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USAID Mission to Poland
Europe & Eurasia
>> E & E Home >> Poland >> Assistance Areas >> Special Projects >> Activity Reports
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Last updated: 48
Activity Reports
Activity reports for special initiative programs funded by USAID in Poland - the reports principally cover 1998 and 1999.
- Displaced Workers Adjustment
- Pier Mine Health and Safety
- ACILS / BKN Support
- Georgetown University Scholarship Program
- Political Party Building
- Warsaw Journalism Center
- Disaster Preparedness Training
- East-East Dissemination
Activity Name: USDOL - Displaced Workers Adjustment
Start Date: September, 1998
Completion Date: May, 2000
Activity goals and achievements:
Under this activity, the U.S. Department of Labor was providing assistance at the regional level (primarily Silesia) to address worker dislocation adjustment problems resulting from the GOP's restructuring of the coal sector. DOL assisted in the development of a comprehensive strategy to help workers, enterprises and communities adapt successfully to the restructuring process. The project trained over 600 people (staff from labor offices, trade unions, local government and personnel managers) in rapid response techniques, including more than 50 people who are now functioning as Industrial Adjustment Specialists (IAS). The rapid response approach being employed is modeled on successful experiences in Hungary and the United States. Seventeen Polish communities have initiated Rapid Response programs, providing services to workers at thirty enterprises. Quantitative data is currently being collected in order to evaluate the impact of these initiatives on workers.
The purpose of the Displaced Workers project was to demonstrate the effectiveness of an integrated assistance to workers displaced by industry restructuring or downsizing. This project is operating in Poland's Upper Silesia industrial complex, the focus of the government's efforts at coal sector restructuring, where up to 150,000 jobs may be shed over the next few years. The project was based on utilizing the capabilities of losing and gaining industries, unions, national and local government and the community to mitigate the effects of job losses and provide new employment opportunities.
In-principle agreement with the Polish partners was reached in spring, 1998, but some delays occurred in identifying a candidate for field coordinator and establishing appropriate institutional arrangements to implement the project. USDOL's implementor, the Western States Consortium, established a field office in September, 1998, in Katowice, in the Upper Silesia area of southern Poland. The field office moved quickly to assess the local situation, establish a network of contacts, and prepare a detailed workplan for initiating project operations. Training sessions for coal companies, local labor offices, the state mining agencies, and unions were conducted: one in the role of industrial adjustment specialists and one in more specific skills categories. There was some resistance to formation of "labor-management adjustment committees" arising out of these workshops from the local labor offices. Subsequently, a meeting hosted by USAID with MOL/NLO and the field office clarified objectives and terminology. The Ministry of Economy became more involved, and promoted the project to coal mine managers. As a result, mine managers were briefed by the field office on the project's objectives and two mining complexes were identified as likely sites for implementing Rapid Response teams early in 1999.
Activity Name: PIER Mine Health and Safety in Silesia
Implementing Organization: Partners in International Economic Reforms
Start Date: Sept. 11, 1995
Completion Date: Sept. 30, 1998
Activity goals and achievments:
The Cooperative Agreement was signed with Partners for International Economic Reforms on September 11, 1995 and provided for two years of assistance, until September 30, 1997. The general objective of this project is: "Demonstrable and sustainable reduction of risk to life and health in a selected number of Silesian coal mines".
During the first year of implementation (Sep. '95 - Sep.'96), due to the high costs of Polish coal production and its resulting weak competitiveness, mine management was reluctant to spend money on mine safety and health activities. This was one of the reasons why, after the first year of the implementation, the program was very much delayed. After a mid-grant review USAID/Poland revised with PIER the too ambitious targets and developed a modified workplan for the second year with achievable targets. All but one of the year two targets were met. The most important result, to leave a sustainable Polish organization was not met. Since there were cost savings to the program, USAID/Poland decided to extend this Cooperative Agreement. After the meeting with PIER Coordinating Committee, headed by Marek Kempski, USAID and the Embassy approved the extension of the Agreement till 9/30/98.
The most important target, i.e. to create a sustainable Polish organization was achieved on September 28, 1998, when the Polish - American Association for Health and Safety in Mining Industry was created. It is a Polish NGO, consisting of Solidarity Trade Union, Office of the Katowice Governor, Technical University of Silesia, State Mining Authorities and Coal Holding Companies, which would continue the work of the Polish-American Mine Health and Safety Center following the end of USAID support. The Association is headed by the Head of the Mining Industry Section in Solidarity.
