LLocal ocal AAgendagenda 21 21 and EU Funds and EU Funds Slovak experiencesSlovak experiences
Milan ChrenkoMilan Chrenko
UNDP/Capacity 2015 UNDP/Capacity 2015 BratislavaBratislava
United Nations Development Programme
StructureStructure
BackgroundBackground on Slovakia on Slovakia
UNDP support to UNDP support to preparation of preparation of strategic development plans strategic development plans (LA21)(LA21)
Case Case study study - Pod Panskym dielom- Pod Panskym dielom
Conclusions & RecommendationsConclusions & Recommendations
BackgroundBackground
May 2004 - Slovak Republic member May 2004 - Slovak Republic member of European Unionof European UnionLocal governments influenced byLocal governments influenced by– Political changesPolitical changes
Local governemnts, Local governemnts, DecentralizationDecentralizationNew challenges for New challenges for local governmentslocal governments
– Accession to European UnionAccession to European UnionLegislation & implementationLegislation & implementation
– Civil society, public participationCivil society, public participation
Strategic planning at the local Strategic planning at the local levellevelConstraints Constraints
InstitutionalInstitutional– Fragmented Fragmented
municipalitiesmunicipalities– Lack of capacities & Lack of capacities &
skillsskills and and expertsexperts– Prevailing short term Prevailing short term
activitiesactivities
FinancialFinancial– Centralized support Centralized support
mechanismsmechanisms– Vertically distributed Vertically distributed
according to ministriesaccording to ministries– Absent at local level Absent at local level
OpportunitiesOpportunitiesFormal institutional & legal Formal institutional & legal background – NSSD, background – NSSD, various policiesvarious policiesExisting methodologies Existing methodologies Increasing number of Increasing number of trained peopletrained peopleLocal & regional Local & regional partnershipspartnershipsVarious grant schemesVarious grant schemes
UNDP approach - Regions 21UNDP approach - Regions 21
ObjectivesObjectives
To build capacities for development of To build capacities for development of strategic plans (LA 21)strategic plans (LA 21)
To strengthen cooperation among Slovak To strengthen cooperation among Slovak rural/disadvantaged municipalities and in rural/disadvantaged municipalities and in particular their various stakeholdersparticular their various stakeholders
To strengthen the municipal capacities to To strengthen the municipal capacities to use EU Structural Funds for use EU Structural Funds for implementation of LA 21implementation of LA 21
Regions 21 - ComponentsRegions 21 - Components
Assessment of existing international and Assessment of existing international and national frameworks supporting national frameworks supporting implementation of LA 21implementation of LA 21
Support to 6 micro-regions to develop and Support to 6 micro-regions to develop and start implementation of LA 21 start implementation of LA 21 ($ 9000 each + $ 1800 co-financing)($ 9000 each + $ 1800 co-financing)
Awareness raising campaign for Awareness raising campaign for municipalities on principles of sustainable municipalities on principles of sustainable development, strategic planning and EU development, strategic planning and EU funds – series of conferences, workshops & funds – series of conferences, workshops & trainingstrainings
Local Agenda 21 in SlovakiaLocal Agenda 21 in Slovakia
Micro-region Pod Panskym Micro-region Pod Panskym dielomdielom
Created in 2000, 7 rural municipalities, Created in 2000, 7 rural municipalities, 8500 inhabitants, 8500 inhabitants, territory 112 km2 territory 112 km2
Main activities aimed onMain activities aimed on– Support of civic associations, citizens and Support of civic associations, citizens and
building informal partnership within the micro-building informal partnership within the micro-region supported by micro-grant programregion supported by micro-grant program
– Strengthening municipal capacities to utilize Strengthening municipal capacities to utilize EU Structural Funds via preparation of LA 21 EU Structural Funds via preparation of LA 21 supported by elaboration of Action Plansupported by elaboration of Action Plan
Micro-grant programMicro-grant program
Support of voluntary activities of citizens in municipalities Support of voluntary activities of citizens in municipalities of the micro-regionof the micro-region To encourage local people to participate in the To encourage local people to participate in the development of the LA 21development of the LA 21
To emphasize the link between planning and To emphasize the link between planning and implementation phase to citizensimplementation phase to citizens
30 projects proposed, 21 supported - total support 30 projects proposed, 21 supported - total support approx. € 10 000 (50% co-financing from municipalities)approx. € 10 000 (50% co-financing from municipalities)– Supported activities - e.g. course of folk crafts, folk events, Supported activities - e.g. course of folk crafts, folk events,
educational, cultural and sport events, re-construction of educational, cultural and sport events, re-construction of buildings, protection of the environmentbuildings, protection of the environment
Regions 21 - ResultsRegions 21 - Results
Developed capacities for elaboration of strategic Developed capacities for elaboration of strategic documents based on participatory approachdocuments based on participatory approach
Support of activities of the micro-regions, Support of activities of the micro-regions, implementation of small scale project supported by implementation of small scale project supported by their own resourcestheir own resources
Raised awareness on LA 21 - Methodology developed Raised awareness on LA 21 - Methodology developed and used in other regions of Slovakiaand used in other regions of Slovakia
Strengthened capacities for use of financial resources Strengthened capacities for use of financial resources from the EU funds for implementation of strategic from the EU funds for implementation of strategic plansplans
UNDP roleUNDP role
Influencing the development towards Influencing the development towards sustainability with the help of EU fundssustainability with the help of EU funds– Trainings on participatory strategic planning, Trainings on participatory strategic planning,
(stakeholders)(stakeholders)– Project development and implementationProject development and implementation– Support to local leaders - by methodologies, Support to local leaders - by methodologies,
contacts and external experts/partnerscontacts and external experts/partners– Cross municipal cooperationCross municipal cooperation– Link between planning and implementation Link between planning and implementation
(Micro-grant programs, EU funds)(Micro-grant programs, EU funds)
Don’t forget…Don’t forget…
To involve national governments, To involve national governments, municipal associationsmunicipal associations
EU funds are the tool not the aim!EU funds are the tool not the aim!
Thank you!Thank you!
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