Increased citizen activity and participation of women and ethnical groups in local level decision making - FINISHED UP

published on 08 June 2009

The project was elaborated by Balkan Assist and financed under the program "European initiative for democracy and human rights" of the EU in 2002

Main Goal:
Stimulate public dialogue and citizen participation in the municipalities of Omurtag and Levski by guaranteeing gender and ethnical equality in discussing significant problems and decision making using the approach Civil Forum.

Sub Goals:
- Increase citizen participation in decision-making processes in the municipalities of Omurtag and Levski

- Establish gender equality and equal possibilities for the various ethnical groups in the decision-making processes in the two municipalities.

- Change citizen participation awareness in the community: the public authorities in the two municipalities agree to let citizens in, and the citizens are more active and prepared.

Content and Encompass of the Project:
The project allows women and representatives of various ethnical groups to address recommendations to the local authorities and participate equally in the decision-making processes; further on they prepare specific proposals for solving the problems. This is achieved through the conduct of open public fora where local problems formulated by the participants are discussed. All Forum members are equal and can share his opinion. Specific techniques are applied in the project to guarantee gender and ethnical equality. The Forum operated on a consensus basis and when conflicts occur, win-to-win solutions are sought.

The project is implemented in the municipalities of Omurtag and Levski. Nevertheless Balkan Assist’s objective is the project results have a national impact and serve as a basis for multiplication in other municipalities with similar problems.

Partners of association "Balkan Assist":
BA is a leading partner, responsible for the successful project implementation, providing experts, offering methodological support and training to the local partners.

The local partners are the Danube River Municipalities Association and Khan Omutrag Association. They are responsible for the implementation of the forum activities: conduct surveys of the necessities and expectations, organize the forum sessions, inform the media and the participants.