Strengthening the transparency of local governments and public oversight at the local level

The project addresses several ongoing challenges related to transparency, public oversight, and access to reliable information about local governments in Slovakia. These issues are especially important in the pre-election period, when citizens need clear and trustworthy information to make informed decisions.

Research by Transparency International Slovakia shows that the level of transparency among municipalities is uneven. In many cases, important information is not easily accessible or is incomplete. At the same time, local communication channels, such as municipal newspapers, are sometimes used to promote current leadership instead of providing balanced information. This can influence voters and reduce fair competition.

Another key challenge is the weakening of regional journalism. In many parts of Slovakia, there is a lack of independent and in-depth reporting on local issues. Some regions can be described as “news deserts,” where citizens have limited access to quality information about how their local governments operate. This makes it harder for the public to monitor decisions and hold authorities accountable.

These challenges affect both citizens and local institutions and have a direct impact on the quality of democracy at the local level.

The project responds to these issues by combining two approaches: providing clear, data-based information on the transparency of municipalities, and supporting regional journalists in producing independent investigative work. Together, these activities aim to improve public awareness, strengthen accountability, and support more informed decision-making.

The project aims to strengthen public oversight, transparency, and informed decision-making at the local level in Slovakia through a combination of data analysis, communication, and support for regional journalism.

The first main activity is the preparation and publication of a transparency ranking of the 100 largest municipalities. This includes data collection, evaluation based on a clear methodology, and publishing the results online together with supporting data. The main output of this activity is a publicly accessible ranking that allows citizens, media, and municipalities to compare levels of transparency.

The second activity focuses on communicating the results to the public. This will include a series of social media posts, newsletters, and media outreach. These activities will produce communication outputs such as online content, media articles, and increased visibility of the topic of transparency.

The project will also offer individual consultations to municipalities after the publication of the ranking. These consultations will help local representatives understand their results and identify ways to improve transparency. The output of this activity is direct engagement with municipalities and practical recommendations for improvement.

Another key activity is the implementation of the Transparency Newsroom initiative, which supports regional journalists. This includes an open call for submissions, evaluation of investigative articles, and the awarding of the three best works. The outputs include submitted and evaluated journalistic pieces, as well as increased visibility of quality regional journalism.

Together, these activities will produce both analytical outputs and public-facing communication, contributing to better access to information and stronger public control.

The project aims to achieve improved transparency of local governments, stronger public oversight, and better informed decision-making among citizens in Slovakia.

One of the main results will be increased access to clear and comparable information about how municipalities operate. Through the transparency ranking and its communication, citizens will have better tools to understand how open their local governments are and to compare them with others. This supports more informed participation, especially in the pre-election period.

The project will also contribute to greater public awareness of transparency and accountability issues. Through social media, newsletters, and media coverage, more people will be exposed to information about how local governments function and why transparency matters.

Another important result is increased engagement from municipalities themselves. Through individual consultations, local representatives will better understand their weaknesses and will be encouraged to improve their practices. This can lead to gradual improvements in transparency over time.

The project also aims to strengthen regional journalism. By supporting and recognizing investigative work through the Transparency Newsroom initiative, the project will help increase the visibility and motivation of regional journalists to cover topics related to public interest, corruption, and local governance.

The main beneficiaries of the project are citizens, who will gain better access to information and improved conditions for informed decision-making. Local governments will benefit from feedback and practical recommendations to improve transparency. Regional journalists will benefit from support, visibility, and opportunities for professional development. In a broader sense, the project contributes to strengthening democratic processes and accountability at the local level.