Asociatia Agenda21

Final conference – project “Strengthening the Environmental Governance in Bucharest”

On 13th December 2010 the Association Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda 21, marked the end of the project “Strengthening the Environmental Governance in Bucharest”, through the final evaluation conference “Partnership for a new quality of the environment in Bucharest”, which took place at Cercul Militar National.
The conference benefited from the presence of a Norwegian delegation, led by Mr. Trygve Westgard, mayor of Askim Municipality, a partner institution within the project. For developing a real interaction between experts from Norway and experts from Romania, representatives of the Bucharest City Hall, Bucharest Sector Halls, Bucharest Environmental Agency were also invited together with representatives of Innovation Norway Programme, who presented financing and networking opportunities in the field of sustainable development and economic cooperation between Romania and Norway.
During the conference the results of the project “Strengthening the environmental governance in Bucharest” were evaluated. Referring to the results of the project, Nina Cugler – project manager and Executive President of APSD-Agenda 21 declared: “Strengthening the environmental governance in Bucharest gathered in a single project a large diversity of human and institutional resources, actors from all social fields who play an important role in the development of environmental policies: NGOs, public administration bodies, central and local public institutions, academic institutions, school units, teachers, young people, private companies, associated structures from Romania and Norway, media representatives and public figures. The public-private partnership created within the project contributed to a more efficient use of the resources for achieving a common goal - finding solution/answers to the problems of the local community - it contributed to improving the citizens level of trust in public bodies, generating significant results and a major impact with minimal funds.”
“Strengthening the Environmental Governance in Bucharest” is a project developed by APSD-Agenda 21, in partnership with Askim Municipality Norway, Bucharest City Hall and the School Inspectorate of Bucharest, financed through founds given by the Norwegian Government through the Norwegian Cooperation Programme for economic growth and sustainable development in Romania.

The new projects catalogue “Eco-volunteers for Bucharest” was launched. The catalogue contains 12 environmental projects developed by the teams of eco-volunteers from the 12 high-schools involved in the project “Strengthening the Environmental Governance in Bucharest”. The projects appeared as a result of the 4 training sessions developed for students and teachers, during which the participants learnt about sustainable development, environmental issues and project writing and management. The 12 projects meet the environmental needs identified in their communities by the team of eco-volunteers and have, thus, a local dimension. Among the initiatives presented by the students there are actions aimed at cleaning green areas and parks, at improving the quality of the green areas of high-schools, informing and educational actions and also recycling and selective collection of waste.
The presentation of the 12 projects included in the catalogue “Eco-volunteers for Bucharest” took place on 30th October 2010, at National College “Gheorghe Sincai”, in front of representatives of private companies such as: Eco-X, Remat Holding and Carpatcement, companies that answered our invitation to support young people and their actions for a healthier environment. The projects also benefit from the support of local public authorities, partners in the 12 projects.

Training session for facilitators – “A different gender, an equal opportunity”

The training course for facilitators, planned for the project “A different gender, an equal opportunity”, took place between 24th and 28th January. 24 young volunteers, representing the General Directorates of Social Assistance and Child Protection from sectors 1, 3, 4, and 6 from Bucharest as well as GDSACP – Ilfov county, were involved for 5 days in a training course on addressing topics such as: human rights, human rights education, gender equality and discrimination and specific issues on gender such as domestic violence and abuse. During the course a non-formal educational mix was used which included rich theoretical input but foremost interactive activities such as: simulations, case studies, games and exchange of good practices. The main working tools of the training course were the manuals designed and published by the Council of Europe: Compass and Gender Matters, educational tools that will be also used in the activities that will be developed by the participants in the following period. The training course contributed to acquiring more in-depth knowledge on human rights and human rights education, on the Council of Europe and its activity in the youth field, on the specific issues concerning gender, on the working tools offered by the Council of Europe as well as on the principles of non-formal education and experiential learning.

