|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
 |
  |
Bulgaria
>> Regional Overview >> Bulgaria Overview Activity Data Sheet
PROGRAM: Bulgaria
TITLE & NUMBER: Local Governments are Making Responsive Choices and Acting on Them Effectively and Accountably, 183-023
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $4,255,000 AEEB
PROPOSED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $4,600,000 AEEB
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2005Summary: Bulgaria is still centralized and local governments lack both the full authority and experience to adequately serve their constituents. Transferring skills, building capacity and promoting de-centralization at the local level are key to the USAID development efforts in Bulgaria. This program supports Bulgarian local governments' efforts to effectively solve problems, in partnership with citizens and community-based organizations, identify and maximize opportunities, narrow the gap between resources and responsibilities, and successfully engage the central government on policies and laws to encourage local initiative. In FY 2000, USAID also expanded its efforts in support of fiscal decentralization.
Program Categories include Fiscal and Administrative Decentralization; Local Government Management Capacity; Local Government Support Organizations; and Labor Market Transition.
Key Results: The principal results, for which near term progress is expected are: (1) further development of the legal framework that promotes decentralization and improves intergovernmental relations; (2) local governments that have the capacity to govern effectively and promote necessary democratic reforms in a participatory manner; and (3) local government support organizations that are providing training and reinforcing the principles of local self-governing.
Performance and Prospects: In FY2001, USAID intends to obligate $4,255,000 under this strategic objective. Although progress to date has been encouraging, additional reforms are required and expected.
Reform in the local governance sector shows positive trends for the third consecutive year, based on adoption of four significant legislative packages and amendments supporting local government functions. Recognizing the importance of fiscal and administrative decentralization, USAID continued to provide direct assistance to central authorities in developing new legislation and reviewing subsidy formulas and continued to support the efforts of indigenous local government support organizations. An important measure of success is the resolution of a significant portion of the 'decentralization' conflict between local and central government authorities - starting in 2001, the Ministry of Finance will allow municipal governments to set their own expenditure priorities. In response, USAID is launching a new program designed to address alternative and flexible approaches in fiscal and administrative decentralization. This area remains the primary focus of USAID's local government activities in Bulgaria and the mission plans to obligate $1,000,000 during FY 2001.
With all mayors newly elected in late 1999, the development of the local government management capacity was crucial. Nearly 900 municipal officials participated in training programs in FY 2000, including post-election training on budget analysis, strategic planning, municipal property management, citizen participation, own-source revenue generation, communication strategies, project monitoring, etc. Municipalities in which USAID has invested resources to establish Customer Service and Information Centers significantly outperformed other municipalities with regard to constituents' perceptions of local government performance. Four new twinning partnerships between Bulgarian and American cities were established to build the capacity of local government institutions by the transfer of U.S. experience and know-how, and to establish viable partnerships. During FY 2001, USAID proposes to obligate $1,155,000 for local government management capacity activities.
USAID continued to build the capabilities of Local Government Support Organizations and to shift the lead role of upgrading local government to indigenous institutions. Under a new grants program launched in FY 2000, USAID broadened the pool of recipients beyond the municipal associations supported in the past to include new NGOs. In FY 2001, USAID will institutionalize this direct grants program through an indigenous grant-making organization. As part of their development efforts, municipal associations along the Greek and the Romanian borders have begun establishing Euro-regional structures with neighboring countries for joint planning of economic development projects. The number of municipalities joining the associations is constantly growing; for example, the National Association of Municipalities has now attracted all 262 Bulgarian municipalities as members. The Foundation for Local Government Reform continues to grow as an innovative entity. It created a web site to promote the best Bulgarian municipal practices, an effort that has become one of the most comprehensive information sources throughout Central and Eastern Europe. USAID will continue to invest in indigenous support organizations and proposes to obligate $1,300,000 in FY 2001 to strengthen their capacity.
In Labor Market Transition, the Department of Labor (DOL) supports local economic revival and creates job opportunities in target communities. In FY 2001, USAID proposes to transfer $800,000 to the DOL, to continue its community level activities, supporting 12 new municipal projects including two focusing on Roma and gender issues.
In FY 2002, USAID/Bulgaria intends to obligate $4,600,000 to support development of more effective, responsive, and accountable local government. Improved capability to solve problems in partnership with citizens and community-based organizations is an important aspect of these efforts. USAID seeks to support local governments as they narrow the gap between resources and responsibilities, and engage the central government on policies and laws related to local governance.
Beneficiaries: The direct beneficiaries are local and national government officials, members of Parliament, the staff and boards of local government support organizations, and citizens in the target municipalities.
Possible Adjustments to Plans: During FY 2001, USAID/Bulgaria will revise its program strategy to determine the appropriate level and content of activities to support local governance reform and enhancement. Assessments and sector specific studies will inform strategy development. Support for local governance reform is expected to be a significant part of the revised strategy.
Other Donor Programs: USAID is the only donor with a comprehensive program supporting local government development. However, several bilateral donors (the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, France) and the European Union provide complementary assistance to associations and municipalities. The British Know How Fund provides technical assistance to three Bulgarian municipalities and plans to assist regional governments in strategic planning. The World Bank has indicated its interest to focus on intergovernmental fiscal relations. The United Nations Development Program is considering the development of a model municipality.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: International City/County Management Association, Management Systems International, the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, five regional associations of municipalities, the Foundation for Local Government Reform, and other Bulgarian NGOs.
FY 2002 Performance Table
Selected Performance Measures: Local Governments are Making Responsive Choices and Acting on Them Effectively and Accountably, 183-023
Indicator FY97 (Actual) FY98 (Actual) FY99 (Actual) FY00 (Actual) FY01 (Plan) FY02 (Plan) Indicator 1: Index of citizen ranking of local governments' responsiveness, effectiveness and accountability. N/A 1.65 1.59 1.62 1.78 1.81 Indicator 2: Key legislation concerning local governments in place. N/A 51% 57% 69% 70% 75% Indicator 3: Local government authority over annual municipal budget. NA 15% 18.5% 19.77% 20% 21% Indicator Information:
Indicator Level (S)or(IR) Unit of Measure Source Indicator Description Indicator 1: S 5-step scale (0-4 with 4 being max) USAID Survey (baseline data, 1998) The overall index of citizen ranking of local government's performance is comprised of four sub-indices: a) Effectiveness; b) Responsiveness; c) Accountability; d) Citizens knowledge, Information and Participation. Indicator 2: IR Percentage Local Government Initiative (LGI) Team Refers to those legislative acts from the total pool of identified priorities that are already part of the national legal framework and are fully intact. The indicator measures the speed and scope of legal empowerment of local governments achieved over the course of each successive year. Indicator 3: IR Percentage LGI Team Measures the percent of local government authority over annual municipal budget by identifying own-source revenues as a share of the municipal budgets. U.S. Financing
(In thousands of dollars)
Obligations Expenditures Unliquidated Through September 30, 1999 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 ESF 20,906 SEED 18,421 SEED 2,485 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Fiscal Year 2000 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 3,503 SEED 2,311 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA Through September 30, 2000 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 ESF 24,409 SEED 20,732 SEED 3,677 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Prior Year Unobligated Funds 0 DA 0 CSD 0 ESF 3,564 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Planned Fiscal Year 2001 NOA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 ESF 4,255 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Total Planned Fiscal Year 2001 0 DA 0 CSD 0 ESF 7,819 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Future Obligations Est. Total Cost Proposed Fiscal Year 2002 NOA 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 ESF 4,600 SEED 0 SEED 36,828 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA
 |
|||
Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
