Strengthening open governance at local level (RO0100)

1. What problem does the commitment aim to address?

Despite improvements in recent years, local public administrations in Romania continue to face difficulties in planning and implementing effective open government measures, which limit transparency, accountability and the active participation of citizens. Moreover, while there are targeted initiatives to engage the public, they are not backed up by adequate tools to incentivise real community participation. According to the OECD’s Open Government Review of Romania, ‘citizens’ participation in decision- making remains low and existing mechanisms are not sufficiently accessible and effective to encourage active engagement’. This problem directly affects both local governments, which lack resources and tailored methodologies to integrate the principles of open government into their work, and citizens, who have limited opportunities to influence decisions that impact their daily lives. In this respect, the "Open Government Review of Romania" points out that "in many cases, public consultations are formal, without clear mechanisms for integrating citizens' feedback into the decision-making process", this practice contributing to the perception that citizens' involvement is symbolic rather than effective, which reduces their motivation to participate. Moreover, the impact of the problem varies depending on the capacity of each local government to implement public participation principles and tools, with the aforementioned Report highlighting that "many local governments lack the capacity to implement innovative mechanisms, such as participatory budgeting or citizen juries, due to a lack of expertise and resources" and "the capacity of local governments to design and implement open government policies is uneven and the lack of standardised methodologies limits the possibility of replicating successful initiatives". This contributes to a low level of trust in local government, with citizens perceiving the decision-making process as distant and lacking transparency. To address these shortcomings, a systematic and sustainable approach is needed that supports local governments not only in testing and implementing effective mechanisms for public participation, but also in developing strategic planning capacity in the field of open government.

2. What are the causes of the problem?

One of the main causes of the difficulties encountered by local governments in implementing the principles of open government is the lack of an institutional culture of strategic planning in this area. According to the Open Government Review of Romania, "many local governments lack well-defined internal structures and procedures for integrating the principles of open government, leading to fragmented and unsustainable approaches". Public participation initiatives are thus often sporadic and reactive, rather than part of a coherent and well-planned process. Another major cause is the limited resource, both financially and in terms of technical expertise. "Local governments have difficulties in allocating sufficient resources to develop and implement public participation mechanisms, which affects their ability to engage citizens effectively" ("Open Government Review of Romania"). The lack of expertise in the use of innovative methods of participation, such as citizen juries or participatory budgeting, prevents their replication and expansion. Also, according to the same report, ‘existing public consultation mechanisms are perceived as formal and without impact on final decisions, leading to a decrease in citizens’ trust in the participatory process’. As a result, local governments not only fail to create a framework for public participation, but also lack mechanisms to learn from past experiences and improve their processes. Last but not least, the unequal nature of development at local level makes it more difficult for smaller or resource-poor administrations to apply the principles of open government. The OECD report stresses that "disparities between local governments create an environment where only certain communities benefit from effective public participation initiatives, while others lag behind". This hampers the creation of replicable models at national level and limits the exchange of best practices between authorities. In conclusion, the main causes of the problem are a lack of coherent strategic planning, insufficient resources, inefficient consultation mechanisms and disparities between local governments. The proposed commitment aims to address these causes by supporting local authorities in developing their planning capacity, providing them with the tools to implement and replicate public participation mechanisms.

Commitment Description

1. What has been done so far to solve the problem?

In recent years, various initiatives have been implemented to improve public participation and transparency of local government, but the results have been uneven and many of these measures have not been integrated into a sustainable strategic framework. According to the Open Government Review of Romania , “although there have been efforts to encourage citizen participation, they have often been fragmented and dependent on individual initiatives or external support, with no clear continuity”. Relevant initiatives include participatory budgeting projects implemented in cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu and Brasov, which gave citizens the opportunity to propose and vote on projects of local interest. While these initiatives have shown significant potential, ‘many local governments have failed to implement them due to a lack of resources and expertise’ (‘Open Government Review of Romania’). Public consultation mechanisms have also been improved through the creation of digital platforms, but according to the same report, “their accessibility and effectiveness remain limited and the real impact of citizens’ feedback on final decisions is limited”. A concrete example of innovation in public participation is the citizens' jury organised in Râmnicu Vâlcea, the first of its kind in Romania, conducted with the support of the European Commission and the OECD. This initiative covered the area of urban mobility and demonstrated that deliberative methods can help increase trust between the administration and citizens by giving them an active role in the decision-making process. The Râmnicu Vâlcea model showed that ‘innovative participatory tools can strengthen citizens’ engagement and improve the quality of public policies’ (‘Open Government Review of Romania’). However, such initiatives remain exceptions, without a clear framework for replication and expansion at national level. An important role in supporting these initiatives was played by the General Secretariat of the Government, which provided support to local public administrations through information sessions, drafting recommendations and monitoring the implementation of open governance principles. According to the Open Government Review of Romania, “SGG has played a crucial role in promoting open government by providing strategic guidance and technical support to interested local authorities”. In conclusion, although various mechanisms to improve public participation have been tested, they have been applied in isolation and have not benefited from a national strategy to facilitate their wide uptake. The proposed commitment aims to build on these initiatives to develop a sustainable framework that enables local governments to adopt and adapt innovative mechanisms for public participation, while strengthening the role of the GSG as a facilitator of this process.

