Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Citizens` Telephone Project - innovative practices and techniques
Regional Club - BAFECR
Background
In order to keep their leading role in the process of strengthening democracy and development of the civil society, non-governmental organizations should clarify the specific information technologies they are going to use in their everyday work. In February 1997 in order to be able to move with the times , the Regional Club of BAFECR - Veliko Turnovo started a project called Activation of the Role of Regional Means of Mass Communication for Citizens Control and Transparency in the Activity of Local Government and Regional Administration, which is now more popular with the name Citizens` Telephone Project. The project is implemented with the financial support of the Institute for Sustainable Communities through the Democracy Network Program.
In order to keep their leading role in the process of strengthening democracy and development of the civil society, non-governmental organizations should clarify the specific information technologies they are going to use in their everyday work. In February 1997 in order to be able to move with the times , the Regional Club of BAFECR - Veliko Turnovo started a project called Activation of the Role of Regional Means of Mass Communication for Citizens Control and Transparency in the Activity of Local Government and Regional Administration, which is now more popular with the name Citizens` Telephone Project. The project is implemented with the financial support of the Institute for Sustainable Communities through the Democracy Network Program.
Practice
The main aims of the project are:
implementation of an innovative mechanisms system for improving the relationship between citizens, media and local government in the process of solving the problems of the Municipality of Veliko Turnovo;
citizens` education and training in respect of the local problems and their rights and duties according to the present legislation;
citizens participation in the activity of local government;
citizens control over the municipal administration activity with the assistance of the local non-governmental organizations;
providing information for the citizens about the municipal activity and its specifics;
establishment of objective and impartial media through their direct participation in the project implementation;
aspiration for transparency and publicity in the activity of the local government and local administrations.
Main activities and techniques in the implementation of the project:
Citizens Telephone - computerized telephone, which records the questions, opinions and the proposals of the citizens. Specially designed software processes the records and forwards them to the relevant administration. The calls already processed are regularly updated and added to the main database.
Sociological research - directed towards the main problems within the project.
Independent journalist research - media is given the opportunity to do researches of its own based on the calls and the problems stated by the citizens.
Municipal informational network - telecommunication between the partners engaged in the project and a database created to be used by citizens, companies and organizations.
Newsletter - an operative system for informational service to the citizens on relevant administrative orders.
Open Studios - a new form of building dialogue between the citizens and the local administration, realized through the media. There are three main groups of studios, formed in the process of project implementation: educational, thematic and answers of citizens` questions. Out of a total of 1190 questions, the open studios answered 987 of them. Forty-four such open studios were held.
Map of the problems - graphic representation of the main problems of the town.
Project promotion and media coverage.
The main aims of the project are:
implementation of an innovative mechanisms system for improving the relationship between citizens, media and local government in the process of solving the problems of the Municipality of Veliko Turnovo;
citizens` education and training in respect of the local problems and their rights and duties according to the present legislation;
citizens participation in the activity of local government;
citizens control over the municipal administration activity with the assistance of the local non-governmental organizations;
providing information for the citizens about the municipal activity and its specifics;
establishment of objective and impartial media through their direct participation in the project implementation;
aspiration for transparency and publicity in the activity of the local government and local administrations.
Main activities and techniques in the implementation of the project:
Citizens Telephone - computerized telephone, which records the questions, opinions and the proposals of the citizens. Specially designed software processes the records and forwards them to the relevant administration. The calls already processed are regularly updated and added to the main database.
Sociological research - directed towards the main problems within the project.
Independent journalist research - media is given the opportunity to do researches of its own based on the calls and the problems stated by the citizens.
Municipal informational network - telecommunication between the partners engaged in the project and a database created to be used by citizens, companies and organizations.
Newsletter - an operative system for informational service to the citizens on relevant administrative orders.
Open Studios - a new form of building dialogue between the citizens and the local administration, realized through the media. There are three main groups of studios, formed in the process of project implementation: educational, thematic and answers of citizens` questions. Out of a total of 1190 questions, the open studios answered 987 of them. Forty-four such open studios were held.
Map of the problems - graphic representation of the main problems of the town.
Project promotion and media coverage.
Results
A pilot system for closing the chain: setting the problems - making decisions - popularization of decisions and activities - citizens control over their implementation is created and established as a result of all project activities.
Some of the most important problems and issues in the following fields had been solved:
distribution of the EC relief funds;
elimination of some of the most frequent mistakes in the work of the local administration;
observing the rules and laws of the municipality;
solution of the existing public utilities problems, such as public lighting, public transport, communications, heating, etc.
The citizens of Veliko Turnovo are given the opportunity to participate in the discussion and the solution of municipal problems. Local media also take part in the project implementation. The responsibility and the efficiency of the decisions made are highly improved.
A pilot system for closing the chain: setting the problems - making decisions - popularization of decisions and activities - citizens control over their implementation is created and established as a result of all project activities.
Some of the most important problems and issues in the following fields had been solved:
distribution of the EC relief funds;
elimination of some of the most frequent mistakes in the work of the local administration;
observing the rules and laws of the municipality;
solution of the existing public utilities problems, such as public lighting, public transport, communications, heating, etc.
The citizens of Veliko Turnovo are given the opportunity to participate in the discussion and the solution of municipal problems. Local media also take part in the project implementation. The responsibility and the efficiency of the decisions made are highly improved.
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