Increasing the Integrity of Public
Procurement in Moldova

Overview

In September 2020, in partnership with the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) Viitorul in Moldova, PTF embarked on a project to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and journalists to engage in informed and responsible monitoring of public procurement. This project aims to support procurement reforms in Moldova that will increase the transparency and fairness of public procurement by empowering citizens, specifically civil society representatives and investigative journalists, to hold relevant institutions accountable.

Project Summary

The project will train CSOs, journalists, and other relevant groups, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to understand the risks of abuse at all levels of the procurement process and to prepare them to professionally and responsibly monitor public procurement at all stages. CSOs and investigative journalists from the Republic of Moldova who participate in the training program facilitated by PTF and IDIS will subsequently monitor public procurement in the country through a series of projects funded by sub-grants, and they will provide recommendations for improving the process and strengthening the integrity of the sector as a result of their monitoring work. A key tool to facilitate such monitoring is the e-procurement platform MTender, the pilot version of which was launched in 2018 and which is in the process of being expanded and updated. Outputs of the project will be at least fifteen organizations in Moldova, as well as CSOs and journalists that have been trained to understand the risks in procurement, important red flags, risk indicators, and risk evaluation. In addition, 12 of the trained CSOs will be selected for 18 months of funding to engage in actual monitoring, while receiving mentoring and support from the project team. Outcomes will include trained civil society watchdogs that will identify, quantify, document, and report abuses/irregularities to relevant Moldovan authorities for action and redress.

Intended Impact

As a result of their participation in the project, CSOs and investigative journalists who participate in the project training program and undertake the monitoring exercises will be better equipped to hold authorities to account, and to promote efficient and sustainable procurement reforms in the Republic of Moldova. Ultimately, these reforms will improve public financial management, promote efficiency, integrity and transparency in public administration, and raise the relevance and quality of the services provided to the citizens by public institutions.

Project Objectives

The overall goal of the project is to encourage more transparent and effective use of public funds and ensure improved delivery of good and services to the citizens of Moldova.

The objectives of the program are the following:

Moldovan civil society organizations (CSOs) and journalists are sufficiently equipped to conduct meaningful monitoring of procurement processes;
Procurement processes are appropriately monitored by Moldovan CSOs and journalists making use of the e-procurement system; and
Findings and recommendations resulting from credible and professional CSO monitoring are taken seriously and acted upon by contracting entities, contractors, and government oversight and law enforcement entities including the National Anticorruption Center.

Additional Information: Civil Society Monitoring of Public Procurement

Project Activities

The project is conducted in three phases: inception, training, and monitoring.

In the inception phase, the project team conducted a baseline survey and a series of informant interviews with key stakeholders to gather the information needed to solidify the project plan and ensure all major considerations were accounted for. This phase also included a risk analysis which allowed the team to adjust plans as needed in order to mitigate potential challenges to the project activities.

During the training phase, the team assessed the needs of participating CSOs and investigative journalists in order to prepare a curriculum and suite of training materials that would best suit their skills and interests. The training program consisted of twelve modules of two sessions each, and ran from October to December 2021. The training introduced the concept of effective and responsible procurement monitoring, emphasizing risks in procurement, important red flags, risk indicators and risk evaluation. It stressed the importance of a systematic approach with the use of checklists covering different stages of the procurement process, access to reliable data and analytical tools. By the conclusion of the program, over forty Moldova-based CSO representatives and investigative journalists were equipped to monitor public procurement process. All participants were selected through an open application process based on their experience and interest.

Following the completion of the training, the monitoring phase began, during which trainees monitored live public procurement contracts, with continued support from IDIS and PTF. CSOs and investigative journalists who participated in the training were able to apply for subgrants from the project in order to carry out this work. The project team and experts will assist the monitoring CSOs in analyzing procurement data and preparing queries and requests for investigation by Moldovan entities responsible for overseeing the procurement system, including law enforcement agencies in the case of suspected criminal activities and corruption. If these entities are not seen to take appropriate action, the monitoring CSOs, with the help of the project team, will work with international and bilateral donors represented in Moldova to incorporate such issues as part of their high-level policy dialogue with the government.

Project Team

Hady Fink

Project Manager, PTF Europe

Karin Millett

Adviser and Board Member, PTF

Sabine Engelhard

Chief Legal Procurement Adviser, PTF

Johannes Tonn

Adviser, PTF

Lars Jeurling

Procurement Technical Specialist, PTF Europe

Samuel Stalls

Program Manager, PTF

Jillian Hess

Communications Manager, PTF

Carolina Ungureanu

Deputy Director of International Cooperation

Diana Enachi

Project Coordinator and Public Procurement Expert, IDIS Viitorul

Viorel Pîrvan

Expert Consultant, IDIS Viitorul

Vadim Turcan

Expert Consultant, IDIS Viitorul

Ana-Maria Veverita

Communications Officer, IDIS Viitorul

About Our Partner

IDIS Viitorul was established in June 1993 as a non-profit organization in Moldova. Its mission is to contribute to the growth of an independent thinking environment in Moldova and in other emerging democracies; to assist in the creation of a modern, viable and open market-economy; to assist in the expansion of a civil society in which the citizens act together to express their own interests; to exchange information; and to strive for mutual goals and influence government.

