Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Creation of a System for Improving the Information
Services for the Citizens and Stimulating their
Participation in Local Government
Municipality of Lovech
Background
In its everyday work the Municipality of Lovech is facing problems originating from the lack of information for the citizens in respect of their constitutional rights and their possibilities for direct participation in the process of local government. The lack of a preliminary established system for providing information to the citizens disables their orientation concerning the types of services offered by the administration.
An survey conducted among 300 citizens shows some of the omissions in the organization and the quality of the provided services. In order to solve these problems an Information Bureau is opened and a Directory of Services and Information for the Citizens is published. Due to the united efforts of the municipal administration and the local NGOs a Citizens Consultative Committee is established and a Cooperation Agreement between local self-government and 19 NGOs is signed.
In its everyday work the Municipality of Lovech is facing problems originating from the lack of information for the citizens in respect of their constitutional rights and their possibilities for direct participation in the process of local government. The lack of a preliminary established system for providing information to the citizens disables their orientation concerning the types of services offered by the administration.
An survey conducted among 300 citizens shows some of the omissions in the organization and the quality of the provided services. In order to solve these problems an Information Bureau is opened and a Directory of Services and Information for the Citizens is published. Due to the united efforts of the municipal administration and the local NGOs a Citizens Consultative Committee is established and a Cooperation Agreement between local self-government and 19 NGOs is signed.
Practice
The aim of the project on Creation of a System for Improving the Information Services for the Citizens and Stimulating Their Participation in the Local Government is to establish sustainable mechanisms for attracting citizens in the discussions of municipal problems. This is primarily achieved by:
- increasing the citizens legal culture;
- enlarging the possibilities for access to information;
- implementing citizens control over the activity of the municipal administration.
The strategy for successful attaining of these goals is developed by the Council of Partners, which consists of three main groups - the first of them deals with citizens, the second - with the popularization of the project`s ideas and the third - with providing information and services.
In order to increase the legal culture of the citizens of the Municipality of Lovech, the municipal administration publishes the Directory of Services and Information for the Citizens. It is divided in several main parts and contains information about:
- structure, powers and responsibilities of the local authority;
- constitutional rights of the citizens;
- catalogue with a list of services provided by the municipal administration;
- list of telephone numbers of the Mayor, municipal councilors, chairman of the municipal council. It is delivered free of charge by the Information Bureau.
The catalogue with the services provided by the municipal administration takes up one-third of the edition. It is also available in an electronic version. Everyone is free to ask for printed information which can be prepared by the Information Bureau.
The Citizens Consultative Committee is established with the assistance of the NGOs and on their proposal. The committee helps the standing committees of the Municipal Council and consists of distinguished citizens. They attend the municipal committees` meetings and have the right to express their opinion in front of the public. The first positive results are achieved during the discussion about Municipal Budget 1999. A new form of citizens control is the Cooperation Agreement. As a result of meetings already held between the partners a municipal fund for financing NGOs` projects is created in the Municipal Budget.
The aim of the project on Creation of a System for Improving the Information Services for the Citizens and Stimulating Their Participation in the Local Government is to establish sustainable mechanisms for attracting citizens in the discussions of municipal problems. This is primarily achieved by:
- increasing the citizens legal culture;
- enlarging the possibilities for access to information;
- implementing citizens control over the activity of the municipal administration.
The strategy for successful attaining of these goals is developed by the Council of Partners, which consists of three main groups - the first of them deals with citizens, the second - with the popularization of the project`s ideas and the third - with providing information and services.
In order to increase the legal culture of the citizens of the Municipality of Lovech, the municipal administration publishes the Directory of Services and Information for the Citizens. It is divided in several main parts and contains information about:
- structure, powers and responsibilities of the local authority;
- constitutional rights of the citizens;
- catalogue with a list of services provided by the municipal administration;
- list of telephone numbers of the Mayor, municipal councilors, chairman of the municipal council. It is delivered free of charge by the Information Bureau.
The catalogue with the services provided by the municipal administration takes up one-third of the edition. It is also available in an electronic version. Everyone is free to ask for printed information which can be prepared by the Information Bureau.
The Citizens Consultative Committee is established with the assistance of the NGOs and on their proposal. The committee helps the standing committees of the Municipal Council and consists of distinguished citizens. They attend the municipal committees` meetings and have the right to express their opinion in front of the public. The first positive results are achieved during the discussion about Municipal Budget 1999. A new form of citizens control is the Cooperation Agreement. As a result of meetings already held between the partners a municipal fund for financing NGOs` projects is created in the Municipal Budget.
Results
The citizens do not waste time when they obtain the municipal services they need. The information can be received through the Information Bureau or through the Directory of Services and Information. Another important result is the achieving of transparency and open dialogue with the citizens and NGOs. This process is helped by the Citizens Consultative Committee and by the agreement for cooperation signed between the local NGOs, local government and citizens. This leads to strengthening of the mutual trust because the citizens understand that their position is clearly defined and their responsibilities - higher and more important.
The citizens do not waste time when they obtain the municipal services they need. The information can be received through the Information Bureau or through the Directory of Services and Information. Another important result is the achieving of transparency and open dialogue with the citizens and NGOs. This process is helped by the Citizens Consultative Committee and by the agreement for cooperation signed between the local NGOs, local government and citizens. This leads to strengthening of the mutual trust because the citizens understand that their position is clearly defined and their responsibilities - higher and more important.
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