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What's Being Done On . . . Strengthening Local Governance ?
Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) - Albania www.aiis-albania.org Contact: aiis@icc.al.eu.org The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) is a think tank that formulates practical policy recommendations in the fields of politics, national security, and local government in Albania. The Institute has been conducting a research and advocacy program which encourages greater accountability and transparency of local government by increasing citizens' involvement in the decision-making process in their communities. The centerpiece of the project is a policy paper, which identifies the main challenges facing communities in improving democratic structures and practices at the local level and offers recommendations on overcoming these challenges. The paper is being developed with the input of local officials, civil society representatives, and the general public through a series of roundtables and town hall meetings. After the document is completed, it will be circulated in the policymaking communities-Parliament, Ministry of Local Government, and the Mayors' Association-to advocate the implementation of the recommendations. Center for Social Projecting "Vozrozhdenie" - Russia Contact: center@ellink.ru The Center for Social Projecting "Vozrozhdenie" promotes democratic reform and supports citizen initiatives in Pskov' oblast. The Center conducts a public information campaign and public meetings that provide voters with increased awareness of legislators' activities and offers them the opportunity to interact directly with their elected representatives in the regional legislature. The Center also carries out research into public opinion about the regional legislature and publishes articles about legislative election campaigns. Europe XXI Foundation - Ukraine http://www.europexxi.kiev.ua/index0.html The Europe XXI Foundation's goal is to promote the integration of Ukraine into the European Union as a means of supporting the development of Ukrainian democracy. One of the Foundation's programs targets NGO leaders, local governments, and local non-elected officials in order to improve both the "supply side" of openness and accountability on the part of government officials and the "demand side" of knowledge and advocacy skills on the part of civil society representatives. It carries out a series of one-day training workshops on advocacy and public hearing skills for local government officials and NGO representatives in four regions of Ukraine. It also prepared a policy paper with further recommendations for strengthening accountability and openness that was distributed to local government bodies, NGOs, the media, and scholars. Federación Colombiana de Municipios (Colombian Federation of Municipalities) - Colombia http://www.municipios.org.co/ Contact: fecolmun@colnodo.org.co The Colombian Federation of Municipalities seeks to promote institutional strengthening at the local level and improve municipal administration, including the efficient delivery of services. The Federation implemented a project to improve the transparency and efficiency of local government by conducting research on anti-corruption programs and policies focusing on local public administration. The Federation has formulated an Action Plan, containing both reforms and implementation strategies, which were distributed to the general public and to mayors by way of a series of training seminars and pilot programs targeting five regions of the country. Fundación Información y Democracia (FIDAC) (Information and Democracy Foundation) - Mexico http://www.fidac.org.mx/ Contact: dirección@fidac.org.mx The Fundación Información y Democracia (FIDAC) has the mission of promoting democratic reform of the laws affecting freedom of expression and freedom of information. FIDAC conducts training and public education campaigns to support reform of the laws governing access to public information. FIDAC trains federal and state legislators, judges, journalists and civil society activists on the legal, political, and ethical aspects of access to public information. The objective of the training is to generate an informed debate among relevant legislators working on the issue in federal and state legislatures, and to promote a coalition in support of the reform among journalists, academics, jurists, and civil society activists. Fundación Justicia de Paz del Estado Monagas (Justice Foundation of Peace of Monagas State) - Venezuela Contact: marlene_r18@hotmail.com The Fundación Justicia de Paz del Estado Monagas is committed to issues of local justice. The Fundación is working in 32 communities in the state of Monagas to create local roundtables to initiate dialogue among local political actors. These roundtables bring together local community leaders, local government councilors, federal and state deputies, mayors, and local citizens to discuss basic policy issues. The goal is to maintain a fluid dialogue among local actors from different political sides about governance and current events. Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) - Albania Contact: shroni@sanx.net The Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) works to strengthen the civic sector in Albania and improve the leadership and communication skills of civic activists at the local level. IDM recently implemented a program aimed at increasing the level of trust between citizens and law enforcement officials locally. The program included a series of town hall meetings, distribution of educational materials to citizens, roundtable discussions, and a national conference. It also worked with the MPO, members of Parliament and local police departments to establish Police-Community Relations Committees in towns throughout Albania. The aim of the program was to increase transparency, accountability, and efficiency of Albania's law enforcement agencies. Medias pour la Paix (MPLP) - Democratic Republic of Congo Contact: mediaspourlapaix@hotmail.com Medias pour la Paix implemented a campaign of education, information, and mobilization that aimed to foster a sense of responsibility among local residents and officials for improving the state of governance. MPLP organized a national conference that brought together representatives from eleven regions to help define an agenda for improving governance by making local officials accountable, both locally and nationally. Issues addressed included lack of government oversight laws, competence of government officials, and budget and accounting mechanisms. Open Society-New Kutaisi - Georgia Contact: newkutaisi@hotmail.com The Open Society-New Kutaisi assists in socio-economic development and civil society building in Georgia. It implements a program to encourage local citizens in one region of Georgia to take advantage of their rights to information about and participation in local budgeting. The program includes the publishing of information concerning the local budget and budgetary process; seminars for local political and NGO leaders to increase transparency of the process; installation of mechanisms to facilitate public input into the process; and recommendations for replicating the project in other regions of Georgia. St. Petersburg Humanity and Political Studies Center "Strategy" - Russia http://www.strategy-spb.ru/ Contact: strateg@strateg.spb.su The St. Petersburg Humanity and Political Studies Center "Strategy" promotes the development of civil society in St. Petersburg and the northwest region of Russia. The Strategy Center works to examine corruption in two regions of Russia, Arkhangelskaya and Murmanskaya oblasts. It carries out research, holds workshops and conferences for NGO leaders and local and regional self-government officials, and presents a series of recommendations to the legislators of both regions. This program raises public awareness about the issue of corruption and the means to prevent it. About "What's Being Done On . . . " For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889. |
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