Achievements Phase 1                (read more in Annual report 03/ 04)

● Capacity building for municipal administration
Members of Municipal Development Teams (MDTs) in each municipality took part in different capacity-building events.

● Elaboration of the main municipal policy documents (Vision document, Mission statements and Code of Good Local Governance)
All municipalities elaborated, presented and discussed the Vision of local development, Mission of local governance and Code of Good Local Governance with the Civil Society through public meetings in Local Communities.
Subsequently, the municipal legislative bodies in all MDP partner municipalities passed the whole package of policy instruments (Vision document, Mission statements and Code of Good Local Governance).

● Solid waste management assessment
MDP conducted an assessment of the municipal solid waste management situation in the six partner municipalities. Different stakeholders (local authorities, waste companies, private sector dealing with waste (recycling), NGOs, MZs, educational institutions and media) were interviewed by MDP to assess the situation in the municipal waste management. Finally, these diverse stakeholders gathered at the seminar on the topic “We are all responsible for waste“ and discussed joint problems.

● Empowerment of Local Communities (MZs)
In Phase 1, MDP has been working with 20 MZs located in the six partner municipalities, in order to build capacities and educate citizens and to enhance their skills to more actively participate in the improvement of the local self-government process in their municipalities (list of capacity building events for MZs and NGOs).

In addition, the overall education process resulted in the prioritization of problems at MZ level and the design and implementation of projects to be submitted for co-funding.
The established processes contributed not only to better cooperation between MZ Councils and citizens but also to increased mutual trust with municipal authorities.

● Civil Society Assessment (CSA)
In March 2003, MDP Internal Review pointed out the necessity of identifying and assessing different forms of organized civil society groups (in addition to MDP activities with MZs) for two reasons:
1. further strengthening participation of civil society in the work and decision-making process of local governance,
2. creating conditions for more flexible reaction of local administration towards civil society initiatives.
MDP conducted the assessment in the six partner municipalities in the period April -November 2003.

● NGO Seminar: “Civil Society – local authorities: towards a partnership approach”
The CSA was followed by a NGO Seminar, which took place on 19 November, 2003. The NGO Seminar gathered NGOs from 6 municipalities, as well as municipal representatives in charge of NGO matters, with a total of 59 participants. The seminar allowed for analysis of challenges in the relation between municipal authorities and civil society actors. It was also the opportunity to discuss about the results of the Civil Society Assessment and open a dialoge about measures for improvement of civil society – municipal authorities relations.

● A range of concrete projects was planned, developed and realized jointly between MDP and partner municipalities, MZ and NGO’s. The projects created the exchange and learning platforms for good local governance. MDP’s contribution was mainly planning and technical assistance as well as co-financing.

(read more in Annual report 03/ 04)