Improving Platforms for Citizen Participation in Decision-Making (XK0008)

What is the problem addressed by this commitment?

Citizen participation means an individual or collective action, with the aim of identifying and addressing issues of public interest. Civic participation is a process where citizens organize themselves and their goals at the practical level and work together either individually or through civil society organizations to influence the decisionmaking process. Participation in decisionmaking processes means opportunities for citizens, CSOs and other interested parties to influence the development of policies and laws that affect them. Citizen participation does not suspend the constitutional and legal powers of the representatives of the executive and legislative power in the procedure of approving and implementing laws, as well as public policy instruments, but moreover enables the authorities to implement these powers more efficiently. There are four levels of civic participation, from the least participatory to the most participatory. These are: information; consultation; dialogue and partnership. Access to information is the basis of all subsequent steps in the inclusion of CSOs in the political decision-making process. This is a relatively low level of participation which usually consists of the one-time provision of information by public authorities, not seeking and not expecting the interaction or involvement of NGOs. Information is relevant for all steps of the decision-making process. Without being informed in advance about the plans and work of public institutions, citizens cannot participate in any subsequent phase of the work of the respective institution. Consultation is a form of participation, where public authorities ask citizens and CSOs for their opinion on a certain policy topic or development. Consultation usually means informing citizens and CSOs by the authorities about various policy developments and asking for comments, opinions and feedback. Initiatives and topics come from public authorities, not from citizens and CSOs. Dialogue is a continuous process of consultation between public authorities and CSOs, which occurs at all stages of policy making and implementation, from agenda setting to policy evaluation and reformulation. Dialogue can be broad or specific. The broad dialogue is not linked to any specific policy development process, but remains general and primarily aims at setting the agenda. The specific dialogue is built on common interests for the development of a certain policy, while it results in concrete recommendations and actions. Partnership means joint responsibilities in each step of the political decision-making process between public authorities and CSOs, starting from agenda setting, drafting, decision and implementation of any policy initiative. This is also the highest form of participation. At this level, CSOs and public authorities start a close cooperation, but ensuring that at the same time CSOs continue to remain independent and have the right to campaigns and actions regardless of the partnership situation. All public institutions in Kosovo have a constitutional obligation to include citizens in their work, either in the drafting or in the implementation of their policies and programs. The biggest obligations are at the municipal level, where each municipality must notify citizens of "important plans or programs for the public interest". Citizens of a municipality have the right to participate in the activities of the respective municipality, for the right to petition, citizens' initiative, local referendum, while municipalities are obliged to establish consultative committees within the sectors, in which CSO representatives must also be invited. At the government level, all government acts (except decisions of an administrative nature) must be consulted with the public in advance, while the government is obliged to provide sufficient information about the document being consulted, sufficient time for input, and to report on the results of consultation. Public hearings can be organized for all laws approved by the Assembly of Kosovo, while CSOs can also participate in parliamentary committee meetings.

What is the commitment?

To improve existing platforms for citizens' participation in decision-making processes by providing technical assistance and capacity building for municipal public officials. Providing technical assistance and capacity building for public officials to plan better and more effectively their meetings/consultations with citizens as well as raising public officials' awareness of the importance of involving young people in such processes. Specifically, to fulfil the commitment, the government will do the following: - Provide technical assistance and capacity building for public officials to better and effectively plan their meetings/consultations with citizens. - Take into account citizens' suggestions during public hearings and follow the recommendations given to encourage citizen participation in the future. - Promote and maintain existing digital government platforms for public consultation. - Engage young people in decisionmaking to have more involvement and representation of public concerns. - Communication of information should be done through social media platforms, the official website of the municipality, leaflets, Radio and Television, etc., for better information of the citizens.

How does the commitment contribute to solving the identified problem?

The interventions that will be undertaken to fulfil this commitment contribute to improving the better engagement of citizens, increasing executive supervision by municipal and government bodies, civil society and the media, as well as the functioning of supervisory mechanisms. It will also improve efficiency, transparency and public involvement in important decisions and increase the quality of decision-making.

Why is it important to commit to the values of OGP?

It strengthens the citizen's right to be heard and to actively participate in decision-making processes.

Description of expected results

The expected result refers to an accessible and timely information to the public. In this way, citizens can be informed accordingly and the level of involvement in decision-making processes will increase.

Achievements | Indicators | Activity bearer | Starting date | End date

1. Establishment of mechanisms for the supervision of the implementation of the Law on Local Self-Government, namely the Administrative Instruction on Minimum Standards of Public Consultations in Municipalities. | Number of citizens and representatives of civil society participating in public hearings/consultations organized by local authorities Municipalities | 01/01/2024 | 01/06/2024

2. Establishment of mechanisms for supervising the implementation of the Regulation on minimum standards for the public consultation process, which defines the standards, principles and procedures of the public consultation process between public authorities and stakeholders in the policy-making and decision-making process. | Number of citizens and civil society representatives who participate in public hearings/consultations organized by central level authorities | All central public institutions | 01/07/2024 | 01/12/2024

3. Capacity building events for public officials are regularly organized | Number of public officials trained | Municipalities | 01/07/2024 | 31/08/2024