ȘTIRI SOCIALE

The Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) “Viitorul,” in collaboration with Stichting voor Open Contracting (Netherlands), is launching the project “Enhancing Civil Society’s Oversight of Public Procurement,” to be implemented from September 2026 to February 2028 with financial support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The project aims to strengthen civil society’s capacity to promote transparency and accountability in public procurement by developing monitoring skills, promoting the effective use of data and digital tools, and fostering dialogue between civil society and public authorities.

As part of the project, non-governmental organizations involved in monitoring, journalists, civic activists, and students will benefit from training opportunities and modern tools for analyzing public procurement data. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of a an updated Business Intelligence (BI) solution to identify risks and red flags throughout the procurement process, from planning to contract execution.

A key component of the project will focus on civil society participation in the development of the Moldova’s new electronic public procurement (e-Procurement) system, currently being developed by the Ministry of Finance. To this end, IDIS “Viitorul” will consult non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders to identify their monitoring needs in relation to the new system. Based on these consultations, IDIS “Viitorul” will develop a Civil Society Monitoring Requirements Brief, setting out concrete recommendations and proposals for their implementation. The document will be discussed within the Public Procurement Monitoring Coalition – a network bringing together non-governmental organizations, journalists, and integrity experts, coordinated by IDIS “Viitorul.”

During the implementation period, the existing BI solution used by NGOs to monitor public procurement will be enhanced through the application of the current Open Contracting Data Standard, as relevant to the Republic of Moldova. The platform will include new modules for analyzing public procurement contracts and contract amendments, facilitating data analysis and the identification of potential integrity risks.

The project will also include the development of a capacity-building program for NGOs, investigative journalists, media organizations, independent observers, and young activists interested in monitoring public procurement. Six training sessions will be organized for at least 20 participants. Following the training, participants will receive practical support to apply the skills they have acquired and will be encouraged to produce evidence-based monitoring reports using the updated BI tool to identify red flags and integrity risks. The monitoring findings will be presented within the Public Procurement Monitoring Coalition, where recommendations and potential follow-up actions will be discussed.

The project also aims to make clear and accessible information about public procurement available to the public. To this end, the project will develop practical materials, guides, and tutorials on the risks associated with public procurement and on how citizens and civil society organizations can use monitoring tools. Furthermore, the project includes the organization of two educational public procurement sessions for at least 80 students from Moldova State University and the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova.

These activities aim to increase young people’s interest in transparent public spending and encourage their involvement in public procurement monitoring. To inform the public, two editions of a newsletter on public procurement monitoring in the Republic of Moldova will be produced and distributed, together with two infographics and other visual materials explaining corruption risks, red flags, and citizens’ rights in public procurement.

Through the project, IDIS “Viitorul” and Stichting voor Open Contracting aim to strengthen civil society’s capacity to analyze and monitor public procurement and help ensure that citizens have better access to relevant, clear, and easy-to-understand information. Another intended outcome is for civil society recommendations and monitoring requirements to be taken into consideration in the design of the new e-Procurement system. This will be pursued by documenting civil society participation in official and technical discussions and identifying priority requirements that can be reflected in the technical specifications or roadmaps for the new system.

Through its activities, the project aims to strengthen an ecosystem in which open data, digital tools, independent monitoring, and civil society participation contribute to greater transparency and accountability in public procurement in the Republic of Moldova.

The project “Enhancing Civil Society’s Oversight of Public Procurement” is implemented by IDIS “Viitorul,” in collaboration with Stichting voor Open Contracting (Netherlands), from September 2026 to February 2028, with financial support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).