Description
The project addresses the low public trust in the rule of law and the work of control institutions. The project aims at empowering the civil society to be involved in the transparency and accountability mechanisms of public institutions through a civil monitoring platform. First, a methodology for civil monitoring of local control institutions will be developed. Second, 40 representatives of local NGOs and regional media will be trained to conduct civil monitoring. Third, civil monitoring of publicity and transparency in the work of the control institutions in 6 pilot municipalities will be carried out for 3 months. Fourth, Civil Platforms for open and responsible governance will be set up in 2 cities to propose improvements to the work of control institutions. Finally, an advocacy campaign will be carried out to persuade local authorities to adopt the proposals streamlining the control institutions. The project will benefit NGOs, decision-makers, the media and the local community.
Summary of project results
The findings from the last comparative survey of Transparency without Borders Association (National Integrity System in Bulgaria) showed that one of the main problems in Bulgaria is the failure to apply efficiently the existing legal provisions. The survey also showed that the specialized anti-corruption institutions and bodies with control functions are the weakest links of the system to prevent and counteract corruption. Thus, the main goal of the project was to empower the civil society for direct participation in the mechanisms for transparency and accountability of public institutions on local level by setting up a platform for civil monitoring on their efficient exercising of their control functions. As a result of the initiative, a civil control tool was developed (methodology for civil monitoring of the work of institutions on local level with regard to social care for children at risk and environment protection, flood prevention in municipalities) which was presented to the structures of the civil society in the two regions and is used as a means for exercising civil control on the work of the local and regional institutions. The developed web-based Civil platform for open and responsible management in the two thematic areas is a sustainable tool for the dissemination of the specific know-how for civil monitoring, provision of information and maintenance of dialogue on the issues in the two areas. The methodology was applied for the first time in 7 municipalities from 2 planning regions in the country – Vidin, Vratsa, Pleven, Pazardjik, Plovdiv, Smolyan and Haskovo. The methodology helped develop monitoring reports and recommendations to improve the work of the institutions in these areas. For more information and access to all project outputs, please, visit:
http://platformi.transparency.bg/
Summary of bilateral results