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Български

Programme: Innovations and Competitiveness

Planning region: All

Description

While the larger municipalities in Bulgaria have learned to successfully use their local potential and supported by multiple European instruments have boosted their economic development over the last years, many of the smaller municipalities and settlements still need support and good examples on how to exploit and benefit from their historical, natural and cultural resources. 
To successfully activate and use their territorial resources, the municipalities need proven patterns and good practices to follow. Plenty of good practices can be provided by the Donor States and particularly by the members of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS). To this end, and as a follow up of the excellent cooperation between NAMRB and KS  a new round of joined activities has been planned to enhance the local development and capacity to identify and incorporate the existing resources in the municipal development plans. 
The capacity and experience of NAMRB and KS will provide for an in-depth survey of successful practices from Bulgaria and Norway and identification of the most effective cases; identification of underutilized potential in 10 prospective municipalities and design of workable development strategies tapping on that potential; developing and piloting specific projects based on the strategies for effective local development; further development and expansion of inter-municipal cooperation aiming at increasing the social and economic development in disadvantaged municipalities. 
In addition, the project will facilitate exchanges of good practices and establishing partnerships between beneficiary and Donor State entities by organizing bilateral meetings, study trips and exchange visits. It will assist the dialog between the local and the central authorities in Bulgaria by drafting and advocacy of proposals for regulatory changes in facilitation of the local economic and social development.
Activities
Activity Contracted Amount Reported Amount
ACTIVITY 1: STUDY OF SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES FROM BULGARIA AND NORWAY USING THE LOCAL POTENTIAL AND RESOURCES TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT: Most Bulgarian municipalities have unused potential for economic growth that can be activated by implementation of good practices on how to exploit and benefit from their historical, natural and cultural resources. Activity 1 is designed to study and present best practices from Bulgaria and Norway that could stimulate the economic development of disadvantaged municipalities and settlements. 101 634.76 101 634.76
ACTIVITY 2: SELECTION OF 10 PILOT MUNICIPALITIES (OR GROUPS OF MUNICIPALITIES) ON THE BASIS OF AN OPEN INVITATION : Within this activity 10 pilot municipalities/groups of municipalities shall be selected that will benefit from the envisaged development strategies to be designed under project Activity 3. 330 832.25 273 440.96
ACTIVITY 3: DESIGN OF 10 STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACTIVATING THE EXISTING TERRITORIAL RESOURCES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, NGO AND BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS AND PREPARATION OF BUSINESS PLANS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIES: After the selection of 10 pilot municipalities/groups of municipalities, specific development strategies for their project concepts will be designed, along with business plans for their implementation. The results of Activity 1 and Activity 2 will be taken into consideration as to how most effectively to mobilise the existing territorial resources. The design of these strategies requires the full involvement of a wide range of stakeholders - local communities, NGOs, businesses. Therefore, in the course of preparatory activities up to 10 local partnership forums (e.g. discussion forums, roundtables, focus groups) will be organized for presentation and discussion of the proposed development strategies and business plans. 197 544.41 197 099.75
ACTIVITY 4: SUPPORTING MUNICIPALITIES, NGOs AND BUSINESSES IN THE PREPARATION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS FOR FUNDING FROM THE SMALL GRANTS SCHEME (SGS): This project activity will be implemented by the staff of NAMRB and aims at providing technical support and consultations to the selected pilot municipalities in preparation of project proposals to apply for funding under the Small Grant Scheme, which is aimed at supporting the local development and creating jobs in target areas. 53 409.34 53 409.34
ACTIVITY 5: PREPARATION OF SAMPLE DEVELOPMENT MODELS, BASED ON ACTIVATING LOCAL CAPACITIES; PROMOTION OF THE MODELS AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR TRANSFER TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES: This activity is targeted to further deepening and expanding the intra-municipal and inter-municipal cooperation through promotion and dissemination of development models based on local capacities and resources activation. The knowledge and most effective (transferable) best practices gained in the course of the project will be described in detail and and made available on the NAMRB’s website. Additional focus will be placed on advanced practices in attracting investors and stakeholders. 172 393.59 143 443.79
ACTIVITY 6: EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE ON FACILITATING SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION WITH INVESTORS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL SECTOR, CITIZENS AND MEDIA: Within this activity good Norwegian practices and experience will be transferred on how to facilitate the municipal communication with potential investors, non-governmental sector, citizens and media. KS will present examples and means for successful interaction with different stakeholders groups, for promotion of the local potential to attract investments in small municipalities, for tried and tested ways to putting them on the map. 86 466.91 60 976.89
