How do governments know whether a reform is actually working? And how can performance information move beyond reporting to become a tool for better decisions, stronger accountability and better public services? 

These questions are at the centre of the regional dialogue on performance measurement taking place on 1-2 October in Chisinau, bringing together representatives of Centres of Government from the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood, alongside experts and practitioners from EU and OECD administrations.

Hosted by the State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova, the event is organised by SIGMA, in close cooperation with the GIZ Eastern Partnership Regional Project for Public Administration Reform and the ReSPA. It brings together administrations facing many of the same challenges in monitoring government performance, using data effectively and demonstrating whether policies and reforms are delivering tangible results.

The dialogue builds on previous regional work showing that data availability, monitoring, reporting and evaluation remain critical challenges for the effective implementation of public administration reforms and sector policies. At the same time, the ability to demonstrate measurable progress in reform is becoming increasingly important in the context of EU integration, performance-based financing and evidence-informed policymaking.

Opening the event on behalf of the host institution, Alexei Buzu, Secretary General of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, underlined that he has personally made performance measurement a priority in the work of the Government. Drawing on concrete examples from social policy, he highlighted how reliable performance information can help governments understand what is working, identify where change is needed and make better-informed decisions.

Vanessa Miani, DG ENEST, European Commission, highlighted the growing importance of delivering and demonstrating measurable results in the context of EU accession and public administration reform, stressing that progress increasingly needs to be reflected not only in adopted policies and legislation, but also in tangible outcomes produced through their implementation.

As Jelena Mrdak, ReSPA Director a.i., emphasised: "Reform is not about what we plan. It is about what we actually change. Performance measurement matters because good data allows leaders to ask better questions, make better decisions and take responsibility for results. For administrations advancing on their European integration path, the shift from activities to outcomes is becoming more important than ever.”

Across the two-day programme, participants are examining the full performance measurement cycle - from the availability and credibility of data and the use of indicators in monitoring sector strategies, to measuring the performance of public institutions and linking government priorities with management objectives. The programme also explores experiences from EU and OECD administrations, long-term development strategies and the emerging potential of AI-supported and AI-driven solutions for Centres of Government.

The event has a strong practical dimension, with administrations from across both regions sharing their own experiences, challenges and solutions. Contributions from Albania, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Türkiye, Armenia, Kosovo*, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other participating administrations allow participants to compare different approaches and identify solutions that could be adapted across institutional and national contexts.

For ReSPA, the dialogue also represents a continuation of the exchange among Centres of Government from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership initiated earlier this year. The importance of performance measurement was again strongly highlighted during the ReSPA Thematic Group on Policy Management, Better Regulation and Simplification, held in Budva in June 2026, where administrations from both regions identified it simultaneously as an important priority and a common challenge.

As Boris Ristović, ReSPA Programme Manager – Coordinator, noted: “The real value of performance measurement begins when information stops being simply reported and starts being used. Our ambition is to help administrations connect evidence, policy priorities and implementation — and to create a community in which practical solutions can travel across borders.”

A particular focus throughout the discussions is therefore placed not on creating more indicators, but on ensuring that existing information becomes credible, relevant and useful for decision-makers — helping public institutions understand whether government priorities are being implemented and whether reforms are producing the intended impact.

The event also draws on expertise from across Europe and the OECD, including discussions on measuring public sector systems in EU accession administrations, linking KPIs of public sector managers with government priorities, cascading objectives and indicators through long-term strategies, and lessons from the evolution of government performance frameworks and AI-enabled approaches.

ReSPA extends special thanks to Martins Krievins, SIGMA Senior Policy Advisor, for leading and facilitating the dialogue and creating space for an open and practical exchange of experience among practitioners from across the participating regions.

The shared objective is clear: not more indicators, but better insight; not reporting for its own sake, but information that supports better decisions, stronger implementation and greater accountability.

By connecting administrations from the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood with European and OECD experience, ReSPA continues to support a growing regional community committed to more capable, accountable and future-ready public administrations - and ultimately, better results for the people they serve.