Assessment of municipal absorption capacities in Bulgaria

1. Assessment of municipal absorption capacities in Bulgaria Regional Training/Consultation on Capacity Development for Sustainable Growth and Human Development in Europe and CIS, 10-11 July 2007 - Bratislava, Slovakia Maria Zlatareva, UNDP Bulgaria

2. Why this Assessment? • EU SCFs: opportunity to raise Bulgaria’s level of human development • The extent/pace at which this happens depends on the national “absorption” capacity • The 2003 EU Regular Report points to the need for a substantial strengthening of the capacities at municipal and district level

3. Subject of the Assessment: Absorptive Capacity “The extent to which a member country is in a position to disburse the resources from the EU SFs in an effective and efficient way” • Two groups of actors: programme management community(at national level)anddevelopment community(final beneficiaries/recipients) • Qualitative absorption: requires the application of the “partnership principle” – resources planned in consultation with stakeholders to address priority needs • Quantitative absorption: requires capacity to formulate good projects and implement them rapidly

4. Objectives of the Assessment • Identify the local and regional capacity gaps and the parameters of the CD measures to be taken • Identify any legislative and institutional gaps and the measures for ensuring an enabling environment • “Snapshot” of the local and regional capacities to absorb the EU/SFs in 2004 (two years before accession)

5. Methodology • Self-assessment of preparedness to participate in the use of EU SFs: survey questionnaire sent to all municipalities and districts • Representative survey: responses received from 85% of the municipalities and 100% of the districts • Data crossed with several variables • Validated by a group of representatives of the central administration, municipalities, NGOs and think-tanks

6. Scope of the survey • Organizational capacity: administrative structures, information and communication, human and financial resources • Project Capacity: experience with pre-accession funds • Planning Capacity: municipal and district development plans • Training Needs: assessment of training to date

7. Main conclusions • Municipalities have developed their capacities at different speeds • Project capacity is concentrated in a limited number of large municipalities • Weak horizontal links between municipalities • Develop a national capacity building programme in order to prevent the emergence of a “vicious circle”

8. Main recommendations National programme : quantitative coverage; unified methodology; avoid duplication; adequate M & E; economies of scale and cost effectiveness. • Contribute to cultural change • Build capacities in policy/programming context • Technical aspects but also processes • Integrate best practices • Be tailored to the needs of the beneficiaries • Include relevant members of the development community

9. Impact: from CA to CD • Awarenessand consensus on the need to develop the absorption capacity at local level (municipalities, NGOs and business) • Efforts mobilized to address some capacity gaps (municipalities, NGOs, Government, donors) • Capacity assessment results used in the formulation of some policy documents related to the implementation of the EU SFs • Concept for a national programme formulated by UNDP but only partially implemented

10. Follow-up by UNDP • Assessment of NGOs and business capacities to participate in the EU SFs (2005) • Partnerships in EU SFs absorption: a comparative review of selected member states • Up-date of the assessment of municipal absorption capacities in 2006 (progress) NHDR 2006:“Are we prepared for the EU funds? Challenges and opportunities for local development actors”

11. Challenges and lessons learned Methodology:some limitations and constraints - subjective information - limited scope - need for additional information and analysis Recommendations: only the first step towards the formulation of CD strategy - advocacy, consensus building and engagement

12. Challenges and lessons learned (2) Impact limited by: -partial implementation of CD programme - continued lack of coordination, overlap and duplication - lack of political commitment for the required legal and institutional changes - lack of political will for the implementation of a national CD programme (although resources available) • Successful implementation of CD programme requiresstrong leadership and the commitment of all partners