Citizens for Change #21

APRIL - JUNE 2025

The new issue of Citizens for Change magazine #21 is dedicated to the enabling environment.

CSOs and Their Contribution to the Programmes of the Candidates for the Local Elections

“We need an institutional culture of listening to the voice of all citizens and all vulnerable groups”, said one of the civic activists, participants at Civica Mobilitas Networking Meeting that took place at the end of June this year. This statement, given during the discussions on the priorities and expectations of CSOs when it comes to future mayors and municipal council members, is everything in one!

The citizens are facing another election cycle, which, according to the announcements, will take place in October. Here, we will not speak about the “standstill” that happens with each election cycle, but about the possibilities that we should use, and which concern the creation of the programmes of the candidates for mayors and municipal council members who will run for positions in the municipalities in the country.

We have often spoken about the fact that the local government and CSOs should ne partners rather than enemies, competitors or “parties at war”. Both have the same goal, that the citizens have a better quality of life. They both have resources and plans how to reach their goal, but why should not they do it together, especially if the effects of their joint resources make a bigger change of the citizens for certain.

The discussions during the Networking Meeting were in this direction, so that they show the candidates for mayors and municipal council members the civic perspective on needs and challenges and give them proposals.

Digitalization is a topic that is discussed a lot. It is wanted both by the citizens and the municipal administration. There is an impression that it will be much easier for all if it happens. Nevertheless, the road to full usage of digital tools is not always simple. CSOs, via trainings and enabling the citizens to have digital skills can help in much easier and faster acceptance of these innovations in the functioning of the municipality. In this way, connecting with each other, they will round the whole process of establishing and usage of new digital services.

The support to CSOs by the municipalities with finances, space, support etc. should not be at the margins of their programmes. All of these resources that the municipality will use to help CSOs will be put in function to improve the lives of the citizens. The municipality, via clear, publicly announced criteria can set the themes in which they want the funded projects to be implemented. The topics that are part of the municipal programmes can be implemented by CSOs, as part of the joint efforts on both sides.

Regular consultations with all stakeholders were one of the most frequently mention ed possibilities. As Civica Mobilitas grantees say, they will promote CSOs as allies in overcoming the challenges at local level. “It is most important to start somewhere”, they say and add: “Sometimes it is enough that the municipality simply gathers everybody at one place and says: ‘Hey, we have a joint problem, let’s see how we can together solve it’. When the businesses, civil sector and public institutions start to work side by side, solidarity stops being a concept, and it becomes something that is felt at daily level”.

All together can promote the results of their joint work. The acknowledgment of a well implemented project is a motivation for the next one, a motivation for the others to follow these actions.

In the end, the demands of the CSOs for transparency and accountability, their research and recommendations are not criticism for the sake of criticism, but rather suggestions for improvement, possibilities for development that will improve the work of the municipality and improve the services for the citizens. And that is the final goal for everybody.