In January - February 2005 the FLGR team visited a series of municipalities aiming at selecting participants in the implementation of the third phase of Improving the Social Environment Program (2004 - 2006), with the financial support of Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. After a profound discussion to what extent the Program priorities are relevant to the priorities of municipalities as being presented in the course of the meetings, the decision to invite municipalities Belovo, Bobovdol, Ihtiman, Kostenetz, Sapareva Banya to take part in the implementation of the two-year programme was made. Five more municipalities from the second Program phase - Bratzigovo, Godech, Kresna, Peshtera and Strumyani - will also participate in the third Program phase.

In the forthcoming months and after undertaking needs assessment actions regarding municipal staff, training seminars will be carried out, and project proposals to improve the social environment in correspondence with the specifics of each participant municipality will be developed.

FLGR is thankful to municipal administrations and mayors for the time spared to meet FLGR representatives in the survey process.