Civil society and citizens have a crucial role in "constraining" governments to make them more open, transparent and accountable. Local authorities who have participated today in the open-ended workshop say they want transparent acquisitions, but they are faced with an acute shortage of staff who are demoted by low public sector wages.

Diana Enachi, one of the workshop trainers, says the most important thing in procurement is free to access to information on all stages of the process, which is limited. "The concept of" open contracting "is based on two pillars: the opening of data and the active involvement of all actors, not just the two parties involved in contracting - the authorities and the private sector, but also the civil society and the citizens to be offered The ability to expose and notify the control bodies whenever they encounter a problem. When applying the principles of open contracting, they all have a win-win: the authorities that gain more value for public money, economic operators - healthy conditions of competition and non-discriminatory treatment. Civil society must have open access to data and the possibility of monitoring the use of public resources, and citizens - quality goods, services and public works.

"Public administrations acquire goods and services for their citizens: these purchases must be made in the most efficient way. Also, public procurement offers opportunities for businesses, thus encouraging private investment and concretely contributing to growth and job creation. Public procurement plays an important role in channeling European structural and investment funds", explained Viorel Chivriga, Program Director of IDIS Viitorul.

The contracting authorities stated at the workshop that public procurement procedures in some localities are difficult due to the lack of specialists and capabilities in the field. However, this hinders the process, and often local authorities lose their allocated funding.

The workshop was organized by IDIS Viitorul in the framework of the project: "Development of open contracting in Moldova through information and capacity building activities for participants in the public procurement process through developing information and capacity building for participants in the public procurement process Procurement process ", financed by the World Bank.