4th WeBER Regional Conference Citizens First: A Decade of Advancing Citizen-Centered PAR

The 4th Citizens First Regional Conference marks 10 years of the WeBER initiative and provides a platform to reflect on a decade of public administration reform (PAR) in the Western Balkans while looking ahead to future challenges and opportunities. Building on WeBER’s commitment to placing citizens and civil society at the heart of reform processes, the Conference explores how human-centred public services can become a standard practice rather than an exception.

Bringing together government representatives, EU and OECD/SIGMA experts, civil society organisations, practitioners, and researchers, the Conference will focus on design thinking, participatory approaches, and inclusive policymaking as tools for creating more accessible, trustworthy, and effective public services. Discussions will draw on experiences from WeBER Policy Labs and local initiatives supported through the WeBER Small Grant Facility.

A key highlight of the event is the presentation of the Western Balkan PAR Monitor 2024/2025, WeBER’s flagship assessment of reform progress from the perspective of citizens and civil society. Through thematic sessions, participants will discuss reform achievements, challenges, and practical solutions.

By combining policy dialogue, evidence-based findings, and community-level experiences, the Conference fosters regional learning, strengthens cooperation between public administrations and civil society, and reaffirms a shared commitment to transparent, accountable, and citizen-oriented governance.