ACTIVITY 7: ASSURING SUSTAINABILITY OF PROJECT RESULTS BY SYSTEMATIZED PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENTS IN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK : The overall goal of the project is to design and present sustainable development models that will permanently lead to improved employment opportunities and poverty reduction in small settlements, as well as to change the framework conditions and mind-sets in this regard. Therefore, in the course of the project implementation the need for specific amendments in the legal framework, aimed at activation of local potential and support for local initiatives and innovations, will be identified and assessed. To ensure sustainability of the project achievements, a package of systematized proposals for regulatory amendments shall be initiated and further advocated by NAMRB before the Bulgarian central authorities. To help change mind-sets 2 study trips will be organized for up to 40 local leaders that can put into practice the designed local development models. In accordance with the organization of the trip jointly planned with KS, NAMRB shall provide the air flight tickets and daily allowances, as well as interpretation, while KS shall provide the accommodation, meeting venues, internal transport and lecturers. The required funds for these are provided for in the respective budget allocations of the two partners under the Activity. It is envisaged that the participants in the first trip shall comprise of representatives of the 10 municipalities/groups of municipalities selected to prepare local development strategies as well as 2 key experts from NAMRB. The second trip shall be for representatives of the management organs of NAMRB (the Management and Control boards, the chairpersons of permanent working committees) as well as up to 3 key experts from NAMRB staff. 350 360.38 273 253.13
ACTIVITY 8: PROVISION OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND INTERNET ACCESS TO PROJECT RESULTS AND INVESTMENT PROFILES OF MUNICIPALITIES : The project partners shall implement the following publicity actions in accordance with the EEA Communication amp; design manual: 1. Organization of publicity events The partners shall organize an opening and closing publicity events with the participation of experts from both NAMRB and KS. In addition to these, all other events and forums under the project implementation schedule will be used for the purposes of information provision and results publicity. 2. Use of Internet NAMRB will establish a thematic webpage, dedicated on GALOP. The page will contain all important information related to project implementation and results. The page will be used to publicize the invitations and guidelines for the surveys of good practices and unused local assets, for the competitive procedure for pilot municipalities, for the partnership forums and workshops, and for all similar forthcoming project activities and events. In addition to such current information on project implementation, the webpage shall also contain the key project results, such as the identified Norwegian and Bulgarian good practice cases, the data base of local assets, the synopses of the prepared detailed strategies for effective local development, the sample development models based on local potential, as well as the collected advance practices in attracting investors. Interactive mapping with rich background information on good practices and development model partners will also be provided. The page will provide links to the website of the EEA FM 2014-2021 and the page of the Programme “Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Enhanced Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups” and publicize its support in accordance with the EEA Communication amp; design manual. 3. Provision of information and publicity materials Targeted information and publicity materials shall also be prepared and circulated. They shall be used as handouts for the publicity and partnership forums related to project implementation. They shall also be circulated at the regular forums of NAMRB’s expert networks, which will be engaged in the implementation of key project activities, such as survey on good practices, design of sample development models, exchanges on communication with investors, etc. 4. Use of other information means and social media Project results, activities and events shall also be publicized through the current available information means, employed by partners: electronic and printed digests, and social media. 234 798.90 173 686.40
ACTIVITY 9: PROJECT AUDITS: Provision of audit of project parties expenditures in conformity with the requirements of the Regulation of the EEA FM, the Guidelines for beneficiaries of the PO and the Partnership agreement. 22 491.70 15 783.44
ACTIVITY 10: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND INDIRECT COSTS: The project management shall include the overall administration of the technical, expert and financial implementation, including the organization of expert tasks among partners and their teams, the delivery and management of public procurement of external consultancy, the timely communication with the PO and the correct financial management of project costs, the necessary technical and financial reporting, the coordination of communications and publicity measures. Indirect costs shall be in accordance with the applicable Regulation. 194 641.36 194 103.21

Notes:

Elements in light blue allow detailed view when selected
All amounts are in Bulgarian lev (BGN) / 1 EUR = 1,95583 BGN
The project is financed by the Operational Programme "Technical Assistance" and co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.
In implementing the project № 0115-CCU-2.1 "Information system for management and monitoring of EU funds in 2014-2020 - UMIS 2020" (BG161PO002-2.1.01-0007-C0001).