- 17.03.2023
On February 21, with support from the U.S. government, the Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity in Moldova (SCSMCM) Program took place the second Public Policy forum as part of a series of five forums to promote greater dialogue and collaboration among mass media, civil society and government with the goal of deterring corruption and its negative effect on Moldovan society.
During the “Monitoring Anticorruption Reforms. A new experience for Moldova” forum, key achievements under Moldova’s Threshold Country Plan (TCP) were discussed. The TCP is a $24.7 million dollar program funded by the U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to reduce public sector corruption through technical and material assistance, proactive policy, and reform. The forum highlighted progress made in strengthening the capacity of civil society and mass media to monitor anticorruption reforms implemented in the Judiciary, Health, Tax, Customs and Police Bodies, as well as in the Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCECC). The monitoring of these reforms is being undertaken by five nongovernmental organizations and members of the Anticorruption Alliance in Moldova (ACA) with support from the SCSMCM Program. Their monitoring will help ensure efficient and transparent reform and provide an objective evaluation of progress being made against stated goals.
The Forum was moderated by ACA Secretary, Mircea Esanu and Principal Speaker was Mr. Konstantin Pashev from Bulgaria. Mr. Pashev is the author of a unique monitoring methodology for government performance in anti-corruption efforts that has been recognized by the United Nations as one of the most efficient in the world. Also presented were other monitoring efforts in Moldova undertaken by Transparency International, ADEPT, and Expert Group, the latter being used in the Euro monitor report.
Ms. Sharon Van Pelt, the SCSMCM Program Director, emphasized the positive outcomes of monitoring the anticorruption action plan of the TCP. “First, it helps to define very clearly the real impact of actions carried out. Second, monitoring encourages efficiency and transparency on the part of the actors responsible for TCP implementation. And third, the application of the methodology will help build the sustainable monitoring capacity of Moldovan civil society.”
The SCSMCM Program will hold similar Public Policy Forums every three months. Each panel addressed challenges and opportunities to work together to fight corruption in the key TCP areas (justice, health, tax, customs, police and CCECC). The next Forum is planned for May 2008.
http://www.ade.md