A Binding Recognition
- Ina Raycheva,
- Program Coordinator,
- Technical Twinning Program
In September (15th through 17th), representatives of the FLGR - partner of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), USA, attended the Forum of the International Resource Cities Program prompted by the completion of its first stage.
The International Resource Cities Program of ICMA, funded and supported by the United States Agency for International Development, covers 22 American cities which have established partnership relations and provide technical assistance to many municipalities and cities in different countries and on different continents, such as Africa, South America and Europe. As part of the ICMA International Resource Cities Program, the Bulgarian Technical Twinning Program proved to be one of the most successful programs implemented through a local partnering organization, namely the FLGR.
During the forum, the goals of the Resource Cities Program were discussed, experience and opportunities for improvement of the professional level of local municipal administrations were shared, support for effective and democratic local self-government was expressed, the efforts aimed at improving management systems and practices in order to provide best service to the citizens were outlined, together with specific projects, implemented in cooperation with foreign municipalities.
Among the attendees at the forum were the city managers of the American cities and representatives of their teams, congressmen from the respective states, the deputy-chief administrator of USAID, the ICMA management, as well as other officials.
To our pleasant surprise, FLGR turned to be the only representative of the numerous foreign partners which was invited to participate in the forum, and we were very excited when, at the premises of the House of Representatives of the US Congress, we were given the USAID - ICMA award in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by the Foundation in the implementation of the Bulgarian Technical Twinning Program.
During the award ceremony at the House of Representatives, Mrs. Ginka Kapitanova, executive director of FLGR, was given the floor for a speech on behalf of the foreign participants in the program:
...The Program is indeed a partnership program. And for us, Bulgarians, it is very important to see real partnership. With the assistance of our American friends and the knowledge and experience which they shared with us, we understood the power and the significance of partnership for the sustainable development of municipalities and citizen participation in local self-government.
... It is an honor for me to participate in this important and exceptional forum. I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate everybody for their successes in the implementation of the program, and to wish them outstanding achievements in the future.
To FLGR, as well as to the Bulgarian municipalities which were included in the pilot project - Stara Zagora, Rousse, Haskovo - the award is a great recognition which furthermore binds us, as program coordinators, to continue with the successful implementation of the second stage, including four new Bulgarian and American cities. We believe that this program is oriented towards specific results in meeting the needs and priorities of the Bulgarian municipalities, and that by the joint efforts of the Bulgarian and American municipal teams these results will be achieved.