COUNCIL OF EUROPE Directorate General of Democracy and

COUNCIL OF EUROPE Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs Directorate of Democratic Institutions Local Government and Quality: from information to action A Council of Europe perspective of Good Governance at local level Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Local Government and Quality: from information to action Ø Ø Ø Collecting information Transforming information into knowledge Transforming knowledge into skills From skills to capacity: Council of Europe approach Transforming capacity into action Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Information on local government in the Council of European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR): information from central governments Ø Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe: information from local authorities Ø Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform: information on capacity-building tools and programmes Ø Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Transforming information into knowledge: Council of Europe approach Committee of Ministers adopts legal instruments: conventions and recommendations Ø CDLR adopts reports with guidelines and prepares draft CM conventions and recommendations Ø Congress adopts reports and recommendations Ø Centre of Expertise identifies and prepares programmes Ø Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Transforming knowledge into skills Ø Initial training Ø Life-long training Ø Exchange of experience, conferences, seminars… Ø Learning by doing Ø Learning from the others Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Knowledge to skills: Council of Europe approach Ø Congress organises conferences, seminars, workshops… Ø Centre of Expertise may offer targeted training as part of its programmes Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Transforming skills into capacity Prepare “tools” : model benchmarks and healthcheck lists, model performance management indicators… Ø Prepare “methodologies”: benchmarking, comparing to the best or the average, learning from the best, transforming indicators into performance management systems… Ø Adapt them to local circumstances Ø Give them to local ownership Ø Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Skills to capacity: Council of Europe approach The Centre of Expertise prepares tools and methodologies, supervises their adaptation and implementation, gives them to local ownership: Best Practice Programme: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Moldova, the Russian Federation and Serbia • Leadership Benchmark: Bulgaria, Croatia, the Russian Federation, Serbia and “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” • National Training Strategy: Albania, Armenia, Croatia, Georgia, Moldova and Montenegro • Performance Management Programme: Bulgaria, Serbia • Public Ethics Benchmarking Programme: Spain (road test), Moldova and Ukraine • UNDP-Co. E Toolkit “Towards a Modern Local Government Association” • Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Transforming capacity into action Ø Create a climate where change is welcome Ø Motivate people Ø Obtain commitment Ø Help in the initial phases of change Ø Give recognition to the best Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Capacity into action: Council of Europe approach Most programmes of the Centre of Expertise integrate practical change: ØObtain commitment from local stakeholders ØEvaluate (self-assessment or peer reviews); ØMake recommendations for change ØPrepare and implement Action Plans for change ØNew rounds of assessment (by peers) to measure change ØGive recognition to the best Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

A Council of Europe Strategy for Innovation and Good governance Identify essential elements of good governance at local authority level Ø Identify the main measures that stakeholders (local authorities, local government associations, central governments, Council of Europe) should take Ø Obtain strong commitment from all stakeholders Ø Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

A European Label of Quality for Good Governance at Local Level Ø Ø Ø Recognise good governance Obtain commitment from local authorities to improving governance Allow learning from the others Will be granted in a decentralised way by local partners On the basis of criteria developed at European level Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

The Role of the Local Government Association In preparing and implementing of national strategies (European Conference - Dec 07 / Jan 08) Ø In representing interests of local governments in front of central authorities Ø In providing local authorities with capacity-building services Ø We want strong and responsible LG associations to meet their members’ expectations Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

The Toolkit on Modern Local Government Association Joint initiative Co. E and UNDP Ø Build on best European Experience Ø Uses modern methodologies Ø l l Ø Self-assessment Learning friendly Long Term Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform

Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform Directorate of Democratic Institutions DG Democracy and Political Affairs Council of Europe http: //www. coe. int/local http: //www. loreg. coe. int Sylvia Ivanova Tel: 00 33 3 90 21 52 93 E-mail: sylvia. ivanova@coe. int Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform