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Projects OverviewCommunity forums in Southeast Europe
Promoting grass-roots politics
Project completed
 Citizens play an active role in shaping the development of their communities in grass-roots community forums. An SDC initiative has triggered several hundred projects that improve quality of life and promote a culture of democratic dialogue at community level in Bulgaria and Macedonia. The scene is the Balkans: what do the new play park in Gjorche Petrov, the Tourist Office in Sevlievo and the Internet course centre in Chitalishte have in common? They are all projects spawned by the grass-roots community forums supported by the SDC in Southeast Europe. Since 2000, 107 Bulgarian community forums have generated a total of 384 projects, covering about forty percent of Bulgaria’s communities. Following withdrawal of Switzerland’s cooperation with Eastern Europe from Bulgaria at the end of 2007, the model project is now being implemented in Macedonia where 25 communes are currently part of a forum process. The significance of these forums lies not only in the many community development projects they have generated but also in the participative process leading up to their execution. Through these community forums, the SDC is encouraging a culture of democratic dialogue in Southeast Europe, at the same time strengthening the communities to face the challenges of the decentralization process that is underway in most countries of the region and which demands considerable consensus-building skills at local-government level. A genuine need for active involvement  The forums mobilize citizens from
very different interest groups in connection with community development issues. Thinking back, Heinz Kaufmann, who was Swiss Coordinator in Sofia till the end of 2007, says “Mayors often told us that
they now have a committed group of people who share in shaping community politics”. And people are keen to participate in Macedonia too, where forums are often attended by more than 100 people. Ismet
Balazi, facilitator of the Kichevo Forum, is convinced that many people are willing to participate more at local government level if given the chance: “Community forums are a good way of involving
citizens in the decision-making process. Experience has shown that many people are prepared to contribute actively to improving their immediate environment.”Democracy takes time  In principle, the forums are open to
all citizens and above all give groups which are seldom represented in community institutions – young people, women, pensioners and the disabled, for instance – an opportunity to have their say.
Citizens’ concerns are discussed and developed into concrete suggestions for projects in a structured dialogue steered by a specially trained facilitator. These suggestions then compete for the
available funding resources, and the winning projects are decided by a plenary assembly vote. Often, resources do not cover all the costs, so the citizen associations are also expected to contribute,
for example by volunteering their labour. The forum process is spread over several months, and sometimes even years. Democracy takes time.What remains once the projects are completed? According to Heinz Kaufmann, the community forums have expanded the inventory of decision-making methods in all the communities involved. Many Bulgarian communities are obviously eager to continue using the forum approach for budget decisions or specific projects, while others are biding their time. Some of the 150 specially trained facilitators and coordinators in Bulgaria have already been commissioned for follow-up work. Methodological expertise has been put on a sound footing, and eight specialized organizations have been created at local and national level. Imitation is welcome! The SDC has put together its experience with and the results of the forum method in Bulgaria in instruction manuals (in English and Bulgarian) and a documentary film. Imitation is explicitly recommended! The materials are available free of charge from the SDC and can also be downloaded (see below for contact details). |
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The Project in Brief Division Cooperation with Eastern Europe Country Macedonia (2005-2010) Bulgaria (2007-2010) Partners Local government, non-governmental organizations at local level, Implementing organizations: ZELS, CIRa, FOSIM Project aim Promoting and developing grass-roots participation at community level through direct involvement of citizens in local governance Target group Local government in Macedonia, citizens in Macedonian partner communities Project duration Project duration in Bulgaria: 2000 - 2007 Project duration in Macedonia: 2005 - 2010 Current phase of project in Macedonia: 10.2007 - 12.2010 Budget Project in Bulgaria (2000 - 2007): 7,105,076 CHF Project in Macedonia (2005 - 2010): 8,053,594 CHF Current phase of project in Macedonia (10.2007 - 12.2010): 4,091,000 CHF Contact SDC, Western Balkans Division |
Additional Information and Documents
- Forum - Films
- Forum Process - Initiator's Guide
Download (PDF, 1542 KB) : [en] [Bu]
Order - Forum Process - Coordinators Guide
Download (PDF, 6818 KB) : [en] [Bu]
Order - Forum Process - Moderator's Guide
Download (PDF, 2795 KB) : [en] [Bu]
Order - Forum Process - Donors's Brief
Download (PDF, 2762 KB) : [en]
Order - Forum Process - Program Data
Download (PDF, 4288 KB) : [en]
Order - Democratization
- Macedonia
Switzerland has been supporting Macedonia since 1992, both through bilateral cooperation and contrib...