IDIS has implemented six projects and produced a number of policy notes on procurement in addition to many projects and policy notes in other areas. IDIS staff and consultants have acquired considerable expertise in detecting and analyzing how procurement laws and best practices are circumvented at the expense of society at large. They have also developed skills in designing a framework to prevent such practices which is indispensable for the development of a transparent and efficient procurement system. IDIS partners with regional governments, state agencies and private companies/contractors working towards building such a framework and committed to operating within it. IDIS is the founder of the National Business Agenda, a partnership with a wide range of private partners, including clusters of industries and business associations. The National Business Agenda assists partners building institutional capacity, enrich public-private dialogue and forge coalitions to boost regulatory policies.

Additional Information

Seventh Edition: Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement

Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement is a series of newsletters designed by the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) Viitorul to share information and increase transparency around public procurement in the Republic of Moldova. The February 2023 issue of Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement describes how Prospect Association managed to be the only civil society organization in the Cimişlia District public procurement working group, what the new national program for the development of the public procurement system includes, how transparent the Ministry of Education is in the view of Părinți Solidari, what challenges journalists face when documenting articles about public procurement, how a company from Comrat won a tender after filing an appeal, and more. Access the full newsletter here. The issue includes: 1. Civil Society Organizations Continue To Monitor The Integrity Of Public Procurement In Moldova And Hold Stakeholders Accountable 2. Opinion Of The European Commission: The Republic Of Moldova Is At A Beginner’s Level In Public Procurement 3. Value For Money – The Objective Of The National Procurement Development Program 4. Civil Society Warns Of The Risks Of The Draft Law On Raising The Minimum Acquisition Threshold In The Public Procurement Law 5. Părinți Solidari‘s Evaluation Of The Financial Transparency Of The Moldovan Ministry Of Education And Research 6. Andrei Bargan Said That Prospect Association Is The Only Public Association Represented At The Meetings Of The Working Group On Public Procurement In Cimişlia District 7. Sector Procurement Assessed By The Association For Efficient And Accountable Government In A Series Of Publications 8. Challenges For Journalists And Activists In Documenting Public Procurement Stories Discussed With Authorities 9. 800,000 Lei For Repairs At Rîşcani District Hospital – After The Work Was Completed, The Sockets Were Missing 10. Thermal Insulation Of Fhe Facade Of Kindergarten No. 1 In Cahul – A Firm From Comrat Became The Winner Of The Tender After Contesting The Initial Results More information can be found in the full version of the newsletter. This newsletter was produced within the context of the joint PTF and IDIS Viitorul Increasing the Integrity of Public Procurement in Moldova project. The views expressed in the articles, written by IDIS, are solely those of the individuals quoted and do not necessarily reflect the official policies of PTF. For project updates, follow PTF and IDIS on Twitter @PTFund / @IDIS_Viitorul and Facebook at Partnership for Transparency / Achizitii Moldova.

Civil Society Organizations Continue to Monitor the Integrity of Public Procurement in Moldova and Hold Stakeholders Accountable

Articles, explanatory videos, journalistic investigations, TV shows, infographics, and public events are some of the outputs of the civil society organizations awarded grants to monitor public procurement under the Increasing the Integrity of Public Procurement project, which is implemented by the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) Viitorul in collaboration with Partnership for Transparency. On November 30 and December 1, 2022, civil society representatives and the project team met online to discuss their experiences and share the results and impact of their projects during the preceding three months of implementation.

Sixth Edition: Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement

The September 2022 issue of Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement details what the role of civil society in fighting corruption in public procurement is, who is behind rigged tenders, what caused the record increase in procurement in the first part of the year, and what young people think about public procurement monitoring.

PTF and IDIS Viitorul Meet with Grantees to Discuss Ongoing Public Procurement Monitoring Efforts

By Samuel Stalls On August 17, 2022, Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF) and partner IDIS Viitorul met virtually with eight CSOs from around Moldova to discuss their efforts to monitor public procurement processes. These organizations had all received training, grants, and expert assistance from PTF and IDIS as part of the Increasing the Integrity of Public Procurement in Moldova project. "We are committed within the project to support reforms in public procurement, which will increase the transparency, efficiency and fairness of procurement, through the involvement of civil society and investigative journalists. Our central objective is to improve the situation in the field of transparency, and recommendations for improving the legal framework or for strengthening the capacities of civil society, contracting authorities and economic operators. I would like to thank the organizations that are part of the sub-granting program for openness, involvement, great work and I am happy for the unique activities carried out", said Carolina Ungureanu, deputy director of IDIS "Viitorul" and manager of IDIS Viitorul’s team on the project. As part of this session, attended by a total of 30 attendees, including representatives from PTF, IDIS, and eight organizations , the CSOs shared information about their work, including the number and type of procurement processes being monitored, response from local authorities and efforts to inform the public. PTF Project director Hady Fink lauded the gathering, stating "This exchange of information is very welcome. It it is great to know the achievements of each organization, to learn from the experience of others and to use different methodologies". One example of the ongoing work includes the journalists of the "CU SENS" media project, who monitored over 50 public procurement procedures and produced videos on how to challenge public tenders. As part of the "Clean - Dirty" investigation, they also investigated a cleaning company who continues to take about 60% of public money for cleaning services contracts. "We want to put pressure on the authorities and certain interest groups that are behind acts of corruption and to increase the degree of intolerance to corruption in society", emphasized journalist Sergiu Ipatii. At the regional level, the Association for Human Rights "LEX XXI," from the municipality of Balti, discussed their campaign to inform citizens about public procurement procedures, which included a public dialogue in July about issues of transparency. "We want citizens to know public procurement procedures better and get involved because public money is our money," said Diana Grosu, President of the association. Following the completion of these monitoring projects, the results of the investigations and subsequent recommendations for improving transparency and combatting corruption will be compiled and presented to decision makers for implementation. The long-term goal is to prevent waste and corruption in the use of public money, and improve the quality of public goods, works and services for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. For more information, contact PTF at info@ptfund.org and IDIS Viitorul at ana.veverita@viitorul.org.

Fifth Edition: Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement

The June issue of Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement details the benefits and risks involved in the draft amendment to the Public Procurement Act registered in Parliament, how many procurements were concluded in 2021, the most frequent violations in terms of public procurement, and the conditions to be respected in the case of works procurement.

Fourth Edition: Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement

The February issue of Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement details the role and impact of integrity pacts, how the salary of construction workers in public works procurement is calculated, challenges of the Mtender system, and other interesting articles.

Third Edition: Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement

The December issue of Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement details needed improvements in terms of public works procurement in Moldova, challenges with the new functionalities of the MTender system, risks that threaten the integrity of public procurement, and other interesting news.

Capacity Building: Monitoring Public Procurement in Moldova

During an in-depth training program organized by the Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF) and the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) “Viitorul,” thirty-five representatives of civil society organizations, investigative journalist organizations, and the private sector developed the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to monitor public procurement. The training program is part of the project “Increasing Integrity in Public Procurement,” a project which aims to increase transparency and support public procurement reforms in Moldova.

Launch of Procurement Monitoring Training Program in Moldova

As part of the project “Increasing the Integrity of Public Procurement in Moldova,” designed to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and investigative journalists in Moldova to monitor public procurement processes, the Partnership for Transparency (PTF), in partnership with IDIS “Viitorul,” has launched a training program in webinar format that will be delivered between October 7 and December 17, 2021.

Second Edition: Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement

The September issue of Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement details the changes resulting from the new regulation on low-value public procurement brings, which companies win the largest public procurement contracts, how to join a training program on public procurement monitoring, and other news related to public procurement in the Republic of Moldova.

Press Release: Moldova Project Launch

Within the context of a new project: “Increasing the Integrity in Public Procurement,” civil society representatives and investigative journalists from the Republic of Moldova will monitor public procurement in the country and provide recommendations for improving the process and strengthening the integrity of the sector. The project launch took place on September 30th, 2021, at an online conference. The project is implemented jointly by the Partnership for Transparency (PTF) and the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) “Viitorul.”

Summary of “Increasing the Integrity in Public Procurement in Moldova” Inception Report

A full Inception Report and Implementation Plan were written for the project: Increasing the Integrity of Public Procurement in Moldova, implemented by the Partnership for Transparency (PTF) and its partner organization in the Republic of Moldova, IDIS Viitorul (IDIS).

Newsletter Launch: Monitoring Moldova’s Public Procurement

In the Republic of Moldova, public procurement remains an area vulnerable to irregularities, fraud, and corruption. The large amount of money circulating in the public procurement system and the frequent interactions between the public and private sectors make public procurement extremely vulnerable and a priority area of concern for the integrity of public administration.

Increasing the Integrity of Public Procurement in Moldova

In September 2020, PTF, in partnership with the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS Viitorul) in Moldova embarked on a project to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and journalists to engage in informed and responsible monitoring of public procurement. The objective of this project is to empower citizens to hold relevant institutions accountable, with the goal of increasing the integrity of public procurement through increasing transparency and fairness of processes and outcomes.
Funding for the project was approved in August 2019 and the project was scheduled to begin in November 2019, but implementation was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the COVID-19 situation improved, the project commenced its activities in November 2020.

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Increasing the Integrity of Public Procurement in Moldova