- The two rounds of MERIT survey were carried on. Targeted 43 coal mines sent back their responses, which covered app.9000 miners. The results of the survey were analyzed and presented to the Coal Holding Companies. Also during international seminars on Job Safety, organized in Gliwice on 27-28 June 1997 and in September 1998, the findings of the survey were presented and areas of worker perception of rules and job and tasks analysis were identified as requiring the most emphasis.
- The post-graduate course on Safety Management at the Technical University of Silesia was established and first group of students graduated and the following one was enrolled. One lecture room was equipped with computers and specialized teaching devices, which was funded from the project.
- Eight safety and health training videos of Department of Labor were translated, modified to Polish conditions and delivered to the coal Holding Companies. They were also presented during the post-graduate course on Safety Management at the Technical University of Silesia. Also two additional training videos on eye protection were produced in Poland. They include actual underground mining scenes recorded at the Polish mines and also scenes from U.S. mines. On this tape the importance of the use of eye protection glasses is discussed.
- During the second quarter of 1997 the dust measurement survey was carried on and the level of dust in actual coal extraction operations was measured. Based on the findings of the survey, the report on identification of dust levels in coal mines was prepared and presented to the Mine Health and Safety Center.
- In the third quarter of 1997 the 25,000 reflective hardhat safety stickers were produced and the majority of them was already distributed to 4 Coal Holding Companies, which distributed them to underground miners. Also in the third quarter the contractor for the supply of health and training equipment for the post-graduate course at the Technical University of Silesia was chosen.
Activity Name: ACILS/BKN Support
Start Date: November 1, 1996
Completion Date: December 31, 1999
Activity goals and achievements:
The purpose of the cooperative agreement was to stimulate the development of economically viable private sector enterprises through worker/management cooperation at the firm level. Union-based professional consulting services (Solidarity union Consultation and Negotiation Offices, or BKNs) focussed on improving the transparency and equity of the ongoing state enterprise privatization process and reducing worker/management tension associated with enterprise rationalization. BKN sustainability was a major emphasis of this program.
The BKN support program wound down to a successful conclusion. BKNs throughout the country continued to represent Solidarity member interests over a wide range, such as salary and social benefits funds contributions (BKN Rzeszow), mitigating mass layoffs (BKN Katowice), commercializing public enterprises (BKN Krakow), collective bargaining agreements (BKN Bialystok), enterprise restructuring (BKN Wroclaw), commenting on proposed Sejm Social Commission regulations (BKN Warsaw). BKNs also continued union training in subjects such as privatization impact, collective bargaining, negotiation, and local social benefit funds. However, the most important accomplishment for the BKN program was the decision made by the Solidarity governing council regarding management and sustainable financing for the BKN program after the completion of US assistance. In September 1999, the Solidarity National Congress of Delegates directed the Solidarity (management) commission to provide regional BKNs wth direct financial support to supplant the concluding US assistance, effective November, 1999. Work also advanced during the period on a follow on grant to ACILS (subgrant to BKNs) for a pension reform public education program.
Activity Name: Georgetown University Scholarship Program
Start Date:
Completion Date: 30 November, 1999
Activity goals and achievements:
Georgetown University's East Central European Scholarship Program (ECESP) was designed to develop human resources base necessary for building democratic institutions and for promoting free-market economy system. The program provided 6-24 months training programs at U.S. collages and universities. At a later stage of implementation, it provided 3-12 months training. In the years 1990-91 participants attended mostly local government administration, organization and management of rural cooperatives, development of small agribusiness and farming studies. Since 1992 ECESP has been providing training in public policy and administration, local government administration, bank supervision, financial analysis, financial management, business management, health policy and administration, education administration, teacher training and curriculum development.
It has been one of USAID's longest-running activities, having considerable positive impact on on the process of democracy and the emergence of a market-oriented economy development in Poland
Many of their Alumni, after coming back to Poland had considerable impact on institutions, organizations and communities within the country. They could implement their newly acquired skills and experience in their professional lives, careers. Some of them became Members of Parliament, several have been appointed to ministerial positions and quite a number of Georgetown Alumni have been elected or appointed to local government positions.
