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DANUBE RIVER INITIATIVE FLGR PROGRAM FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES

QUARTERLY REPORT

for the period May - July 2000

prepared by

the Foundation for Local Government Reform

for

The United States Agency for International Development Award No. 183-G-OO-99-00109-00

I QUARTERLY PROGRAM PERFORMANCE REPORT

Danube River Initiative

1. Introduction

During the reporting period the FLGR Program for the Danube municipalities has entered into its implementation phase. The financing of the small-scale infrastructure projects has started. The Citizens centers for information and services, the Municipal development centers and the Tourist center are being developed. The FLGR team has provided the requested and necessary technical assistance to all the municipalities. The NGO projects have started their implementation stage.

II. Activities

A. Development ofRegional Strategies

The two expert teams have made working visit to all municipalities of Rousse and Regions. They have developed questionnaires in order to collect the necessary information on the economic and social conditions. The experts met and interviewed representatives of all municipal administrations, regional governors' offices, local businesses, media, universities, NGOs, etc. The information is analyzed and used for developing the regional strategies. The experts introduced their work to the Regional Development Councils of Rousse and Pleven. In the end of June the strategy draft of Rousse region was presented to the Regional Development Council.

B. Grants

There are four types of grants that the FLGR distributed under DRI program.

o Grants for small infrastructure projects

After the preparation of all legal documents, the approved 9 small-scale infrastructure projects from the municipalities of Novo selo, Lom, Vulchedrum, , , , Borovo, , entered into their implementation phase. The process began with signing of the contracts for financing between FLGR and each municipality. On that basis the municipalities have organized public tenders to choose the construction companies to implement the projects. By mid July all of the contracts with the construction companies have been concluded. Having received the necessary financing from FLGR, the

2 construction works have begun in all of the municipalities by 20th of July. However, in some place the implementation have started even in the second half of June. By the end of the reporting period, 50% of the construction works in Novo selo, Borovo and Vulchedrum have been done. o Grants for Citizens Centers for Information and Services

FLGR has signed agreements in early May with all four municipalities of Rousse, , and . The DR! FLGR team has organized a tender for the delivery of the necessary equipment for the proper functioning of the centers. The tender was successfully accomplished and a contract with the supply company was made. By the end of August all equipment reached to be ready for distribution in September. Both operational and applied software was purchased according to the needs of each of the centers.

In addition the FLGR team has provided on-site consultations to the four municipalities. By the end of the reporting period in all of the centers the renovation works of the designated spaces have been under way, in some cases nearing their finish. o Grants for Municipal Development Centers

FLGR has signed contracts for establishing of Municipal Development Centers in Nikopol, and Dolna Mitropolia. Despite some difficulties during the legal establishment and court registration of the centers, the implementation have started. The DR! FLGR team made several visits to each of these municipalities to provide technical assistance. The team observed the process of recruiting the staff of the centers. The newly appointed staff attended a two-day training in organized by FLGR on 10-11 July. They were acquainted with the main activities and functions of MOe. Some judicial and accountancy issues were also discussed. o Grants for Tourist Info Centers

In the beginning of June an agreement was signed with the municipality of Ivanovo for the development of a Tourist information center. Our team have help the local authorities to choose the executive director of the center. The executive director also attended the training in Stara Zagora. A tender was held for selection of a construction company for the renovation of the center's premises. o Grants to NGOs

FLGR has signed 8 contracts with NGOs from the Danube river region:

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• The Women's Union - the village of Iskra, Sitovo municipality has started the renovation of the playground in the local kindergarten. • The School Committee in the village of Goliamo Vranovo, municipality has started the renovation the local watchtower. • The Bulgarian Women Union - Silistra has launched the renovation works of the city's "Danube" park • The sport-tourist club "Academic" - Rousse commenced the development of tourist routes in the "Roussenski Lorn" park in the municipality of Ivanovo • "European Space 21" - Rousse develops a multi-media product to introduce the organizational structure of the municipal administration in Rousse • Club "Vidin's Friends" - Vidin began the construction works of a children playground in the riverside area • The community center "Zemedelets"- Novo selo have accomplished a number of ecological initiatives • The Association of Danube river municipalities "Danube" has started a thorough research of socio-economic conditions in the region

By the end of the reporting period the NGO projects have entered into the third project month and all of them are proceeding with their activities as planned.

III. Participation in DRI Implementation Organizations meetings

FLGR is an active member of DR! Implementation Organizations Synergy Meetings. The DRI FLGR team has participated in all of the meetings by now. During the reporting period, the DRI partners mainly dealt with discussions on the Monthly Reports, the Key Events Calendar, the Matrix, and the new Map (showing the distribution of ros activities across the Danube River region). The Monthly Report and Key Events Calendar have been admitted as becoming more informative and useful with each passing month.

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