| Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability | The commitment will use information technologies to enable the participation of citizens through an online portal. |
| Access to information | The commitment, through the portal, will provide easy access to key information such as draft policies, approved plans, budget documents, public consultation calendars, Citizens’ Forum reports, and open data on local services. This will enhance transparency, support accountability, and promote active citizen participation.The commitment, through the portal, will provide easy access to key information such as draft policies, approved plans, budget documents, public consultation calendars, Citizens’ Forum reports, and open data on local services. This will enhance transparency, support accountability, and promote active citizen participation. |