Interview with John Tennant, USAID - Washington, on FLGR s 5th anniversary - May, 2000.
Please, shortly introduce yourself and your relation/involvement with the FLGR.
I was the Mission Director of USAID in Sofia when the FLGR was launched. I am pleased to have provided the first financial support for the organization, and that FLGR and USAID have developed a strong partnership relationship over the past 5 years in many areas.
To what extent, according to you, the FLGR succeeded in assisting the development of effective local self-government in Bulgaria?
FLGR is a unique organization that has provided critical support for municipal government development over the years in so many ways. FLGR was there to help with training, policy support, information and best practices sharing, and technical twinning when it was most needed and has continued to play a strong and expanding role in Bulgaria and in the whole European region.
What did you gain from your partnership/cooperation with the foundation?
USAID gained a strong partner that continues to play an important leadership role in municipal development by helping local governments be responsive to their constituents in an effective and accountable way.
How would you define the FLGR in one single word?
FLGR is a "Catalyst" for change.
What distinguishes the FLGR from other similar organizations, working in the same field?
FLGR is an independent organization that is non partisan and pragmatic. It is focused on the best way to further municipal development in Bulgaria, and it structures its policies, programs and staffing to meet that objective. It is efficient and effective at achieving its objectives. Other organizations often have political agendas, have other priorities besides local government development, and/or have geographic, organizational or other limitations that constrain them from serving key needs.
What are your future expectations about the FLGR?
I would expect FLGR to continue to grow into a self sustaining organization that can market its services in Bulgaria and the European region.
How could the FLGR become a better and more effective organization - your recommendations?
FLGR should continue to develop its own institutional strengths. Its staff must have a broad skills base to be responsive to the technical challenges of local government development, there must be sufficient depth in the staff to allow continuing delegation of responsibilities, and it must maintain a strong board of directors. It should strengthen its programs to deal with the policy constraints at the national level that constrain decentralization, and it should continue to form strong partnerships with other local government (and local economic and social) programs and entities wherever this is mutually beneficial. Above all, it should maintain its excellent spirit of customer service and sharing of innovative practices. In short - it should continue to strengthen the excellent work it has already begun!