CSOs and the public were unable to meaningfully participate in the emergency response to the pandemic and even more so, their ability to take part in the decision-making processes worsened during the pandemic. The states imposed different limitations over the right to participation in certain countries and closed existing formal avenues for inclusion (e.g., by urgent procedures for adoption of measures and laws, non-functional Parliaments). In addition to these limitations, the states failed to meet different societal needs. Despite these challenges CSOs remained resilient, collaborated with open governments and found ways to ensure their voices are heard.
ECNL and BCSDN recently facilitated a discussion about the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on public participation in the Balkans. Together with the guest speakers from the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe and the Open Government Partnership we explored how to promote participatory and multi-stakeholder approaches in the relief of the crisis. Below we summarize three key insights from the discussions, which show how the CSOs, community organizations, informal initiatives, and other stakeholders thrived in response to the crisis.
New ways for promoting public participation and a multi-stakeholder approach
1. CSOs explored and used existing and new digital spaces for citizens engagement.
Since the beginning of the crisis, CSOs transitioned their everyday work (meetings, webinars, provision of services, even protests) to the online space. This opportunity brought CSOs closer to the citizens, as more and more of their lives started to take place online. CSOs increased the involvement of citizens in their work and mobilized their support. This was possible through better communication and visualizations of their work on different issues (including law and policy changes, crisis measures, etc). In some cases, CSOs reported that the pressure to operate in the digital realm, opened space for closer communication with national governments and local authorities.
Romania: Online Platform to Combat Fake News
CSOs advocated and requested from the government to collaborate, ensure transparency of information and data, and involvement in the governmental decisions-making. As a result, they established the platform Code for Romania (https://stirioficiale.ro), which channels verified information from official sources in order to combat fake news and disinformation. This is a pro bono project run by Code for Romania volunteers, with the Code for Romania Task Force and in partnership with the government through the Romanian Digitisation Authority.
Slovenia: Gaining access to Parliament
Despite of the overall deterioration of the situation with public participation, and 7 months of anti-governmental cycling protests, there were still avenues for involvement. For example, the civil society resistance against the adoption of the amendments to Slovenia's Nature Conservation Act, not only helped mobilise citizens to protest in front of the Parliament, but they also managed to send their MPs a record of around 11.000 emails to express their disagreement and two CSOs were given the opportunity to address the Parliament. Source: BCSDN; Balkan Civic Practices: Civil socety in the COVID-19 pandemic; Balkan River Defence
2. Community organizations and informal initiatives rise and mobilize.
The limitations over public participation in the decision-making to tackle the pandemic, lead to creation of measures that do not always respond to the actual needs on the ground. To cover for those needs, we witnessed the rise in activity of existing community organizations and mobilization of local initiatives. These initiatives came in the bloom through social media to organize and provide for social protection services for women and children in need, elderly people, people with disabilities and other marginalized groups. There were numerous initiatives to protest different issue such as violations of human rights, workers’ rights, urban policies harmful to the environment, etc. Formal and professionalized CSOs also seized the opportunity to cooperate and supported these initiatives on the ground in promoting issues of mutual interest, e.g., by recruiting and organizing volunteers and providing humanitarian services.
Bulgaria: CSOs encourage volunteerism for most vulnerable
In Bulgaria, CSOs have initiated the Sofia Volnteer Platform, which recruits and organises volunteers in order to help elderly people and other people at risk. They undertake activities, such as daily door-to-door visits, food delivery, doing the necessary shopping, providing medication or simply making a friendly social call to reduce loneliness and mental health problems with these groups. More than 3,000 citizens have received support.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Shift from advocacy to direct services for the community
In BiH, some CSOs working on democracy, rule of law and human rights reorganised their resources to provide services aimed at crisis management monitoring, react to substantial violations of democratic practices, human rights and disinformation. Monst of the smaller, locally oriented CSOs, however, either limited or stopped their activities or decided to engage their resources and activism in local humanitarian activities and solidarity initiatives. Source: BCSDN; Balkan Civic Practices: Civil socety in the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Different societal actors seek influence through new avenues of cross-sectoral partnership.
Both CSOs and the private sector, (mainly the small and medium-sized businesses from certain industries that were heavily affected by the crisis), struggled to be heard and involved in shaping appropriate economic and other measures. These new circumstances in which states are making fast decisions on substantial measures without the involvement of different stakeholders, led to cross-sectoral mobilization, for example between human rights advocacy organizations and service providing organizations, such as health care, education. Moreover, cross-sectorial platforms were built between private businesses, CSOs and citizens.
Croatia: Cross-sectoral partnership to develope "virtual doctor"
In Croatia, "Andrija" - a digital assistant - was developed serving as an online self-assessment tool that is available to all Croatian smart pjone users. Andrija advises people how to diagnose and manage suspected COVID-19 infections and provides users with personalised health advice and guidance.
Turkey: "Coronathon" with all sectors to fight against coronavirus
In Turkey, the first "Coronathon" was organised online and free of charge, bringing together CSOs, public institutions, universities and young entrepreneurs. The main objective of this 48-hour event was to develop innovative solutions to social and logistical challanges; to cultivate ideas in different areas to support the fight against COVID-19. Source: OGP; EU TACSO 3
A genuine opportunity to prioritize the right to participation
CSOs seized the opportunity that the crisis presented before them to explore new ways of collaborations and seek influence beyond formal channels for participation. Still, the states rarely included the CSOs and the public in decision-making processes and as part of the mechanisms for management of the crisis. This failure to respect their participation rights and the inability to properly address their needs on the long run might have detrimental consequences for the operation of CSOs.
A long standing right to public participation requires all states to ensure that every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, to take part in the conduct of public affairs, the right to vote and to be elected and the right to have access to public service. Therefore, states must ensure there are concrete standards and structures integrated in the legal framework and practice, allowing for CSOs and public engagement during emergency situations to ensure appropriate, proportionate, and effective response.
We need to build a more stable institutionalized public participation infrastructure, relying on existing and by utilising new models and tools (e.g., digital deliberations), linked to these new emergencies. A starting point for the states is to shape a multi-stakeholder approach in the battle with the COVID-19 pandemic by bringing together CSOs, businesses, international donor organizations, grassroots and smaller organizations and other relevant stakeholders. The European Commission has already led by example, by asking its member states to report on how they have interacted with different stakeholders (including CSOs) in the design and implementation of the national recovery plans.
More concretely, the states, local authorities, CSOs, and other stakeholders in the Balkans can take the following steps to enable participation in crisis:
- Build upon, use and promote existing electronic platforms for public participation processes.
- Support consultative processes through different online tools, such as questionnaires on the draft proposals, webcasting, videoconferencing, smart phone applications, and chats.
- Facilitate through structures (e.g., councils for response on pandemic) and financially support the cooperation between CSOs and local community organizations, and informal movements to support and voice the citizen’s needs, particularly the most vulnerable (women, children, elderly people and other).
- Provide full access to relevant, accurate and timely information to citizens on draft documents, background papers, which are proactively disseminated online and through traditional media and post.
- Bring together and give equal access to CSOs, businesses, grassroots and smaller organizations and other relevant stakeholders in multi-stakeholder consultative mechanisms.
- CSOs should remain careful to the risk of deepening the digital divide of the vulnerable groups of citizens (Roma, women, LGBTI, etc).