Relevant Projects:

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM IN MOLDOVA

IPA staff recently completed an assignment leading the Local Government Reform Project in Moldova. This project had three main tasks: help establish legislation to empower local government and implement regulations that clarify and decentralize authority to the local level; build the capacity of municipal officials to implement legislative, administrative and financial reforms through targeted training and technical assistance; and strengthen the capacity of indigenous NGOs and associations advocating local government reform while increasing public participation in the reform process. This USAID-funded work was performed in conjunction with The Urban Institute. 2000-02.

CROATIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM PROJECT

In 2001, IPA's International program began working with the Croatian Parliament and municipalities to undertake civil service reform and financial management capacity, and to foster a more responsive political process. IPA has also been working with municipalities conducting training for local government officials throughout the country on financial management to assist local government and to be as independent from central government budgeting mechanisms as possible. This work has included developing a model for financial analysis, to assist local governments in becoming familiar with budget preparation and execution, to be trial tested in four cities. Additional work included providing support to municipalities that had been enabled by a 1993 Constitutional amendment that enabled them to propose legislation, to referendum and to create civic organizations. The project also focused on reviewing and evaluating draft versions of legislation and the rights of public officials in local and regional self-government and on local civil servants and laborers. 2001 to present.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN GEORGIA

IPA is leading a series of training seminars on financial management for local government officials in Tbilisi and selected municipalities throughout Georgia. The seminars focused on improved budgeting practices such as program budgeting, budget transparency, development of fiscal indicators, revenue maximization, and capital budgeting. This project is part of the USAID sponsored Local Government Assistance Initiative and is being performed under subcontract with The Urban Institute. 2001 to present.

FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT INNOVATION IN INDONESIA

IPA has launched a three-year, USAID-funded project to establish the "Foundation for Local Government Innovation" in Jakarta, Indonesia. As Local Government Management Specialist/Resident Advisor, IPA Senior Staff member John Tabor is providing lead technical expertise to create a permanent organization focused on improving public policy and government management. The Foundation will provide expert advice, policy analysis, and training and technical assistance services primarily to local governments and their associations. It is anticipated that the Foundation will operate largely on a "fee for service" basis, thus offering the prospect of generating a significant amount of its own operating income. IPA is performing this work in collaboration with The Urban Institute, Chemonics International and Indonesian public officials. 2001-2004.

CAMBODIA LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (LDF)

A critical aspect of public sector governance in which IPA has considerable experience is the design and implementation of frameworks to guide the process of preparing local government development budgets. IPA Senior Staff member Paul Smoke and former member Leonardo Romeo worked with the Cambodia Local Development Fund (LDF) to introduce decentralized and participatory development planning procedures, and to establish transparent rules and objective standards for resource allocation and project appraisal. This project achieved considerable success in beginning to integrate local planning processes for determining priority projects and a system of standards for project monitoring into the formal budgeting structures of local governments. The project was funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund. 2000-2001.

LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT IN THE PALESTINIAN WEST BANK

IPA Senior Staff Leonardo Romeo led a team of local and regional consultants in the preparation of the "Local Infrastructure and Capacity Building Project" (LICP) in the Palestinian West Bank. The project, financed through a 5.7 million US$ grant of the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC), provided financial and technical assistance to selected Palestinian Village Councils, the local authorities responsible for most basic services delivery in the West Bank. The project had two components. The first one supported immediate investments in critically needed local/rural infrastructure, ranging from repair of village roads and power distribution networks, to construction of kindergartens and integrated community service centers. The second one strengthened the institutions of good local governance by piloting a financial mechanism for modest but predictable annual transfers of resources for development spending to Village Councils and the parallel extension of technically sound and participatory local planning, programming and budgeting methods. In spite of the enormous difficulties due to the ongoing conflict in the area, the LICP, approved by the BTC at the end of 2001, is currently under implementation in selected villages of the West Bank. 2001.

IMPROVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

IPA led a team to over two years advising municipalities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their social services programs. As a result of his work, a number of innovative solutions to social service delivery problems were introduced, such as using means-testing as a way of improving the transparency and the targeting of social subsidy programs. The technical assistance provided also focused on cost-effective approaches for social assistance delivery programs, and as well fostered a policy dialogue between local authorities and citizens by expanding the information available to the public on communal services and social subsidy policies. Funded by USAID, this project was a joint undertaking by IPA and The Urban Institute. 1999-2001.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR THE MOSCOW OBLAST

IPA and the Barents Group collaborated on an Intergovernmental Fiscal Reform Project for the Russian Federation, aimed at helping Russian municipalities and oblasts (state level of government) implement decentralization of finances. IPA Associate Eleanor Clark, former Chief Financial Officer of the Federal Housing Administration, served as financial management advisor to the Moscow oblast. Her tasks included assessment of the Finance Committee's plans for computerization, and a requirements analysis for the Revenue Department of the Moscow oblast. 1995.

ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA

IPA worked in Yerevan, Armenia during the fall of 2000 assessing and evaluating two municipal associations (Union of Communities and Union Yerevan Councilors) and one professional association (Association of Finance Officers). IPA designed business plans to enhance the capacity, effectiveness and long-term sustainability of these associations. Specific tasks included: reviewing the structure and activities of the associations, including their charters and dues structures; and, training association staff in business planning techniques. This work, performed under a subcontract with The Urban Institute was part of the USAID sponsored Local Government Assistance Initiative. 2000.

DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL AUTONOMY IN ALBANIA

A partnership between The Urban Institute and the Albanian National Committee for decentralization produced a national strategy for decentralization and local autonomy for Albania. The strategy was a shared vision backed by consensus of central and local officials, private and community groups to guide long-term changes that reach toward the principles of the Charter of Local Self-Government of the Council of Europe. IPA Associates commented on the strategic plan and worked on the implementation of the plan's intergovernmental finance elements. 2000.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT REFORM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

In the Czech Republic, IPA worked with local governments and Czech trainers to develop fair, competitive and effective procurement systems adapted to new Czech law and market conditions. IPA developed a manual for establishing administrative processes for obtaining fair and open competition, and cooperated in the organization of a national conference on Conflicts of Interests. An intensive training-of-trainers program led by IPA Senior Associate Graham Watt produced trainers (lawyers and managers) who co-delivered workshops in 14 localities and after the project ended and institutionalized a training course in procurement systems at both the University of Pardubice and the Fund for the Development of Local Administration. Six hundred copies of a manual for applied local procurement systems and processes were prepared and distributed in Czech. IPA's procurement specialists provided technical assistance in five cities for procurement of vehicles, construction, heavy equipment and maintenance services. This project was sponsored by USAID. 1995-1996.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SLOVAKIA AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC

IPA worked with Slovakia's Institute for Public Administration and the Czech Republic's Institute of Local Administration to develop training programs for new local governments. These projects aimed to build the capacity of both institutions to train locally elected officials and municipal and district managers. IPA's team worked closely with Czech and Slovak counterparts to develop appropriate course modules on town management, democratic participation in local development decisions, and approaches to contracting out government services. In addition, training of trainers and teaching materials and equipment were provided. The projects resulted in the adoption of a series of town management seminars as part of the permanent curricula of the two institutions. 1991-93.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM IN POLAND

IPA worked with several regional training centers in Poland to provide training for local officials. IPA worked with Polish trainers to prepare and test workshop modules on "Professional Management" and "Roles, Responsibilities, and Relationships" in democratic local government. These courses were co-taught by IPA associates and Polish trainers-in-training at three centers cooperating with the Polish Foundation in Support of Local Democracy. 1991-93.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION TRAINING FOR POLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

IPA arranged U.S. government internships for students from Poland's National School of Public Administration for four years; IPA Associate Dona Wolf managed the federal agency internships in Washington DC. Visits to New York City introduced the interns to government at the local level. A highlight of the 1995 program was a visit to the Greenpoint Manufacturing & Design Center in Brooklyn, a rehabilitated industrial building serving as a community cooperative for small businesses, where the interns learned about economic development efforts in an industrial area, and the impact of community involvement in local government. After graduation from the National School, the students work in Poland's senior civil service. The National School reports that, "The first studies assessing the work of the National School show that the knowledge and experience they [students] have gained in the course of their internships are widely used in their jobs." 1992-95.