Consolidating local democracy consists of continuous demands for accountability

The KLGI Institute held the next regional meeting in Gjilan, which brought together civil society organisations at the local level to discuss ways of strengthening civil society mechanisms and increasing demands for effective accountability from local institutions.

The regional meeting aimed to address the challenges and problems that civil society organisations at the local level encounter in their functioning, and also to identify opportunities and exchange good practices for their advancement. Furthermore, this meeting contributes to increasing structured communication between local actors, which consists of drawing up joint agendas for cooperation and interaction.

The Programme Manager at the KLGI Institute, Mr Valmir Gashi, stressed that such regional discussions aim to empower civil society and broaden its influence in building a joint agenda for action in policy-making by local institutions. At the same time, civil society should take a more proactive stance and have a joint agenda, as well as expand its capacities in the fields of policy-making and law enforcement. Above all, civil society organisations should increase their influence sustainably and, as a result, become an integral part of policy-making at the local level for the benefit of citizens.

In this way, they should produce alternative policies and offer expertise, focusing on specific issues while addressing the problems their communities face. This provides a professional line for legislators at the local level, who are required to examine a large number of issues, to identify achievable solutions to problems in various fields. Such assistance from civil society means creating a vibrant NGO sector as a cornerstone of institution-building and democracy. At the same time, it would improve civil society's position in holding government accountable to citizens.

This joint meeting was also a good opportunity to create networking and possible cooperation across the activities of civil society organisations operating at the local level.

The regional meeting was organised within the programme ‘Support for Stronger and More Sustainable Municipalities (SSSM)’, which aims to address the challenges and problems that civil society organisations at the local level encounter in their functioning, and also to identify opportunities and exchange good practices for their advancement.