Diaspora Participation (MD0072)

4. Involvement of diaspora in decision-making process
Lead implementing
agency/actor State Chancellery (Diaspora Relations Office)
Commitment description
What is the public problem that the commitment will address? A large number of Moldovan citizens have migrated oversees, thus the country is severely affected by the Brain Drain phenomena, given that those who leave the country represent an important source of knowledge and experiences. Once exploited, it will contribute to economic and social development of the country. In addition, Government should ensure permanent communication about activities performed.
What is the commitment? Commitment refers to involvement of diaspora in decision-making process by engaging in public policy development.
How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? The involvement of citizens settled abroad into the public policies co-creation processes and conducting communication activities with participation of high-level officials will improve the decision-making process.
Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? Civic participation
Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable Responsible authority Deadline Progress indicators
Implementing the Program "Diaspora Excellence Groups" State Chancellery (Diaspora Relations Office) Annual Number of groups created,
Number of public policies developed
Implementing the "A Government closer to you" program, with citizens established abroad State Chancellery (Diaspora Relations Office) Annual Number of events organized,
number of participants

4. Involvement of diaspora in decision making

Language of the commitment as it appears in the action plan: [58] Involvement of diaspora in decision-making process

Milestones

4.1 Implementing the Program "Diaspora Excellence Groups"

4.2 Implementing the "A Government closer to you" program, with citizens established abroad

Start Date: 2019              

End Date: 2020

Context and Objectives

High levels of migration have had a significant social and economic impact on Moldova since the country’s independence in 1991. Remittances represented over 15 percent of Moldova’s GDP in 2018, ranking it among the top 10 countries with the highest percentage of remittances as a percentage of GDP. [59] [60] In 2012, the government created the Bureau for Diaspora Relations (within the State Chancellery) to maintain its relationships with the diaspora and oversee its programs and policies. [61] Notably, the National Diaspora Strategy 2025 [62] was developed in the context of Moldova’s EU Association Agreement and aims to strengthen ties between central and local authorities to the diaspora, and to promote several programs in this area. [63]

This commitment aims to improve communication with the diaspora representatives and involve skilled human resources from the diaspora in public policy development processes. Specifically, the government proposes the implementation of two programs called "Diaspora Excellence Groups (DEG)" and "A Government closer to you". The DEG program was launched in 2017, as a sub-program of a larger program called Diaspora Engagement Hub implemented by the Bureau for Diaspora Relations with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). [64] [65]

The second program is an activity foreseen in the Diaspora 2025 Strategy, launched by the Bureau for Diaspora Relations in 2016. The goal of the program is for the Bureau and other government ministries to conduct information sessions in the diaspora to inform them of new diaspora services, projects, and programs, and to establish communication channels. [66] Though visits (program activities) were organized within this program, its usefulness was not clear to diaspora members. Moreover, according to interviewed diaspora representatives, the actions taken by the government to include the diaspora in policy making were mostly declarative, and though there is a strong desire among the diaspora to provide support, this was not used to its full capacity. [67]

According to the Bureau for Diaspora Relations, the implementation of these two programs will continue pending financing, which is why there are no specific activities for the action plan period. Also, only quantitative indicators are identified, which do not reflect the outcomes, rather only the activities.

Overall, if implemented as written, this commitment will likely have a minor impact on government practice in the involvement of the diaspora in decision making. It is unclear how the results of diaspora collaboration will be integrated into Moldova’s policy processes, or the specific role diaspora members play in the “excellence groups.” Moreover, since there are no concrete plans to organize activities within these two programs during the action plan period, [68] it is difficult to assess the potential impact beyond minor.

Next steps

Migration and brain drain represent major challenges for the future of Moldova, so it is important to involve the diaspora in decision-making processes in the country. The government could consider including a relevant commitment in future OGP action plans but develop more focused activities. For example, interviewed diaspora members recommend that the government reach out to them when specific input is needed for a given policy initiative/document/process, rather than through a general call.

[58] OGP, Moldova Action Plan 2018-2020, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/moldova-action-plan-2018-2020

[59] The World Bank, Migration and Remittances, https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/labormarkets/brief/migration-and-remittances

[60] The Global Economy, country rankings of remittances, https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/remittances_percent_GDP/

[61] The Bureau of Diaspora Relations, http://brd.gov.md/ro/content/istorie-misiune-viziune-obiective

[62] The Bureau of Diaspora Relations, https://brd.gov.md/sites/default/files/sn_diaspora_2025_web.pdf

[63] News about the national strategy Diaspora 2025 on the monitorul.fisc.md online portal, https://monitorul.fisc.md/editorial/executivul_a_aprobat_strategia_naionala_diaspora-2025.html

[64] As part of the “Strengthening of the development capacities of the Republic of Moldova by creating partnerships between the diaspora and the country of origin”.

[65] Information provided by the Bureau for Diaspora Relations, email to IRM researcher, March 2019.

[66] See: https://brd.gov.md/ro/content/premiera-guvernul-mai-aproape-de-tine-un-nou-program-lansat-de-biroul-pentru-relatii-cu; Information provided by the Bureau for Diaspora Relations, email to IRM researcher, March 2019.

[67] Skype interview with a former ambassador, currently working for academia, member of the Moldovan diaspora from the Baltic States (anonymous), 11 April 2019; Skype interview with an expert in public budgeting, member of the Moldovan diaspora from Canada, 10 April 2019.

[68] Telephone discussion with the Bureau of Diaspora Relations, State Chancellery, April 2019.

4. Involvement of diaspora in decision making

Completion: Substantial

According to the State Chancellery, under the program “A Government closer to you”, the Bureau for Diaspora Relations (DRB) organized one meeting with the Moldovan diaspora in 2019 at the Republic of Moldova’s Embassy in Poland, where representatives of different ministries and agencies were present. ^[87] In 2020, DRB organized two online sessions (in June and October) with diaspora representatives in several countries to explain the Republic of Moldova’s international social security agreements. ^[88] In addition, representatives of several ministries discussed with the Moldovan diaspora in the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon on challenges related to the Middle East, such as human trafficking. ^[89] Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no further on-site meetings were held in 2020.

The “Diaspora Excellence Groups” program ^[90] was no longer considered lucrative due to the lack of openness and the lack of requests for input or support among highly qualified diasporans and, respectively, from governmental institutions. ^[91] Thus, DRB decided to re-focus this activity to a new project for diasporans to become more involved in decision-making processes. DRB developed a concept for the new platform in 2019-2020 with the financial support of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency, and the government is now looking for additional funds to implement it. ^[92]