The Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) publishes the monitoring methodology for public consultation at the central government level. This instrument aims to assess key aspects of the public consultation process, including:
- The level of government transparency regarding the public consultation process;
- The level of government accountability in drafting and consulting the public on policies and laws;
- The accessibility of public consultation documents;
- The effectiveness of public consultation;
- The level of citizen participation and representation in the public consultation process;
- The guarantee of inclusivity and non-discrimination during public consultation.
For each of the six principles mentioned above, a set of monitoring indicators has been developed, including a total of 31 indicators that can be evaluated from 0 to 2 points. This evaluation system offers the possibility to compare performance in the consultation of various acts, as well as to make comparisons between different principles and institutions.
The development of the methodology by IDM went through four main phases. In the first phase, a review of the legal and regulatory framework addressing public consultations, as well as international best practices, was conducted. Afterward, the key principles of consultation were identified, and performance indicators for each principle were developed. In the third phase, the methodology was improved through consultations with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, experts, and representatives of public institutions. The final phase involved the testing of the methodology by IDM and its finalization.
This methodological instrument is important for civil society organizations monitoring decision-making processes, particularly those focusing on central government activities. It is also a useful tool for institutions at the central level, as it enables them to self-assess their compliance with the principles and evaluation indicators for public consultation included in this instrument.
This monitoring methodology was developed by Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), as part of the ‘Fostering Transparency and Good Governance’ project, financially supported by National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of NED.