Activity Name: Political Party Building Program
Implementing Organization: National Democratic Institute
Start Date: September 26, 1995
Completion Date: January 31, 1999
Activity goals and achievements:
In January 1996, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) launched its political party building program to support Poland’s multiparty system by strengthening the communication skills and organizational capabilities of political parties at the local level. The first phase of NDI’s program (January to October 1996) focused on local operations in the areas of membership recruitment, fundraising, communications, party branch creation and functions, and relations with party headquarters. After an initial series of formal training, approximately 40 party branches from across the country drafted action plans to build capacity in these areas. NDI assisted the party branches in implementing their action plans. While many party branches successfully met their targets, others were successful in only one area and still others did not meet their targets. All of the participating branches came to understand the necessity of building organizational viability and maintaining contact with the electorate during nonelection periods. Five parties formally worked with NDI during the first phase: Freedom Union, Confederation for an Independent Poland, the Conservative Party, the 100 Movement and the Christian Peasant’s Alliance. In addition, NDI informally provided training to the Solidarity trade union and four other political parties: the Democratic Left Alliance, the Polish Peasants’ League, the Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland and the Labor Union party. Most of NDI’s assistance was targeted at the "post-Solidarity parties", relatively new organizations in greater need of assistance than the more established post-communist parties.
The program’s second phase (November 1996 to September 1997) focused on local-level preparations for the 1997 parliamentary elections. During this phase, the Solidarity trade union and much of the post-Solidarity right consolidated into the Solidarity Election Action (AWS) coalition. NDI worked in target cities training approximately 20 local party branches of the Freedom Union, AWS and other major political parties. These components of the program were multipartisan, involving participants and aimed at increasing the participation of women and youth in politics and political party activities. The Institute also sponsored a three-week internship for 12 local party activists to participate in the United Kingdom election activities of both major British parties.
The third and final phase of the program focused on training candidates, particularly youth and women, who were running in the upcoming 1998 local elections; assisting political parties to prepare for those elections; and training political party activists in how to train colleagues in political organizing.
During this period, NDI also continued with its train-the-trainers program, in which it worked with 16 activists from all major parties to provide them with the training skills needed to carry on NDI's training within their own parties following the end of NDI's program.
In this latest stage of the program, NDI undertook the following:
- concluded its train the trainers program for 16 activists,
- provided election-related training for party branches and local candidates,
- hosted a delegation of Serbian political activists,
- continued advising the European Institute of Democracy (EID) on fundraising techniques and programmatic development
- NDI resident representative and trainers participated in several regional conferences.
Activity Name: Warsaw Journalism Center (WJC)
Start Date: September 28, 1995
Completion Date: December 31, 1998
Activity goals and achievements:
The Cooperative Agreement was signed with Warsaw Journalism Center on September 28, 1995 and together with later extension, provided for three years of assistance, until December 31, 1998. The WJC was established to provide training and technical support to independent media in Poland. These purposes were achieved mainly through a journalism school, offering education in print and broadcast media, and a television studio providing equipment rental and technical services for producers of programs at public and private television stations.
Journalism Education School was a two-year, 400 hour, academic professional training. It was attended mainly by students of other disciplines, active journalists, and other professionals changing their careers. The courses were taught by experienced Polish lecturers, prominent Polish journalists and Western journalism education experts. A Curriculum Committee was established and met periodically to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of the program.
The Center ran short courses /seminars (such as "Media Relations for the Public and Private Sector", "Photography in Journalism", and "Internet Use for Journalists"), offered on a for-fee basis. Each year approximately 300 journalists and media managers took advantage of the courses offered through this program.
WJC offered its existing television studio and video equipment for rental. At the same time it offered high quality professional services for producing TV programs. Based on marketing research, WJC prepared a plan to offer a simplified TV and video production equipment and services on a fee basis.
The Center was closed in 1998.
Activity Name: TRANSIT and Disaster Preparedness Training
Start Date: May 1, 1997
Completion Date: September 30, 1999
Activity goals and achievements:
Originally called Participant Training Project for Europe (PTPE), the TRANSIT training activity was established in 1992. The TRANSIT project provides support within: 1) assistance to the USAID Missions in Central and Eastern Europe within program development and needs assessment, participants recruitment selection, testing and processing; monitoring and follow-on of professional trainees; 2) design and administration of training programs for these professionals in-country, third country or U.S.-based training; 3) support to other USAID contractors in the region within processing of their candidates for training. During the period from October 1, 1997 through September 30, 1998 World Learning processed 240 training participants nominated by USAID contractors. In FY 99 about 150 participants will be served and previsions for FY 2000 is for about 25
The key element of TRANSIT is a stand alone Disaster Preparedness Training. As a result of the flood disaster in Poland in July, 1997, USAID/Poland decided to fund several activities aimed at providing immediate help to people, recovery of the affected areas, and training assistance to the Government of Poland on disaster preparedness. USAID/Poland defined this last activity due to the great interest of the Government of Poland to create an efficient emergency assistance coordination system and a disaster preparedness system. The amount of $300,000 covered the costs of U.S. Disaster Planning Observation Tours for the Polish central and local government representatives and NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) leaders.
The overall goal of the activity was to train 42 Polish Officials from the Central Government and Local Government, and 7 NGO Leaders in order to transfer the knowledge on the U.S. Emergency Management System and its legal basis. The training helped Polish officials (1) to work on the new policies and procedures, (2) to establish the structure with clear responsibilities and cooperation of the Central Government, Local Government, Technical Services (Fire Brigades, Police, Civil Defence, etc.) and other involved parties and (3) to create the technical tools for the protection against natural disasters and for the mitigation and recovery. The schedule of training was planned as follows:
- A group of eight, High Level Officials visits FEMA Headquarters and Emergency Management Institute on observation tour to learn the policy basis, procedures and structure of the U.S. Emergency Management System.
- A group of five officials from the Ministries, the Civil Defence Office and Technical Services visits the U.S. emergency management operating centers to learn on "quick reaction" operations during a natural disaster.
- Ten representatives from gminas and central government (both central and local authorities) visits U.S. river basins authorities in order to learn how federal government and local authorities cooperate to protect the river basin against flood disaster and its consequences.
- A group of ten technical experts from Ministries and Scientific Institutes will be trained in Flood Modeling.
- A group of nine most influential Polish NGO senior level staff visits U.S. NGOs on observation study tour to learn about the cooperation of FEMA and NGOs during natural disasters.
Activity Name: East-East Dissemination
Implementing Organization: CASE Foundation
Start Date: September 26, 1997
Completion Date: March 31, 1999
Activity goals and achievements:
The activity has allowed Polish experts recruited by the CASE Foundation macroeconomic think-tank to work with Ukrainian counterparts, both providing technical assistance to the macroeconomic reform process in Poland’s major Eastern strategic partner, as well as informing Polish specialists of Ukraine’s reform process. Work included macroeconomic modelling, joint inspections of Ukrainian banks by National Bank of Poland and Ukraine officials, restructuring municipal enterprises, and public administration reform. A parallel grant from USAID / Kiev allowed for study tour of Ukrainian officials to Poland. A closing seminar summarizing the work was held in Warsaw in March 1999.
Long-term work included audits of Ukrainian banks under unique cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian banking inspectors as part of Ukraine’s efforts to meet IMF conditionalities; and macroeconomic modelling work to support decision-makers in the National Bank of Ukraine, and the Ministries of Economy and Finance.
Short-term work included visits to Ukraine by Polish Securities Commission staff; Marek Dabrowski lecturing on "Factors determining successful economic and political transition"; two state enterprise restructuring seminars; municipal enterprise restructuring work in Kharkov, and a lecture on "Financing of Municipal Enterprises – the Polish experience"; and a series of lectures in Ukraine on the Polish experience with public administration reform.
Study tours involved: DPM Tykhypko staff on the informal economy; an advisor to the NBU; ten government officials to look at macroeconomic modelling; an HIID / CASE macroeconomic policy workshop for 30 Ukrainians; two NBU officials at a CASE disinflation conference.
Publication was completed to the end of 1998 of Robert Kravchuk’s booklet "Budget Deficits, Hyperinflation, and Stabilization in Ukraine 1991-96, and Urban Gorski’s "Interbank money market in Ukraine" (English and Russian version).
The National Bank of Poland saw its work under this activity as a way to "repay" the U.S. for assistance to Poland’s banking inspection arm. The NBP covered the costs of per diem and the wages of its two staff members, who spent over two months each in Ukraine under the activity.
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Last Updated on: March 13, 2002 |
