Description
The project addresses the need for a greater involvement of local NGOs in the monitoring of the implementation of the Development Strategy in Smolyan District in 2014-2020. The project aims at setting up and training NGOs from all municipalities in Smolyan District to involve more stakeholders in the monitoring of district and municipal development strategies. First, the project will be presented to the local community and NGOs. Second, meetings will be held with NGOs, 10 municipal councils and administrations to clarify the project and the need for such knowledge and skills. Third, a conference on Europe 2020 Strategy will be organized and an Advisory Regional Council of NGOs will be set up. Fourth, NGO members will attend a 2-day training in facilitating working meetings and public discussions and capacity building for efficient monitoring. The project will benefit local NGOs, the local community and authorities.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the need for a greater involvement of local NGOs in the monitoring of the implementation of the Development Strategy in Smolyan District in 2014-2020. The opportunity for participation of representatives of the stakeholders in the discussion of municipal strategies and the monitoring of their implementation enabled the citizens to voice their opinions on such a key topic as the new programming period with its main priorities. That resulted in a favourable environment for the implementation of the project by Open Society Club in Smolyan.A document was developed and signed by the participating NGOs, namely Pact for the Development of Rhodope Mountain, which was presented to the Regional Council for the Development of South Central Region and was used in the development of a targeted investment programme. The participants, i.e. representatives of local NGOs, were informed and trained on key issues related to the new programming period and the opportunities for civil monitoring during the implementation of municipal plans and the regional development strategy. Two modules of two-day training sessions with 82 participants (NGO representatives and young people) and three discussions fora with 75 participants (representatives of NGOs, young people and civil servants) were carried out. A conference was held on the topic of Europe 2020 Strategy with more than 60 members of the target groups. In addition, monitoring was carried out by means of a hackathon with 6 teams with 29 participants(school and university students). 50 representatives of all target groups took part in the final working meeting. The website of Open Society Club was also updated under the project (osc-smolian-bg.com).The implementation of the project activities mobilized the public for an informed debate and active involvement in the preparation, monitoring and evaluation of local and regional development plans and strategies. Making public commitments and direct involvement of the members of the target groups in the process of change resulted in greater citizen participation in public processes and in the implementation of the main priorities of Europe 2020 Strategy. The strategic document prepared under the project, Pact for the Development of Rhodope Mountain, was taken into consideration in the development of Targeted Investment Programme for the North Western Part of the Rhodope Mountain, Strandzha and the less developed areas, in the programme part on Rhodope Mountain.
Summary of bilateral results