2010/01: Project results
FLGR carried out the project “The Good Governance Principles: Bridging Citizens and Governments” (2008 – 2009), financially supported by GMF/ The Balkan Trust for Democracy/ Bulgaria Fund.
The project main objectives were:
1. To raise the awareness, introduce and make recognizable the good governance principles among local administrations, municipal leaderships, civil society and businesses nation-wide and especially in the 2 pilot municipalities – Pazardzhik and Slatina District, Sofia Municipality.
2. To develop and apply in practice effective mechanisms for organizing, mobilizing, activating and empowering local communities (including various socio-economic groups within them) to be participants and corrective in the application of the good governance principles in the pilot municipalities.
3. To revise and improve the performance of the local administrations and leaderships in terms of internal administrative procedures and rules based on recommendations from the citizens and local businesses and within the context of observing the good governance principles.
Iп the framework of the project:
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A long term information campaign was carried out, dedicated to the 12 good governance principles, as formulated in the Strategy for innovation and good governance at local level (Lisbon 2007), comprising of:
>> 162 articles, good practices and surveys in the thematic field published and disseminated;
>> 10 models of partnerships between NGOs and local governments disseminated;
>> 5 radio-shows, 3 of them being 1-hour on the Hristo Botev Programme of the National Radio;
>> Public discussions and informational meetings;
>> Edition of “Good practices of Bulgarian municipalities in the field of the application of good governance principles” issued and disseminated.
The information environment was improved at national and local levels regarding the good governance principles. The thematic area of good governance principles has become part of the public information circle and is no more bound to the narrow information circle of local authorities.
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In the 2 pilot municipalities the municipal procedures, rules, policy documents and related to the priority area legal municipal framework were revised and adapted so that the good governance principles are applied at higher level.
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In the 2 pilot municipalities surveys were conducted on the informational environment, the level of development of municipal IT systems and the municipal websites with regard to the better service provision.
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Summary of the findings, conclusions and recommendations related to the partnership between the local government and the social and business actors were prepared and presented to the Municipal Councils. Decisions were taken for their implementation.
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In the 2 pilot municipalities surveys among local NGOs and businesses were carried out and a priority sphere for intervention was formulated for each municipality. The voice of citizens was articulated and directly inserted into the process of policy implementation within that priority area.
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In the 2 pilot municipalities capacity building seminars were organized for the municipal administrations to raise the capacity in the field of good governance principles application.
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Distance learning courses on the topics “12 good governance principles and their application at local level” and“Prevention of the Corruption on Local Level” were held.
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On a competitive basis 4 projects of local NGOs were financially supported and implemented, putting into practice the good governance principles.
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Financially were supported updates of the websites of the 2 pilot municipalities.
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In the 2 pilot municipalities were carried out Open Door Days, that were extremely successful.
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A National Round Table was held to present the project achievements (September 25, 2009). 80 participants from more than 30 towns in Bulgaria - representatives of central government, local governments, municipal experts, local NGOs, educational and community centers, and media - took part in the forum. Special guests were H. E. Mr. Paul Beijer, Ambassador of Sweden in Bulgaria, Ms. Zinaida Zlatanova, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, Mr. Andrey Kovatchev, president of the Bulgarian delegation into the Group of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament and member of the Committee on Regional Development of the European Parliament, Mr. Ginyo Ganev, National Ombudsman, Ms. Maria Dimitrova, Head of the Managing authority of the Operational Programme Administrative Capacity, Ms. Ani Nedkova, European Institute, Mr. Hakif Emin, Local Ombudsman in the Municipality of Kardzhali.
H. E. Mr. Paul Beijer, Ambassador of Sweden in Bulgaria, his country presiding the European Union, July - December 2009:
“Democratic societies are based on trust. Without the trust of its citizens the institutions of a democratic society do not function well, and the ability to maintain stability, grow and prosper is seriously impaired. The services provided at the municipal level, and the authority exercised there, are people’s most immediate contact with public institutions. I would argue that it is there that the battle for trust us won or lost.
It is therefore a great pleasure to participate this Round Table that marks the end of a project designed to raise awareness of the 12 good governance principles formulated and adopted by the European States and the Council Of Europe in Valencia in 2007.
To me, these 12 principles represent key objectives for government at any level, but particularly at local level, which bears the responsibility if being the face of government in the eyes of ordinary citizens.”
Angel Angelov, ADIG Foundation: “I would like to thank you for the possibility to participate the Round Table. The organization was of a very high level and the presenters were remarkably competent. For me it was a school in local governance.”
Nadezhda Doneva, City of Dryanovo: “Thank you for the invitation to take part in the National Round Table on good governance, held on 25 September, 2009. It was very valuable and fruitful. The working materials are extremely practically oriented.”
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51 recommendations to the local governments for improvement of the good governance principles application at local level were formulated, presented and disseminated.