KS’ International Projects 2016 Annual Report KOMMUNESEKTORENS ORGANISASJON 3 The Norwegian Association of Local And Regional Authorities About KS’ International Projects KS INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS KS International Projects is the international In the outgoing EEA Grants period (2009- unit of The Norwegian Association for Local 2014) KS was Donor Programme Partner and Regional Authorities (KS). The unit (DPP) for capacity-building and institutional receives support from the Norwegian Ministry co-operation in Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) and the European and Lithuania, as well as in the field of Economic Area (EEA) financial mechanisms children and youth at risk in Estonia. through projects and participation in programmes. KS International Projects The next period runs from 2017 until the end consists of five full-time project managers. of 2021, with the possibility of prolonging Professional expertise from other KS staff projects until 2024. The total budget is €2.8 as well as from KS members is drawn into billion. The donor countries and beneficiary the projects when needed. The international states are at the moment negotiating the project unit also co-operates with other individual content of country-specific relevant organisations and ministries in programmes, but it is already clear that About KS International Projects………………………………………………………………………………........ Norway, depending on the focus and theme KS will be a donor programme partner in of the project. Romania and Bulgaria. In Romania, the Preamble.....................……………………………………………………………………………………………… programme has a budget of €70 million, for Project Overview 2016……………………………………………………………………………………………… EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS Local Development and Enhanced Roma PART 1: Review 2016…………………………………………………………………………………………….. Inclusion. In Bulgaria, the budget is €35 The Grants are the contributions of Iceland, million, for Local Development, Poverty Polish-Norwegian Co-operation Platform for Climate and Energy Efficency............................... Liechtenstein and Norway towards reducing Reduction and Enhanced Inclusion of Lithuania: Local action for better air quality and sustainable energy solutions……………..…... economic and social disparities and Vulnerable Groups. KS may also become strengthening bilateral relations with 15 EU a programme partner or project partner in Local self-governance in Georgia……………………………………………………………………... countries in Central and Southern Europe. other countries under the EEA and Norway Public sector mutual exchange programme between Norway and Russia………………............ Through the European Economic Area Grants. Capacity Building and institutional co-operation with Hungary…………………………............... (EEA) Agreement, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are partners in the Internal NORWEGIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN Successful local self-governance capacity building in Latvia………………………….................. Market with the 28 EU member states. The AFFAIRS Ukraine’s future stability and local government………………………………………............…...... countries also share common values and responsibilities with other European countries KS has also received funding from the Decent Work and Tripartite Dialogue in EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021………………........ to promote equality of opportunity, tolerance, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs PART 2: General outlook and EEA and Norway Grants 2014-21……………………………………………. security, environmental sustainability and a (NMFA) for numerous co-operation projects. KS advocacy and involvement in international policy formulation.……………………….………. decent standard of living for all. Funds are set Norway has a solid local government sector aside in all beneficiary countries to support and has a lot to offer in helping build strong Relevance of EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021 to KS’ long-term strategy………………....... networking and foster project partnerships and stable local democracies in partnership on initiatives of mutual interest. The local government associations in other financial mechanisms are organised around countries. KS International Projects have programmes, with pre-defined projects and NMFA-funded projects in several European open calls under each programme. For more states outside the EU. see www.eeagrants.org. 4 Preamble Many programmes and projects Roma inclusion” programmes in funded by EEA and Norway Grants Romania and Bulgaria. We are in the 2009-2014 were finalised in the past loop for partnering in programmes in year. KS contributed as donor other counties and stand ready in due programme partner to five of those course to become project partners in programmes and to a great many selected pre-defined projects relevant projects from which Norwegian local to local governments. New international governments have been able to draw opportunities for our members to share significant knowledge and new and to learn will open up. competencies. Moreover, our member municipalities have gained valuable Municipalities play a vital role in experience from participating in securing safety, dignity and freedom capacity-building activities with for all citizens in Norway. They play a associations or local governments in key role in implementing many national other member states of the Council of policies. The delivery of services by Europe. local bodies controlled by elected as good practice worth studying in order reduce emissions and limit the impact of institutions in good co-ordination to enhance sustainable development in climate change, and thus contribute to 2016 marked the beginning of a with other tiers of government has other countries on several occasions in meeting the Sustainable Development new EEA and Norway Grants period proven to be an effective, efficient and 2016. Goals’ environmental targets. (2014-2021), with the EU and donors sustainable model for prosperity. (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) The Norwegian local government Nationally, KS is working to strengthen KS wants local governments to play in agreeing to allocate to €2.8 billion system therefore provides examples social inclusion. Education and their role in the new International to reducing economic and social of good practice which are relevant knowledge is a key part of preventing Development Agenda 2030. We there- disparities in Europe as well as to and useful to share as part of Norway’s exclusion. Local governments, being fore contribute to building capacity strengthening co-operation with 15 international engagement for sustain- inclusive democratic institutions close for them to better provide quality EU countries in Central and Southern able development. to and mandated by citizens, can services and be accountable for their Europe and the Baltics. Negotiations provide an excellent opportunity to actions. Access to experiences and towards Memoranda of Understanding In the past year, KS actively advocated offer inclusive education and other good practices from other countries with beneficiary states opened from for a stronger role for local government services which will prevent future is helpful. KS is proud to contribute June 2016. Priority sectors and in efforts to achieve the Sustainable exclusion, thus also preventing future to the international development programme areas were agreed after Development Goals. Goal 17 calls increases in social benefit costs. agenda for the benefit of Norwegian extensive consultations in September for stronger partnerships between local governments and their counter- 2016. Romania concluded the first different stakeholders. KS promotes In the Paris Accord on Climate Change parts in other countries and for better beneficiary negotiations and signed its co-operation between different tiers of concluded in 2015, local governments and more easily assessable inclusive agreement in October 2016. government. We represent Norway’s were recognised for their role in both services to citizens around the globe. local governments in formalised the prevention of and adaptation to KS has already been selected as donor consultation with the Norwegian climate change. Local governments in Gunn Marit Helgesen programme partner for “local develop- government. This well-established their function as planners and societal President of KS ment, poverty reduction and enhanced consultation system was put forward developers can help to significantly 6 7 Projects Overview 2016 Country Project Partners Funding to KS Country Project Partners Funding to KS Bulgaria Donor Programme Partner for the programme Technical Assistance Directorate, the Norway Grants Lithuania Pre-defined project for sustainable energy and Association of Local Authorities in Norway Grants Capacity-Building and Institutional Co-operation Council of Ministers of the Republic environmental quality management in local Lithuania between Bulgarian and Norwegian Public of Bulgaria €30 000 for 2016 governments €28 000 for 2016 Institutions, Local and Regional Authorities Bulgaria Strengthening the Capacity of the National Asso- The National Association of Bulgarian Norway Grants Moldova Effective, Consultative and Devolved Governance Congress of Local Governments of NMFA ciation of Bulgarian Municipalities and Bulgarian Municipalities and Regions - NAMRB in Moldova Moldova Municipalities through Co-operation with Norwe- €185 000 for 2009- €190 000 for 2016 gian Local Authorities 2014/16 Poland Building competences for inter-municipal and Association of Polish Cities in co- EEA Grants Estonia Donor Programme Partner for Children and Youth Estonian Ministry of Education