FORUM PROGRAMME

published on 08 June 2009

 A program of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation 2000 - 2007

Main Goal:
Improve the quality of life in the municipalities and stimulate direct citizen participation at local level through application of the innovative Forum approach.

Sub Goals:
• Conduct a high-quality public discussion on issues of local significance which is a contribution to citizen society development and strengthening the local communities’ democratic awareness.

• Formulate recommendations regarding specific activities and projects and address them to certain groups or institutions responsible for their implementation. The advantage of this approach is that in order to implement the tasks and projects coming out from the Forum, new coalitions are established among people and organizations who would hardly perceive themselves as partners in any other situation.

• Capacity building of the citizens and local authorities for project formulation, preparation and implementation.

• Formulate, develop and implement projects with an impact on the community development.

• Improve the local community capacity for common work and community development.

Content and Encompass of the Project:
The Community forum is designed to put together various citizen groups, organizations and institutions in order to discuss problems of local significance and reach consensus for solving them. Based on the experience of Swiss specialists we have developed technology for the conduct of community fora and adapted it to Bulgarian conditions. The Forum is initiated as an open, unprejudiced and transparent process. Representatives of all interested parties in the municipality are invited to participate – citizens, businesses, local authorities. A series of sessions are carried out in which the participants, based on equality, discuss important issues of mutual interest regarding the community development. The possible outcomes of a Forum are recommendations for actions addressed to a particular addressee, civil initiatives and the development of specific projects.

The Forum Program is implemented in Bulgaria with the financial and consultant support of the Swiss Government since 2000. The first phase of the Forum Program was held in the municipalities of Tryavna, Gabrovo, Sevlievo, Apriltsi, Troyan and Teteven. As a result of the organized series of public discussions in these municipalities the participants addressed many recommendations to local and central institutions, implemented some common initiatives of citizens and organizations, developed 42 projects that were approved for financing and established some new coalitions, partnerships and civil organizations.

The second Phase of the Program started in January 2002, first in the municipalities of Yablanitsa, Lovech, Dryanovo and Troyan from the regions of Gabrovo and Lovech. In the end of the year 2002 forums were also launched in the municipalities of Svistov, Pavlikeni, Popovo, Antonovo and Targoviste in the regions of Targoviste and Veliko Tarnovo. In June, 2003 the third batch of Forums started – in the municipalities of Razgrad, Novi Pazar and Tsar Kaloyan from the regions of Shumen and Razgrad.

A competition is announced periodically for participation in the Program.

Partners of association "Balkan Assist":
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation /SDC/ finances greater part of the expenses for the organization of the fora and supports financially the projects coming out in each of the municipalities after an approval of the Steering Committee.

Foundation for Local Government Reform is Projects Office:
- Supports the activities related to projects preparation and implementation by providing expert assistance and training for the working groups;
- Implements technical and financial control on the projects implementation;
- Reports before the Steering Committee about the projects progress.

Local NGOs and civil formations as well as the municipal administrations, institutions and media are important partners in the Program. Their activeness contributes to the transparency and the quality of the process.

Balkan Assist Association is the Forum Office:
- Works for the establishment and promotion of the Foum approach as a tool for increased citizen participation in the development of their municipalities;
- Is responsible for the organization of a wholesome and quality forum process in the municipalities - participants;
- Coordinates the activities regarding the conduct of the Forum sessions;
- Provides logistic and expert support to the fora;
- Reports to the Steering Committee about the quality of the Forum process.

For more information:
www.forum-bg.org