Project Local Government in Focus
Project: Local Government in Focus, Grant Agreement No. BEE.1095.20230825 from 15.12.2023, funded by the AMERICA FOR BULGARIA FOUNDATION
Implementation period: 36 months, starting from the date of signing the Grant Agreement No. BEE.1095.20230825
Increasing the transparency and accountability of election promises and commitments of candidates for mayors and municipal councilors.
Active involvement of citizens in the process of local governance and decision-making.
Building a bridge between elected representatives and citizens by providing a communication channel for dialogue and feedback
The project offers several solutions to the described problems in the context of the local elections held in Bulgaria in 2023:
The project will collect the promises of the candidates for mayors and municipal councilors in the municipalities: Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad and Stambolovo. This will enable the local population to get to know the promises of the elected representatives in one place and critically evaluate them. The project includes a survey among the local population to discuss with the local population the real problems faced by the communities in the respective municipalities. This information will be used to prepare proposals for inclusion in the municipal development program.
After the mayors and municipal councilors are elected, the municipal councils are structured and operational, the project will monitor the implementation of the promises made during the pre-election campaign. This will increase the accountability and transparency of the elected representatives and allow citizens to assess whether they are actually addressing the challenges facing the municipalities.
The project will conduct a post-election sociological survey to explore citizens’ impressions and their interpretation of the election results. This will enable a citizen evaluation of the electoral process and support the analysis of the democratic legitimacy of the elected representatives.
The creation of training modules for the elected municipal councilors will provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective management and representation of citizens’ interests. This will help the better functioning of municipal institutions and the implementation of policies aimed at the welfare of society.
Combined, these activities will contribute to a better electoral process and strengthening the democratic participation of citizens, which in turn can improve the work of municipal institutions and stimulate the development of the private sector in the respective areas.
Activities:
Activity 1 : Upgrading the functionalities of the platform https://hs-tenders.haskovo.org/ and publishing the results of each project activity at: https://hs-tenders.haskovo.org/localinfocus/
Activity 2: Collecting the promises of the candidates for mayors and municipal councilors in the municipalities of Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad and Stambolovo. Analysis of the results of the elections in these municipalities after the elections and of the commitments made by the winning candidates for mayor and municipal councilors.
Activity 3: Post-election sociological survey in the municipalities of Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad and Stambolovo to identify community problems in the said municipalities and prepare recommendations for the inclusion of specific projects and solutions in strategic documents for the development of the respective municipality.
Activity 4: Academy for elected municipal councilors.
Activity 5: Monitoring of the implementation of the commitments made during the pre-election campaign by the elected mayors and municipal councilors in the municipalities: Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad and Stambolovo.
Results:
Upgrading the functionalities of the platform https://hs-tenders.haskovo.org/ and publishing the results of each project activity.
Collected promises of the candidates for mayors and municipal councilors in 4 municipalities of Haskovo region
Report of a post-election sociological survey conducted in the municipalities of Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad and Stambolovo to identify community problems in the 4 municipalities. Preparation of a report with recommendations for the inclusion of specific projects and solutions in strategic documents for the development of the respective municipality.
Organized and conducted trainings for municipal councilors in the municipalities in Haskovo region.
Training materials developed and distributed.
Monitoring of the implementation of the commitments made during the pre-election campaign by the elected mayors and municipal councilors in the municipalities of Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad and Stambolovo.
Media publications in electronic media/information sites – information about the project, publication of a summary of the analyses, etc.
Engaged 2 coordinators in connection with the implementation of project activities.
“Support for the Grantee Regional Municipalities Association „Maritza“ is provided by the America for Bulgaria Foundation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the Grantee Regional Municipalities Association „Maritza“ and do not necessarily reflect the views of the America for Bulgaria Foundation or its affiliates”
The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonpolitical American grant-making foundation working in partnership with Bulgarians to strengthen the country’s private sector and related democratic institutions.
ABF builds on the success of the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund, an investment fund created in 1991 by the U.S. Congress with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development. For more information, please visit www.us4bg.org
