Council of Europe

COUNTRY SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING
 

Activities in 2011
 
The Centre of Expertise, together with NAMCB, organized  in April a Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Leadership Academy Programme and two sessions of the Leadership Academy Programme
During the training, the NAMCB (Bulgarian national association of municipal clerks) were introduced to Council of Europe LAP methodology
A Regional Conference in Borovets (7-8 July) on Local Finance and Economic Crisis was organised with the support of NAMRB and funding from the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative (LGI).
Meeting with Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development  on ELoGE. Accreditation dossier was prepared and accreditation was awarded.

Key outcomes in 2011
 
European Label for Innovation and Good Governance – ELOGE : accreditation dossier prepared and accepted
Conference on the effects of economic crisis on Bulgarian local government units
 

Activities in 2010

Technical support to Bulgaria

Aim
Assist with delivering the ELoGE (European Label of Governance Excellence) label.

Outcome
Bulgarian application was successful,
Bulgaria was the first member State to be accredited by the Council of Europe Stakeholders' Platform to award EloGE.
First labels were awarded to 13 municipalities in 2011 :

Kirkovo, Pernik, Dobrich, Targovishte, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad, Liaskovec,
Svishtov, Smolian, Stolichna Obshtina, Karlovo, Dolna Bania and Kneja.

Leadership Academy Programme

Aim
To improve the institutional leadership capacity of local authorities through improved leadership skills of their elected and appointed officials and through leadership tools given to local ownership.

Previous activities

Leadership Benchmark, Performance Management, Financial Management Benchmarking

Activities
Pilot Leadership benchmark project based on Peer Reviews and a Self-Assessment process
In co-operation with: National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria (NAMRB)
   -  Date: 2003-2006

NAMRB provided assistance for the implementation of the Peer Review programmes in North-West Russia and Croatia.
  - Date: 2006

Piloting of a performance management programme, focusing on local economic development and communications.
   - Date: 2007
   - In co-operation:NAMRB
   - Participant pilot muncipalities: Ruse, Kurdjali, Strumiani, Dobrich, Gabrovo and Pazardjik.

a full road test/ first implementation of the new tool on Benchmarking Local Finance.
   -  Date: 2007
   -  Partners: the Open Society Institute and the Council of Europe

Follow-up to the Performance Management programme in local economic development and communications (completed in early 2008)
   -  Date: 2008-2009

Preparation of the ground for implementing the Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance (the Strategy).
   - Date: 2008-2009