The Foundation for Local Government Reform published Project Cycle Management Guidelines, the newest European Commission publication developed by the European Aid Cooperation Office (EuropeAID) in March, 2004.

This publication is yet another step in FLGR s targeted efforts to provide ongoing support to the representatives of local and regional administrations, the national government, non-governmental and business organizations and training institutions in the development and management of quality projects and programs funded by the European Union and other donors. To assist them, since 2000 FLGR has been organizing a series of trainings on successful project developed. These efforts were supported by the publication of the 2001 PCM Manual and other educational materials, and by the development of a wide network of specialists in this area.

Based on the experience accumulated in its previous versions, the current Project Cycle Management Guidelines provide much more detailed and clear information on European Commission's requirements on quality, evaluation methods and the overall management of programs and projects. The Guidelines have 160 pages and will be made available to all Bulgarian municipalities.

Part I is dedicated to the European Commission's aid development policy, the essence of the project approach and the project cycle stages.

Part II presents the logical framework approach and its effective use for monitoring, evaluation and management of programs and projects. A special attention is given to the participation and process facilitation principles. The guidelines incorporate many examples, layouts of basic documents and useful project cycle management tools.