What We Do
We support governments across the Western Balkans, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine in navigating the complex journey of public administration reform - advancing better governance and bringing administrations closer to the European Administrative Space.
Our mission is to modernise and digitalise public administrations, strengthen management systems, enhance civil servants’ competencies, and attract new talent with the skills required for today’s digital and green transitions. In the context of EU integration and broader goals for sustainable and inclusive growth, our work ultimately aims to improve not only the efficiency of public administrations but also the quality, accessibility, and reliability of services delivered to citizens and businesses.
Our strength lies in deep expertise in public administration reform and a trusted network of more than 300 leading experts from the region and beyond. Together, we respond effectively to the evolving needs of governments, citizens, and businesses - translating reform priorities into practical, results-oriented solutions.
We empower public servants by equipping them with the knowledge, tools, insights, and professional connections needed to deliver high-quality public services. Working closely with our Thematic Group Members, we identify reform gaps and co-design targeted capacity-building activities, horizontal initiatives, and direct support instruments - tailored, flexible, and highly focused - helping our Members, Beneficiaries, and Participants advance reforms precisely where support is most needed.
Through our On-Demand Mechanism, we provide swift, expert assistance aligned with Members’ own priorities and urgent challenges. Our Regional Mobility Programme and Mobility Schemes enable civil servants to learn directly from peers across the regions and the EU, gaining hands-on exposure to successful reform practices. The Horizontal Facility further expands learning opportunities by facilitating participation in renowned international trainings and policy events. Complementing these efforts, our e-Government Pilot Programme delivers tailored technical support for the design, testing, and scaling of digital public services - enabling institutions to innovate with confidence.
We also develop regional policy papers offering evidence-based recommendations on key public administration reform topics. At the same time, we actively strengthen cooperation among administrations in the regions and deepen exchanges with EU Member States. We see cooperation not only as a channel for accessing know-how, but as a value in itself - reflecting shared commitment to collaboration, trust-building, and a forward-looking narrative of public governance.
By continuously updating the Knowledge Management Platform, we actively cultivate a culture of lifelong learning, knowledge-sharing, and institutional improvement across public administrations. Designed as a regional knowledge hub for public administration professionals, the Platform enables civil servants, policymakers, and experts to access tailor-made resources, connect with peers across borders, and contribute with their own expertise and practical insights. More than a knowledge and learning repository, the Platform serves as a collaborative space that supports innovation in governance, encourages evidence-based decision-making, and accelerates the uptake of good practices and reform solutions.
This approach enhances regional cooperation, strengthens institutional resilience, and equips administrations to respond effectively to current and future governance challenges.
Our activities are divided into five thematic groups:
Policy Management, Better Regulation and Simplification
Strengthening policy planning, policy coordination, regulatory quality, and evidence-informed policymaking
European Integration and Accession Negotiations
Supporting administrations in meeting EU accession requirements and preparing for membership through strengthened administrative capacity
Mr Gentian Xhaxhiu, Legal Manager and Programme CoordinatorPublic Administration Reform is a continuous process. Improving public administration is not an end in itself - it is a catalyst for the modernisation of societies, economies, and political systems across the Western Balkans, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine. Deep and sustained reforms are essential to transform public services and to build institutions that are efficient, resilient, effective, transparent, and accountable.
As the reform agenda evolves, ReSPA evolves with it. We continuously adapt our role, tools, and approaches to respond swiftly and effectively to the growing expectations of governments, citizens, and businesses across the regions.
To drive innovation and deliver added value to our Members, Beneficiary, and Participants we design and implement forward-looking initiatives in close cooperation with governments and key partner institutions. Our programmes and activities are regularly reviewed and redesigned to ensure they remain relevant, demand-driven, and tailored to regional and national reform needs.
Recognising that PAR is a shared challenge across Europe - not only in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood regions - ReSPA actively promotes exchange of experience, mutual learning, and peer-to-peer cooperation with public administrations and institutions from EU Member States. Through networking and joint initiatives, we help translate European best practices into practical, regionally owned reform solutions.
At the core of ReSPA’s success lies continuous, open, and constructive dialogue with Western Balkan governments and, as of recently, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine, which recognise ReSPA as a trusted partner in their reform efforts. We continue to build and sustain a critical mass of skilled, motivated, and reform-oriented public servants capable of leading change and driving the future reform agenda across the regions.