2. What solution are you proposing?

Based on the framework created by the Open Government Strategy 2025-2030, the proposed commitment aims to develop planning capacity in open government and support innovation in public participation practices, providing support to local governments interested in implementing sustainable and effective measures. The General Secretariat of the Government will have a key role in identifying and selecting interested local authorities, providing them with methodological support, technical assistance and access to expertise, in order to integrate the principles of open government into their work. The solution will be: • Development of planning capacity in the field of open government at local level – Local governments will be supported in developing and implementing action plans, including concrete measures for transparency, accountability and active participation of citizens. The SGG will provide local governments with guidance, information sessions and recommendations to develop realistic and effective plans tailored to the needs of each community. • Supporting innovation in public participation – New participatory methods, such as citizen juries, citizen assemblies and participatory budgeting, will be facilitated to more actively involve communities in decision-making. These methods will be tested and adapted to local specificities in order to become viable and scalable solutions. This commitment will aim to identify and support local governments interested in implementing innovative methods to make citizen participation more inclusive and impactful. The commitment will not completely solve the problem, but it will be an important step in developing a sustainable framework for planning and implementing open government measures at local level. By involving interested local public authorities, supporting them with resources and expertise and facilitating innovative mechanisms for public participation, this commitment will help to improve transparency, accountability and citizen involvement in decision-making. Not only the targeted implementation of these measures will be pursued, but also the creation of replicable models that can be scaled up at national level, thus strengthening local government as an open, accountable and citizen- oriented actor.

3. What results do we want to achieve by implementing this commitment?

The implementation of this commitment aims to increase the capacity of local governments to plan and implement open government measures, while facilitating the development of innovative mechanisms for citizen engagement. 1. Developing the capacity of local governments in the planning of open government measures • Increasing the skills of local governments – Through information sessions, guidance and methodological assistance, selected local governments will be supported to develop and implement strategic plans for open government. Through this commitment, the SGG will contribute to improving institutional capacity by supporting the development of realistic and sustainable plans. • Improve monitoring and reporting mechanisms – In addition to supporting local governments, the GSC will introduce recommendations and methodologies for monitoring progress in implementing open government measures, thereby providing a framework for assessing the impact of actions taken. 2. Increasing citizen participation through innovative mechanisms • Testing and tailoring participatory methods – Local governments involved will have access to technical support and best practice examples to experiment with citizen juries, participatory budgeting and other innovative forms of community engagement. This process will allow adaptation and replication of these models in other localities. • Creating a learning network between local administrations – Involvement of Râmnicu Vâlcea City Hall, which implemented the first jury of citizens in Romania, will facilitate the transfer of expertise and the extension of innovative practices to other local administrations. This partnership will provide technical and methodological support for testing and adapting public participation mechanisms. • Increasing citizens’ trust in local government – Greater openness of decision-making and effective mechanisms to integrate citizens’ feedback will lead to an improved perception of local government, helping to strengthen the relationship between authorities and the community. 3. Creating a replicable model at national level • Developing guides and methodologies based on lessons learned – Based on the experiences of the local administrations involved, replicable models and tools will be created, which can also be adopted by other municipalities in Romania. • Mainstreaming lessons into future open government policies – The results of this engagement will be able to help guide future open government measures, strengthening support for transparency and public participation. By implementing this commitment, an important step will be taken towards strengthening an open and accountable local administration, in which citizens have an active and real role in the decision-making process. Commitment Analysis Questions Answer (if not applicable, answer with N/A only)

1. How will the commitment promote transparency?

The commitment will promote transparency by supporting local governments in developing and implementing action plans that include specific measures for transparency, accountability and citizens' access to information. These plans will ensure regular publication of relevant data and participatory mechanisms, such as citizen juries and participatory budgeting, will provide citizens with direct opportunities to engage in decision-making and access key information.

