FSLD's Activity in South-Eastern Europe

The most important activities in South-Eastern Europe:


Albania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Macedonia

Romania

Serbia and Montenegro



_________________________________________________________________

FSLD continued Polish assistance programs for the Balkans, which were launched in 1999. These efforts were taken prior to Poland's formal reception of the status of a fully-fledged member of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe which took place on 29 November 2001.
The Foundation's activities covered Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and the Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. The purpose of these activities is to share the Polish experiences in the development of local government and public administration with representatives of local governments, the central administration and non-governmental organizations.
The Foundation's main undertaking in the year 2001 was the conference held in on 6-8 December called: Seminar on Polish Experiences in Developing Cross-Border Cooperation, Organized as Part of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe.
The conference was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and the US Embassy in Poland. It was attended by more than 100 representatives of countries which are beneficiaries of the Stability Pact: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Moldova, Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania as well as Hungary and Lithuania and representatives of Euro-regions active along the Polish border, ambassadors, diplomats and representatives of the central and local governments. The organizers of this meeting achieved an important result - representatives of the Stability Pact recognized cross-border cooperation as one of the most effective instruments to overcome animosities and ethnic tensions, restore mutual trust and safety in countries of the Balkan region.

________________________________________________________________



ALBANIA


1. Assistance with Training Local Government Activists in Albania Based on the Polish Experience (2001):
The project was continued by FSLD according to an agreement concluded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Open Society Foundation. The Polish side hosted study tours for 7 groups (159 persons) of representatives of local administration, NGOs and a group of opinion-makers - politicians, journalists and intellectuals. The Albanians were guests of FSLD centres in Kraków (3 groups) and Katowice, Olsztyn and Bydgoszcz (1 group in each city). The group of 15 leading Albanian intellectuals and politicians visited Warsaw.

2. Support to the Training Centre for Local Authorities in Albania (2003):
The project was implemented between July 15 and December 31 2003 by the Head Office in cooperation with Regional Centres in Olsztyn and Kielce. The overall objective of the project was institutional strengthening of the Training Centre for Local Authorities in Albania, enhancement of training capacity of non-governmental organisations in the fields of providing training courses for local authorities, and strengthening of local government units in providing training courses for its own personnel. The Foundation in Support of Local Democracy implemented the project in partnership with Association of Towns of Albania, and Foundation of Local Autonomy and Governance - FLAG.

3. Decentralisation of public municipal services and building public-private partnership in Poland (2005):
A project implemented by the Regional Centre in Cracow and subsidised by the Stefan Batory Foundation within the framework of the East-East Programme. A study tour was organised for ten Albanian mayors (15-22 May). The guests got acquainted with Polish solutions related to the public-private partnership and modern public sector management tools.

_________________________________________________________________



BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA

1. Support for Non-governmental Organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina (2001):
In December 2001 FSLD hosted 30 representatives of NGOs from Bosnia and Herzegovina who came to Poland as part of a project implemented according to a contract with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Support for Non-governmental Organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina. During two weeks of their stay in Poland the participants were introduced to the activities of non-governmental organizations in our country and efforts taken to strengthen the third sector (e.g. fundraising, project management, voluntary work, activities of umbrella and assistance organizations). The program included meetings in Warsaw and training at the office of the Executive Board as well as FSLD centers in Kielce and Bialystok. The project was implemented in association with the Civil Society Promotion Center from Sarayevo.

2. Supporting co-operation between Bosnian and Polish cities - a study tour for representatives of the city and non-governmental organisations from Ilidzˇa, Bosnia and Herzegovina in Poland (2002)
The project was carried out in association with the Civic Society Promotion Centre (CSPC) from Sarayevo. On the Polish side, FSLD worked with the European Integration and Co-operation Bureau of the City of Toruf. The participants of the study tour included 5 representatives of non-governmental organisations and of the municipality of Ilidzˇa near Sarayevo. The objectives of the project were: based on the Polish experience develop a strategy for solving selected local problems in a chosen gmina from Bosnia and Herzegovina.



__________________________________________________________________



BULGARIA

DIALOG (2000):
In October 2000 MISTiA hosted 11 representatives of assistance organisations which administer grants and of Bulgarian NGOs. The visit took place under ISO Grant-making for Bulgarians, funded by USAID in Sophia. In November 2000 a group of 5 youth leaders from the Bulgarian Foundation C.E.G.A. in Sophia, had an opportunity to learn the methods of work with young people under the DIALOG programme at the FSLD Centre in Kielce.

_________________________________________________________________



CROATIA


The Regional Centre in Bialystok has created a report and provided training, on behalf of Systemic Studies Institute at the Polish Academy of Sciences, for representatives of nine non-governmental organisations from Croatia on successful absorption of EU funds, as an element of providing for a financially stable NGO.



_________________________________________________________________

MACEDONIA


Developing a strategy of co-operation between local authorities and nongovernmental organisations in Macedonia (2002):
The project was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and implemented by FSLD in November and December 2002. The Foundation's partner was a Macedonian NGO from Prilep - Citizen Initiatives Centre - which had worked with FSLD since 2000. The project was targeted at representatives of local governments and NGOs from 6 gminas situated in central-southern Macedonia: Zitose, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Demir Hisar, Prilep and Bitola. The primary goal of the project was to intensify co-operation between local governments and NGOs active in the territory of Macedonian gminas involved in the project.



