Local Government Support ProgramCentral Europe Seminar Poznan 16th17th September, 2004

1
Local Government Support Program-Central
Europe Seminar Poznan 16th-17th September, 2004

• Update on Project Inclusiveness
• in
• Local Government Decision-Making Activities
• Beata Grudzinska

2
Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• Inclusiveness in decision-making processes is a
  project which aims at increasing quality of civic
  participation in decision-making processes at
  local government level.
• The project is being realised by Local
  Government Support Programme Central Europe
  (LGSP-CE) which is funded by CIDA.
• We have started the project in February 2004 and
  will complete it in October 2004.

3
Inclusiveness n Local Government
Decision-Making Activities
Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• The objectives of the project are following
• to share best practices, lessons learned and
  methods to promote greater inclusiveness in the
  local government decision-making
• to focus on CIDA recommendations
• to underline importance of local government
  cooperation with non- governmental organizations
  and local partners in decision-making processes.

4
Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• We have collected 16 out of 24 examples of good
  practices
• Best practices from all Visegrad countries are
  published, presented and discussed at our
  seminars.
• The Manual and guide for good practices and legal
  framework is already available to all interested
  through the Association of Polish Cities website.
• We keep on collecting best practices from all
  Visegrad countries, in national language
  versions.

5
Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• Participants of the project Inclusiveness in
  decision making processes maybe
• Municipal Association representatives who deal
  with issues on democratic representation.
• Members/ representatives of NGO such as
  foundations for local development, coalitions and
  networks of organizations which represent
  members of local communities e.g. Committees,
  civic organizations, local initiatives.

6
Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities
We consider important Decision processes
concerning e.g. infrastructure local investments
(roads, street constructions, highway
constructions, water management etc). Decision
processes concerning development of leisure,
sport objects (halls, swimming pools) and similar
which are to serve comfort and good life of local
community members. We study how they were
consulted, which group opinions were taken into
consideration / have had impact on final decision
and shape of the undertaking.
7
Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities
Decision processes concerning direction and
planning for the use and benefit from European
infrastructure Funds, European Social Fund etc.
how the organizations are being involved into
the process, what is the outcome of the
cooperation, - how decision making activities
influence the quality of life of the groups
which could be considered to be marginalized.
8

Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• As the final output of our activity we foresee
• Strengthening cooperation between local
  governments and local communities and NGOs.
• Capacity building at the level of local
  government in our respective countries.
• Inspiration and promotion of cooperation and
  network of local governments and social partners,
  NGO (NGO expertise, grass root organizations and
  representatives of NGO umbrella organizations) on
  important social issues.

9

Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• Promotion of CEDAW conclusions and European Union
  recommendations concerning anti-discrimination
  practices and their local implementation.
• Promotion of tools and recommendations for
  inclusiveness, equality and anti-discrimination
  activities successfully implemented by CIDA
  worldwide.

10
Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• Outcomes
• Presentation of directory of organizations
  which can be partners for communities and
  municipalities in the discussed field in each of
  the Partner countries.
• Presentation of international legal framework
  regulating participation and equal access to
  the decision processes

11
Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• Overview of project activities in the nearest
  future
• We still are looking for certain good practices
  showing the good local expertise to be
  published in national languages,
• We collect support information legal frameworks,
  list of experts, list of NGOs involved actively
  in decision making processes,
• We work on joint concept for dissemination of the
  concept of inclusiveness and Manual.

12

Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• Overview of activities
• Participants of the Project collect support
  material for workshops and Manual legal
  frameworks, list of experts, list of NGOs in
  their respective regions.
• Preparation to workshops in Poland and Slovakia.
• Visegrad Partners supply additional information
  for Manual.

13

Inclusiveness in Local Government
Decision-Making Activities

• We invite you to join the project by either
  sharing with us your genuine experience in this
  field, or by presentation or preparation good
  solutions of decision- making activities at local
  level. Welcome!
• Thank you for your attention!