In eight countries of Central Asia and South Caucasus, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDEF funds a project to increase public participation and make governance more accountable through independent monitoring of public policy-making and implementation. The initiative relies on expertise from independent policy centres with experience of democratic transformation. Through mentoring, training, regional networking and exchange of know-how, civil society organizations are learning to build new channels of dialogue with governments at the national and local levels. They are also better equipped to monitor and evaluate inclusive public policies and to formulate effective policy proposals.