On October 30, 2025, the meeting room of the Drochia District Council became a space for ideas and dialogue among local NGOs eager to create a civic platform to engage in dialogue with local authorities, following the example of European countries.
The event, facilitated by the Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi) with the support of the European Union and in partnership with People in Need, brought together 30 participants representing 16 NGOs from Drochia district, as well as representatives of the State Chancellery of Moldova.
The discussions focused on practical ways to strengthen the voice of civil society from both the district and the town of Drochia in order to relaunch a new partnership with the local public administration, with the Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi) serving as facilitator
Ina Gradinaru, AO “Artemida”
“Transparency, citizen consultation, and active collaboration with civil society are the keys to making high-quality decisions that truly meet the needs of the community. Authentic dialogue between LPAs and civil society not only increases trust but also the efficiency of local governance.” – Ina Gradinaru, AO Artemida.
Representatives of the State Chancellery welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that major ongoing reforms, such as the amalgamation process, can only be effectively implemented with the active involvement of civil society.
Diana Chiriac, Head of the Department for Local Public Administration and Coordination of the Territorial Offices of the State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova
“What is happening today in Drochia is proof that civic spirit can be reactivated when there is space for listening and cooperation. Dialogue platforms are not just consultation tools; they are real bridges between people and institutions, and such a platform is currently unique in the Republic of Moldova.” – Diana Chiriac, Head of the Department for Local Public Administration and Coordination of the Territorial Offices of the State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova.
The highlight of the meeting was the signing of the joint declaration to revive the Governing Together Platform, a collective commitment to restart the civic dialogue in Drochia district that began a few years ago.
Nadejda Pascaru-Botnaru, Program Manager for Civil Society and Good Governance, People in Need Moldova (PIN)
“This initiative demonstrates that real dialogue between authorities and citizens is not only possible but necessary for local governance that listens, collaborates, and acts in the interest of the community.” – Nadejda Pascaru-Botnaru, Program Manager for Civil Society and Good Governance, People in Need Moldova (PIN).
Created in 2020 as a consultation space between authorities and citizens, the Governing Together civic platform is now resuming its activity after a break of several years, once again becoming a meeting place for ideas, solutions, and civic initiatives.
Ruslan Stanga, Community Development Expert at iRi
“Obviously, this is a new stage that will be developed with our facilitation, considering the failures of the past. Unfortunately, many local public authorities, for various reasons, ignore civil society in the decision-making process. In the context of Moldova’s EU accession, cooperation with civil society will, in a way, become an obligation. That is why it is timely to start this process right now.” – Ruslan Stanga, Community Development Expert at iRi.
Members of the Platform will meet in several stages to finalize internal cooperation mechanisms and tools.
Participants highlighted the need for training not only for NGOs but especially for various representatives of Local Public Authorities (levels 1 and 2) in order to improve the quality of dialogue.
They also proposed organizing exchange visits to learn from good practices, creating mixed teams composed of representatives from various fields, and developing mechanisms for subcontracting NGO services by local authorities, all of which can bring concrete results to the community.
“The revival of the Governing Together platform in Drochia district represents a significant step in strengthening participatory democracy at the local level. Civil society wants to be part of the decision-making process, not just a beneficiary of it.” – Natalia Rosca, Community Relations Expert, iRi.
In the context of administrative reforms and the trend of amalgamating localities, relaunching the civic platform becomes essential to ensure that the voice of citizens remains heard and represented.
This initiative is implemented by the Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi) in partnership with People in Need Moldova, under the “INSPIRĂ Moldova” project, funded by the European Union.
For more pictures from the event, please click on the link here: