What we do to make What we do to make local development local development

workwork

Rasto VrbenskyRasto Vrbensky

Assistant Director Assistant Director

UNDP Regional Centre BratislavaUNDP Regional Centre Bratislava

Objectives of Objectives of presentationpresentation

1.1. WhyWhy we are involvedwe are involved – policy context – – policy context – reasons for involvement in local reasons for involvement in local developmentdevelopment

2.2. What we are doingWhat we are doing – overall framework – overall framework – previous and on-going initiatives– previous and on-going initiatives

3.3. What we are planning What we are planning – future steps– future steps

Structure:Structure:

1.1. Introduction and overall framework Introduction and overall framework

2.2. Presentations on specific initiatives Presentations on specific initiatives (Dafina, Dessi, Jaro) (Dafina, Dessi, Jaro)

POLICY CONTEXTPOLICY CONTEXT

1.1. CONSISTENTLY DECLINING LEVELS OF HDI IN CONSISTENTLY DECLINING LEVELS OF HDI IN SOME COUNTRIES OF THE REGIONSOME COUNTRIES OF THE REGION

2.2. GROWING GROWING REGIONAL DISPARITIES: A THREAT REGIONAL DISPARITIES: A THREAT TO DEMOCRATIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN TO DEMOCRATIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION:THE REGION:

– Economic marginalization leads to Economic marginalization leads to political disatisfaction political disatisfaction

– Disparities are an increasingly Disparities are an increasingly important source of conflict in the important source of conflict in the region region

3.3. FAILURE TO DECENTRALIZE POWER AND FAILURE TO DECENTRALIZE POWER AND RESOURCES LEAVES LOCAL ECONOMIC RESOURCES LEAVES LOCAL ECONOMIC POTENTIAL UNDERUTILIZEDPOTENTIAL UNDERUTILIZED

THE GLOBAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT THE GLOBAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2002 AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2002 AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

TRENDS IN THE REGIONTRENDS IN THE REGION

HDI Country HDI value absolute change

since 1990 1990 1995 2000

Ranks gained or

dropped since 1990

Slovakia +0.015 0.820 0.817 0.835 -3 Poland +0.041 0.792 0.808 0.833 +8 Estonia n/a n/a n/a 0.826 n/a Lithuania -0.008 0.816 0.781 0.808 -7 Latvia -0.004 0.804 0.763 0.800 -4 Belarus -0.021 0.809 0.776 0.788 -9 Russia -0.043 0.824 0.779 0.781 -20 Bulgaria -0.007 0.786 0.778 0.779 -5 Romania -0.002 0.777 0.772 0.775 -3 Kazakhstan n/a n/a n/a 0.750 n/a Ukraine -0.047 0.795 0.745 0.748 -20 Georgia n/a n/a n/a 0.748 n/a Turkey +0.056 0.686 0.717 0.742 +7

WHAT CAN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT WHAT CAN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES HELP TO ACHIEVE?INITIATIVES HELP TO ACHIEVE?

– Contribute to improvement of living Contribute to improvement of living standard of rural population standard of rural population

– Strengthen the grass-root democracyStrengthen the grass-root democracy– Re-build or strengthen communities Re-build or strengthen communities

affected by the previous regimeaffected by the previous regime– Convince politicians that Convince politicians that

decentralization can bring real benefitsdecentralization can bring real benefits– Contribute to improved and consistent Contribute to improved and consistent

levels of economic growthlevels of economic growth

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE BENEFITS HOW TO ACHIEVE THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT – OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT –

CONDITIONS CONDITIONS

Local development can work if:Local development can work if: 1.1. The right The right legal and policy frameworkslegal and policy frameworks are are

in placein place2.2. Adequate Adequate social capitalsocial capital is available is available 3.3. Good local governanceGood local governance is in place is in place4.4. PPartnershipsartnerships between government, between government,

business community and civil society are business community and civil society are createdcreated

4.4. Environmental sustainabilityEnvironmental sustainability is guaranteed is guaranteed5.5. Economic and financial instrumentsEconomic and financial instruments are are

availableavailable

A holistic approach at local A holistic approach at local levellevel

LLocal development strategies should address all ocal development strategies should address all conditions, not just one or two:conditions, not just one or two:

This needs:This needs:– A comprehensive situation analysisA comprehensive situation analysis– Balancing the various elements of local Balancing the various elements of local

development in a strategic plandevelopment in a strategic plan– Thinking about implementation during the planning Thinking about implementation during the planning

processprocess

A sound policy framework at central government A sound policy framework at central government level:level:

This needs:This needs:– Progressive budget legislationProgressive budget legislation– A strong degree of fiscal decentralization, with A strong degree of fiscal decentralization, with

appropriate checks and balancesappropriate checks and balances– Recognition of partnerships and CBOs as non-Recognition of partnerships and CBOs as non-

commercial legal entitiescommercial legal entities

UNDP RESPONSEUNDP RESPONSE

– Capacity 21 Program – LA21 Capacity 21 Program – LA21 Related Programs Related Programs

– GEF Small Grants Program GEF Small Grants Program – LIFE Program LIFE Program – Country programs (e.g. Country programs (e.g.

sustainable development, local sustainable development, local governance, decentralization, governance, decentralization, local economic development, local economic development, etc.)etc.)

Significant practical Significant practical experienceexperience

Building social capital, community mobilization and public participation: Building social capital, community mobilization and public participation: Local Agenda 21 in Turkey (UNDP/Capacity 21), ‘Your Spis’ project in Local Agenda 21 in Turkey (UNDP/Capacity 21), ‘Your Spis’ project in Slovakia (UNDP/MATRA), Community Development Project in Kyrgyzstan Slovakia (UNDP/MATRA), Community Development Project in Kyrgyzstan (UNDP), Community Mobilization in Lithuania (UNDP/MATRA and NED), (UNDP), Community Mobilization in Lithuania (UNDP/MATRA and NED), Local Governance Project in Albania (UNDP/Capacity 21)Local Governance Project in Albania (UNDP/Capacity 21)

Comprehensive approaches to creating good local governance: Comprehensive approaches to creating good local governance: Umbrella initiative in Poland (UNDP/MATRA), Local Agenda 21 in Turkey Umbrella initiative in Poland (UNDP/MATRA), Local Agenda 21 in Turkey (UNDP/Capacity 21), Local Governance Project in Albania (UNDP)(UNDP/Capacity 21), Local Governance Project in Albania (UNDP)

Creating partnership based approaches:Creating partnership based approaches:Baltic Rural Partnership Programme (DFID), Local Agenda 21 in Bulgaria, Baltic Rural Partnership Programme (DFID), Local Agenda 21 in Bulgaria, Poland and Romania (UNDP/Capacity 21, CIDA, DFID, MATRA)Poland and Romania (UNDP/Capacity 21, CIDA, DFID, MATRA)

Integrating environmental sustainability in development strategies: Integrating environmental sustainability in development strategies: Estonia Estonia (UNDP), Local Agenda 21 in Bulgaria (UNDP/Capacity 21)(UNDP), Local Agenda 21 in Bulgaria (UNDP/Capacity 21)

Creating economic and financial instruments for development:Creating economic and financial instruments for development:Local Agenda 21 in Bulgaria (UNDP/Capacity 21), Micro-credit facilities in Local Agenda 21 in Bulgaria (UNDP/Capacity 21), Micro-credit facilities in Uzbekistan (UNDP) Uzbekistan (UNDP)

… … and many others. and many others.

Lessons Learned and Best Lessons Learned and Best Practices Practices

Policy papersPolicy papers How to make local development work: How to make local development work:

Selected practises from Europe and CIS, Selected practises from Europe and CIS, UNDP Policy Papers, BratislavaUNDP Policy Papers, Bratislava

LA 21 Implementation in CEE, LA 21 Implementation in CEE, UNDP Journal UNDP Journal on Development Policy, UNDP, New Yorkon Development Policy, UNDP, New York

Re-building Effective Government: Local Re-building Effective Government: Local Level Initiatives in TransitionLevel Initiatives in Transition

Approaches to sustainability (ATS)Approaches to sustainability (ATS) – – Bulgaria, Poland, EstoniaBulgaria, Poland, Estonia

Many other publications on the country levelMany other publications on the country level

WSSD Johannesburg - side eventWSSD Johannesburg - side event – Partnership for Local Action: Towards Partnership for Local Action: Towards

Sustainable Communities in CEESustainable Communities in CEE

Follow-up initiativesFollow-up initiatives Localizing sustainable development Localizing sustainable development

initiative initiative (Marta)(Marta) Localizing MDGs (Dessi)Localizing MDGs (Dessi) Capacity 2015 and WSSD Follow-up (Dafina)Capacity 2015 and WSSD Follow-up (Dafina) GEF/National Capacity Self-assessmentGEF/National Capacity Self-assessment Rural Development in Nature Protection Rural Development in Nature Protection

Areas (Jaro) Areas (Jaro) SEE Vulnerable Groups Data CollectionSEE Vulnerable Groups Data Collection Potentially some others regional activitiesPotentially some others regional activities Initiatives on the country levelInitiatives on the country level

Coordination – Coordination – moving towards community of moving towards community of

practicepractice

Knowledge capturing and codificationKnowledge capturing and codification– lessons learned lessons learned – best practice best practice – publicationspublications– manualsmanuals

Knowledge sharing and project implementationKnowledge sharing and project implementation– expert teamsexpert teams– pilot projects in regions and municipalitiespilot projects in regions and municipalities– trainingstrainings– study tours study tours

Networking and community of practice buildingNetworking and community of practice building– networksnetworks– regional and sub-regional workshopsregional and sub-regional workshops– forums forums