__________________________________________________________________

ROMANIA


Romania Governance Reform and Sustainable Partnerships Program (GRASP) (2002-2007):
FSLD Head Office acts as a sub-contractor to an American firm, Development Alternatives Inc., in a civil society development project in Romania. The aims are achieved through institutional development of non-governmental organisations and local authorities. The project lasts from September 2002 until September 2007. Experts from the Foundation take part in preparation of a tool-kit for Romanian NGOs that will aid in assessing the quality levels of social services provided by local authorities. They also assist the largest Romanian NGOs in preparations for absorption of EU funds.

_________________________________________________________________



SERBIA and MONTENEGRO

1. Polish Program of Support for Local Democracy in Serbia (2001):
In the autumn of 2001 FSLD trainers conducted a series of training sessions in Serbia for representatives of local governments, non-governmental organizations and trainers. In this program Polish specialists went to Serbia to conduct training and workshops on management of NGOs, citizen participation, essentials of citizen society, training methodology, information policy of local governments and management in local administration. The project was implemented in association with the Public Administration and Local Government Center (PALGO) in Belgrade.

2. Serbia Local Government Project (2002):
In 2002 the Foundation as a sub-contractor of the US-based company, Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI), with a group of international organisations implemented a democratic transformation support project in Serbia. As part of the Serbia Local Government Project the Foundation delegated one of its experts to work in the project office in Belgrade. He is responsible for the organisation of training and preparation of training materials.

3. From quantity to quality - creativity on teaching process based on Polish experiences from education reform (2003-2005):
The project was implemented by Regional Centre in Kielce in the second half of 2003. The aim of the project was to transfer the best experiences from Polish educational reform. Signing of long-term cooperation statement between Polish and Serbian schools was one of the tangible effects. Additionally, there were training materials and lessons scenarios developed in Serbian and Polish

4. Partnership Project for Self-government Reform in Serbia (2004):
The project's objective is to support decentralisation processes and strengthen local self-government in Serbia. The USAID-financed project is being implemented by a consortium led by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) between 2001 and 2005. FSLD's partners include PADCO, VNG International, Berman Group, IGE-Consulting, Rutgers University, Mandes England & Associates, LGI/OSI, European Movement in Serbia, PALGO Centre, Vitosha Research Institute, Strategic Marketing & Media Research. The projects assistance is offered in 70 municipalities in the following theme areas: social participation, financial management, reform policies, communal services management, public procurement, and institutional development of national self-government organization: Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM).

5. Implementation of capital improvement plans, preparation for the elaboration of development strategies for municipalities in Serbia and Montenegro (2005):
The project was implemented by the Management Board Office between August and December 2005 from the funds of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was aimed at improving the standards of management in Serb municipalities and supporting the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) as an organisation providing advisory and training services to local governments in Serbia and Montenegro, and introducing new training and advisory services as a result of co-operation between the FSLD and the SCTM.

6. Consultancy in the preparation of a development strategy for the City of Belgrade (2005-2006):
A project implemented by consultants from the FSLD's Management Board Office, commissioned by Development Alternatives Inc. (2005-2006) from USAID funds. It is the continuation of the project entitled The Serbia Local Government Reform, in the implementation of which the FSLD was involved between 2001 and 2005. FSLD consultants worked on project implementation in the following sections: reform policy, the preparation of methodology and the co-ordination of training activities, public participation, institutional development, the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (including the preparation of a strategic plan for the SC), and plans for developing the local staff engaged in project implementation. As part of the final project activities, FSLD consultants will prepare a strategy for Belgrade in co-operation with city office employees (July 2005-July 2006).

7. Focus Vojvodina Project (2005-2007):
The project implemented by the FSLD's Management Board Office as the partner of VNG International, financed from the MATRA programme by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The project is aimed at strengthening the role of the civic society and increasing the participation of its representatives in policy pursued by Vojvodina's municipalities as well as improving multi-ethnic co-operation at the local level.

8. From Quantity to Quality Continued Polish Experiences from the Implementation of the Education Reform in Poland (2006):
The project implemented by the centre in Kielce, financed from the Stefan Batory Foundation's funds, was the continuation of activities commenced in 2003. The purpose of that edition was to verify training provided so far in technical and methodological terms, supplement qualifications of eight Serbian and Montenegrin trainers and train eight specialists in the implementation of innovative teaching methods, management of an educational institution, and building local partnerships on the basis of Polish experiences. A handbook for Serbian and Montenegrin teachers was published, too.

9. Świętokrzyskie for Serbia: The Best Local Government Practices (2006):
The project was financed from the funds of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was aimed as sharing Polish experiences from the development of local self-governance, the management and planning of economic development processes at the lowest public administration level, and building a civic society. The project was composed of a study visit to Belgrade paid by the representatives of Polish local governments (the winners of the 2005 Ranking of the Municipalities of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship) who got familiar with the functioning of local governments in Serbia.

10. Consultancy in the Preparation of a Development Strategy for the City of Belgrade (2005-2006) - that project was implemented between 2005 and 2006 by consultants from the FSLD Board Office by order of Development Alternatives Inc. from the USAID's funds. It was the continuation of the Serbia Local Government Reform project, in the implementation of which the FSLD also participated between 2001 and 2005. FSLD consultants worked on the implementation of that project in the following sections: reform policy, preparation of the methodology and coordination of training activities, public participation, institutional development, the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, and development plans for local staff engaged in the implementation of the project. Within the framework of final tasks, FSLD consultants cooperated with city office employees in the preparation of Belgrade's strategy.