LLocal ocal AAgendagenda 21 21 and EU Funds and EU Funds Slovak experiencesSlovak experiences

Milan ChrenkoMilan Chrenko

UNDP/Capacity 2015 UNDP/Capacity 2015 BratislavaBratislava

United Nations Development Programme

StructureStructure

BackgroundBackground on Slovakia on Slovakia

UNDP support to UNDP support to preparation of preparation of strategic development plans strategic development plans (LA21)(LA21)

Case Case study study - Pod Panskym dielom- Pod Panskym dielom

Conclusions & RecommendationsConclusions & Recommendations

BackgroundBackground

May 2004 - Slovak Republic member May 2004 - Slovak Republic member of European Unionof European UnionLocal governments influenced byLocal governments influenced by– Political changesPolitical changes

Local governemnts, Local governemnts, DecentralizationDecentralizationNew challenges for New challenges for local governmentslocal governments

– Accession to European UnionAccession to European UnionLegislation & implementationLegislation & implementation

– Civil society, public participationCivil society, public participation

Strategic planning at the local Strategic planning at the local levellevelConstraints Constraints

InstitutionalInstitutional– Fragmented Fragmented

municipalitiesmunicipalities– Lack of capacities & Lack of capacities &

skillsskills and and expertsexperts– Prevailing short term Prevailing short term

activitiesactivities

FinancialFinancial– Centralized support Centralized support

mechanismsmechanisms– Vertically distributed Vertically distributed

according to ministriesaccording to ministries– Absent at local level Absent at local level

OpportunitiesOpportunitiesFormal institutional & legal Formal institutional & legal background – NSSD, background – NSSD, various policiesvarious policiesExisting methodologies Existing methodologies Increasing number of Increasing number of trained peopletrained peopleLocal & regional Local & regional partnershipspartnershipsVarious grant schemesVarious grant schemes

UNDP approach - Regions 21UNDP approach - Regions 21

ObjectivesObjectives

To build capacities for development of To build capacities for development of strategic plans (LA 21)strategic plans (LA 21)

To strengthen cooperation among Slovak To strengthen cooperation among Slovak rural/disadvantaged municipalities and in rural/disadvantaged municipalities and in particular their various stakeholdersparticular their various stakeholders

To strengthen the municipal capacities to To strengthen the municipal capacities to use EU Structural Funds for use EU Structural Funds for implementation of LA 21implementation of LA 21

Regions 21 - ComponentsRegions 21 - Components

Assessment of existing international and Assessment of existing international and national frameworks supporting national frameworks supporting implementation of LA 21implementation of LA 21

Support to 6 micro-regions to develop and Support to 6 micro-regions to develop and start implementation of LA 21 start implementation of LA 21 ($ 9000 each + $ 1800 co-financing)($ 9000 each + $ 1800 co-financing)

Awareness raising campaign for Awareness raising campaign for municipalities on principles of sustainable municipalities on principles of sustainable development, strategic planning and EU development, strategic planning and EU funds – series of conferences, workshops & funds – series of conferences, workshops & trainingstrainings

Local Agenda 21 in SlovakiaLocal Agenda 21 in Slovakia

Micro-region Pod Panskym Micro-region Pod Panskym dielomdielom

Created in 2000, 7 rural municipalities, Created in 2000, 7 rural municipalities, 8500 inhabitants, 8500 inhabitants, territory 112 km2 territory 112 km2

Main activities aimed onMain activities aimed on– Support of civic associations, citizens and Support of civic associations, citizens and

building informal partnership within the micro-building informal partnership within the micro-region supported by micro-grant programregion supported by micro-grant program

– Strengthening municipal capacities to utilize Strengthening municipal capacities to utilize EU Structural Funds via preparation of LA 21 EU Structural Funds via preparation of LA 21 supported by elaboration of Action Plansupported by elaboration of Action Plan

Micro-grant programMicro-grant program

Support of voluntary activities of citizens in municipalities Support of voluntary activities of citizens in municipalities of the micro-regionof the micro-region To encourage local people to participate in the To encourage local people to participate in the development of the LA 21development of the LA 21

To emphasize the link between planning and To emphasize the link between planning and implementation phase to citizensimplementation phase to citizens

30 projects proposed, 21 supported - total support 30 projects proposed, 21 supported - total support approx. € 10 000 (50% co-financing from municipalities)approx. € 10 000 (50% co-financing from municipalities)– Supported activities - e.g. course of folk crafts, folk events, Supported activities - e.g. course of folk crafts, folk events,

educational, cultural and sport events, re-construction of educational, cultural and sport events, re-construction of buildings, protection of the environmentbuildings, protection of the environment

Regions 21 - ResultsRegions 21 - Results

Developed capacities for elaboration of strategic Developed capacities for elaboration of strategic documents based on participatory approachdocuments based on participatory approach

Support of activities of the micro-regions, Support of activities of the micro-regions, implementation of small scale project supported by implementation of small scale project supported by their own resourcestheir own resources

Raised awareness on LA 21 - Methodology developed Raised awareness on LA 21 - Methodology developed and used in other regions of Slovakiaand used in other regions of Slovakia

Strengthened capacities for use of financial resources Strengthened capacities for use of financial resources from the EU funds for implementation of strategic from the EU funds for implementation of strategic plansplans

UNDP roleUNDP role

Influencing the development towards Influencing the development towards sustainability with the help of EU fundssustainability with the help of EU funds– Trainings on participatory strategic planning, Trainings on participatory strategic planning,

(stakeholders)(stakeholders)– Project development and implementationProject development and implementation– Support to local leaders - by methodologies, Support to local leaders - by methodologies,

contacts and external experts/partnerscontacts and external experts/partners– Cross municipal cooperationCross municipal cooperation– Link between planning and implementation Link between planning and implementation

(Micro-grant programs, EU funds)(Micro-grant programs, EU funds)

Don’t forget…Don’t forget…

To involve national governments, To involve national governments, municipal associationsmunicipal associations

EU funds are the tool not the aim!EU funds are the tool not the aim!

Thank you!Thank you!