2. How will the commitment help foster accountability?

The commitment will contribute to the accountability of public institutions by implementing clear and monitorable action plans, which will include deadlines and performance indicators. These plans will be subject to continuous monitoring and citizens will be able to track progress and be involved in evaluating implementation. Participatory mechanisms, such as citizens’ assemblies, will support the accountability of authorities, ensuring that they are accountable to the community for their decisions.

3. How will the commitment improve citizen participation?

Engagement will improve citizen participation by promoting innovative methods of engagement, such as citizen juries, citizen assemblies and participatory budgeting. These in defining, implementing, and monitoring solutions? mechanisms will enable citizens to actively contribute to the definition and implementation of solutions, as well as to the monitoring of progress. In this way, local authorities will create an open and continuous framework for dialogue with citizens, ensuring that their needs and expectations are integrated into the decision-making process.

Milestones | Expected Outputs | Expected Completion Date

A.0. Gathering information on existing tools of open government and public participation at local level | Questionnaire sent to all ATUs on the existence and type of tools used (citizens’ initiative, citizens’ assemblies, digital applications, neighbourhood centres, etc.); Additional interviews with ATUs using relevant methods; Summary report on existing practices with proposals for replicable models. | October 2025

A.1. Identification and selection of local public authorities interested in developing local action plans | Methodology for the selection of interested public authorities carried out; Process for identification and registration of interested local authorities launched; 2 meetings with local public authorities, aimed at explaining the concept and encouraging their involvement. Minimum 3 selected interested local public authorities. | December 2025

A.2. Analysis of the current situation and definition of priorities at the level of selected local public authorities | Questionnaire for data collection developed and disseminated; Data collected from selected authorities; Minimum 3 analysis meetings / interviews with selected local authorities; Analysis report at the level of each authority with the main findings and recommendations for actions needed to be included in the plan. | February 2026

A.3. Development of local action plans and related monitoring mechanisms | Minimum 6 working meetings to develop the plan, including experience exchange meetings with local OGP members; Actions aimed at providing methodological support in drawing up plans (initial variants, revised variants, feedback provided); Minimum 3 local action plans, accompanied by monitoring mechanisms developed and approved at the level of selected local public authorities. | May 2026

A.4. Ensuring support in the implementation of action plans | Actions to support the implementation of measures in local plans, including dialogue and continuous monitoring, mentoring sessions, personalised recommendations and adjustments of measures according to local realities; 1 action to monitor the progress of the implementation of the action plans 6 months after their start. | June 2027

A.5. Evaluation of component A, documentation of lessons learned and creation of premises for replication and systemic implementation | 1 reflection workshop with the local administrations involved to identify lessons learnt Evaluation report on the implementation of component A containing results achieved/lessons learned. Dissemination of recommendations/mode ls for replication at national level. | June 2027

B.1. Identification and selection of local public authorities interested in testing innovative participatory methods | Methodology for the selection of interested public authorities carried out; Process for identification and registration of interested local authorities launched; 2 meetings with local public authorities, aimed at explaining the concept and encouraging their involvement. Minimum 3 selected interested local public authorities. | December 2025

B.2. Learning, exchange of experience and identification of the suitable participation method at the level of each selected local public authority | Minimum 3 presentation/exchange sessions with local administrations that have already implemented innovative participatory mechanisms, including national and international case studies; 1 participation method established to be tested at the level of each selected local public authority. | February 2025

B.3 Development of the test plan for the innovative method of public participation applicable to each selected local public authority | Minimum 3 working meetings to develop the test plan; Actions aimed at providing methodological support in drawing up plans (initial variants, revised variants, feedback provided); 1 plan drawn up for each local public authority, containing the stages of implementation of the chosen method of participation. | May 2026

B.4. Providing support in implementing innovative methods of public participation | Actions to support the implementation of testing plans, including dialogue and continuous monitoring, mentoring sessions, personalised recommendations and adjustments of steps according to local realities. | June 2027

B.5. Evaluation of component B, documentation of lessons learned and creation of premises for replication and systemic implementation | 1 reflection workshop with the local administrations involved to identify lessons learnt Evaluation report on the implementation of component B containing results achieved/lessons learned. Dissemination of recommendations/mode ls for replication at national level. | June 2027