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“Svishtov: A Community-Based Investment Program for Municipal Development,” Technical Assistance for Capital Investment Strategy in Svishtov, Bulgaria, 2002

Abstract

A 2002 report “Svishtov: A Community-Based Investment Program for Municipal Development” addressed the capital investment strategy in Svishtov, Bulgaria, involving an implementation strategy designed to encouraged financial partnerships among civic groups, the private sector, and the municipality to address city-wide and neighborhood improvement priorities.

Based on this initiative, the Svishtov municipality received a 2004 award from the Conrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany for innovations in Bulgarian municipalities. The initiative was also featured in a 2007 World Bank publication on participatory budgeting (Anwar Shah, ed).


[Excerpt: Introduction, “Svishtov: A Community-Based Investment Program, p.2]

“In Bulgaria, the current investment planning process for municipalities, regions and the central government is not able to mobilize the financing that is so desperately needed for municipal investments nor effectively leveraging local resources. Many municipal projects submitted for funding from central and regional sources are not funded and remain on waiting lists for a considerable period. This has a direct impact on citizen participation in the planning and budgeting process. Citizens are often unsure if their participation will prove meaningful. The lack of meaningful participation at the local level is often a result of a feeling that “nobody will listen to us.” Additionally, local authorities feel frustrated because regional and national projects that have a significant impact on local development policies are carried out with little consultation from local authorities.”

“Tight municipal budgets and an increasing demand for improved services among residents and businesses is leading to new public/private partnerships that focus on mobilizing community-based resources to improve the urban environment. This places a challenge to the local governments to integrate effective and sustainable participation of the local communities and businesses in improving the quality of the living environment.”

“This case study describes initiative currently underway in Svishtov to develop a community based investment program. The program is suitable for smaller municipalities that can fund local programs from their own resources and can mobilize external funds for community-based activities. The methodology concentrates on developing a more responsive planning system for community based programs that complements the existing investment process that is primarily oriented towards larger scale projects. While elements of the community-based investment program are specific to Svishtov such as project selection criteria that reflect the programs that are a priority for the municipality, the process can be adopted to other municipalities.”

Project Year:2002
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:Svishtov, Bulgaria
Reports:



Authors:John Driscoll; Marianna Eneva; Anna Laskowska
Sponsors:RTI International; USAID
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:2002_03_001
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IEP 2000-2001: Seminar on Urban Planning and Local Economic Development for Romania (UPLED), for Oradea, Iasi and Focșani, Romania, International Education Programs, 2001

Abstract

CUDS developed an International Education Program (IEP) seminar for the Romanian Urban Planning and Local Economic Development Program (UPLED), in 2000 and 2001 in Romania. The programs assisted the three Cities of Oradea, Iași, and Focșani to formulate city development strategies and adopt improved urban management practices in support of local economic development in Romania.

The seminar from September 19-23, 2001 for the City of Oradea was organized in association with the Research Triangle Institute Romania and the USAID Local Government Assistance Program, with support from the Open Society Foundation and Partners Foundation for Local Development.

The seminar from March 20-23, 2001 for the City of Iași, Romania was co-organized by the City Iasi and Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Center for Urban Development Studies, in Association with The Research Triangle Institute, and the USAID Local Government Assistance Program.

Documents include these seminar materials, and a letter from the Mayor of Iași to the USAID Mission Director regarding the UPLED seminar, and case studies.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2000-2001
Project Type:IEP; Education
Geographic Regions:Romania (Oradea, Iași, and Focșani)
Reports:
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Authors:David Jones; François Vigier; John Driscoll; Liviu Ianasi, Alexandru Sandu; Georgeta Stirbu; Adrian Cuperman; Cristina Costin; Carmen Grosu; Sorin Caian; Katalin Pallai; Viorica Serbu; Ion Oancea; Mircea Grigorovschi; Victor Giosan; Daniela Olaru; Violeta Balica; Robert Kehew; Oradea Mayor Petru Filip; Tanase Miculescu; Andrei Krausz; Andrei Luncan; Claudia Pamfil
Sponsors:RTI International; USAID Local Government Assistance Program; Open Society Foundation; Partners Foundation for Local Developement
Categories:International Education Program; Executive Training Program; Education
  
ID:2001_03_001

Related I2UD Projects

The International Training Programs (ITP) began in 1982, as 2-4 week long summer seminars held by the Unit for Housing and Urbanization (Harvard University) in Cambridge, MA. ITP curriculums were designed to strengthen the decision-making skills of senior professionals in public and private agencies responsible for urban development.

The I2UD Digital Library holds curriculum materials for ITPs from 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998:

The tradition of ITPs continued after 2000, when CUDS (a re-organization of the Unit) continued training seminars as “International Education Programs” (IEP) from 2000-2004:

Programs included inter-linked modules, lectures, case studies, interactive computer simulation models, site visits to urban projects, discussion groups and networking with professional counterparts from international metropolitan regions. Sessions had a modular format and structured team teaching, taught by a team of senior faculty and guest lecturers. Programs ended with a synthesis presented through a project evaluation exercise. Participants used case projects to examine strategies from the viewpoint of both public and private partners — to assess the feasibility and potential impacts of policies and projects on the community and the city. Presentations by guest speakers representing U.S. and international agencies, NGOs, and community groups were also integrated within the pedagogic framework of each module.

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“Reconnaissance Report: Local Economic Development,” Regional Planning Survey for Bucharest, Romania, 2000

In 2000, John Driscoll and Liviu Ianasi (Assistant Director and Research Affiliate, respectively, at CUDs) produced a survey report on local planning processes in Bucharest, Romania: “Local Economic Development: Reconnaissance Report.” The report proposed a technical assistance and capacity-building program for the Bucharest region. It includes an overview of the program objectives, and a detailed implementation framework, tools to assist USAID and RTI International in planning, prioritizing, and selecting projects to foster local economic development in Romania.


Table of Contents:

– Introduction (p. 2)
– Country and Urban Context (p. 2)
– Linkages Between Economic Development and Urban Planning and Land Management (p. 3)
– Legal and Regulatory Framework for Planning and Land Management (p.p.3)
– Existing Legislation relating to Urban Planning, Land and Economic Development (p. 6)
– Institutional Context Related to Economic Development and Urban Planning (p. 7)
– Municipal Finance and Links to Economic Development (p. 9)
– Proposed Capacity Building Activities (p.10)
– Key Areas of Focus (p. 11)
– Capacity Building Approach (p. 14)
– Next Steps (p. 15)
– Framework for Capacity Building and Highlighting Changes for Legislative Action (p. 16)

– Annex 1. Standard Outline for GUP and Regulations (p. 23)
– Annex 2. Organizational Chart—Municipal Government (p. 27)
– Annex 3. Meetings and contacts during the Mission (p. 28)
– Annex 4 NARD Funding by Source (p. 30)

Project Year:2000
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:Bucharest, Romania
Reports:
Local Economic Development Reconnaissance Report: (March 2000)
Authors:John Driscoll; Liviu Ianasi
Sponsors:RTI International; USAID
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2000_02_001