Between February and May, the participants will conduct 4 workshops each, involving young people and children from disadvantaged areas, with a high risk of gender discrimination: young people with high risk of being abandoned, young people and children from day time centres and placement centres, and young people who are offered social assistance services. Activities from Compass, Gender Matters and Compasito will be used during the workshops.
“A different gender, an equal opportunity” is a pilot project on human rights education, financed by the Council of Europe through the European Youth Foundation. The project aims at reducing gender-based discrimination and promoting gender equality by involving young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in HRE activities, using Gender Matters and Compass.

In October, 2010, Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda 21 launched a new project entitled “A different gender, an equal opportunity”. The project is a pilot project which includes a training course on gender equality through HRE, followed by workshops. “A different gender, an equal opportunity” is financed by the Council of Europe, through the European Youth Foundation.
The project aims at reducing gender-based discrimination and promoting gender equality by involving young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in HRE activities, using COE’s Manuals: Gender Matters and Compass.
The training course is addressed to young volunteers and youth workers from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Bucharest, working with groups facing the risk of gender-based discrimination and domestic violence. The participants to the training course will act as multipliers, facilitating workshop with children and young people affected by gender inequality and discrimination.
The project is developed in partnership with the Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection from sectors 1, 3, 4, 6 in Bucharest and DSACP – Ilfov.
Within the project, two of the preparatory meetings have already taken place. The training course is planned to take place at the end of January, between 24th-28th January and a total number of 24 participants is expected.

Between 19th-24th September a delegation including Nina Cugler, Executive President, project manager, Dana Stănculescu, superior councillor, Directorate for Education, Bucharest City Hall and Costel Nedelcu, general councillor, Bucharest City Hall conducted a study visit in Norway.
The agenda of the delegation’s visit included meetings with: Innovation Norway (Central headquarters in Oslo), Oslo City Hall, Askim City Hall, the Association of Local and Regional Authorities from Norway (KS) and Ostfold Region, visiting a garbage recycling centre in the town of Moss.

The training course was centered on strategic issues regarding the integration of environmental problems and sustainable development issues in strategic planning at local and national level, environmental issues such as climate changes, clean energy and natural resources management, educating citizens for protecting the environment and case studies on global environmental problems and solutions regarding transport and traffic, building management, waste management and citizens’ participation.

The training course was also focused on facilitating the connection of Bucharest Municipality to the Climate Network in Norway and also on the steps and measures necessary for the creation of a national Climate Network in Romania.

Come with us to Clear the Air in Bucharest! On Saturday, 5th June, at 10:00, we meet at Piata Presei Libere in order to start the campaign CLEAR THE AIR IN BUCHAREST, with a march of the eco-volunteers for Bucharest. At 17:00 we meet again in Herastrau Park, Summer Garden for an eco-show in which pupils from 12 school units from Bucharest will perform live together with their guests. CLEAR THE AIR IN BUCHAREST is a public information and raising awareness campaign regarding the environment issues of Bucharest.

The campaign is part of a more complex project “Strengthening the Environmental Governance in Bucharest”, a project developed by APSD-Agenda 21, in partnership with Askim Municipality Norway, Bucharest City Hall and the School Inspectorate of Bucharest, financed through founds given by the Norwegian Government through the Norwegian Cooperation Programme for economic growth and sustainable development in Romania.

For further details please visit www.aerisestebucurestiul.ro

Training session for pupils – Strengthening the Environmental Governance in Bucharest

The school units involved in the project are the following: Liceul Teoretic “C-tin Brâncoveanu”, Colegiul Tehnic Media, Şcoala Superioară Comercială "N. Kretzulescu, Liceul Teoretic "Grigore Moisil", Colegiul Naţional “Emil Racoviţă”, Colegiul Naţional “Matei Basarab”, Liceul Bilingv DECEBAL, Colegiul Naţional „Gheorghe Lazăr”, Colegiul Tehnic de Industrie Alimentară “Dumitru Moţoc”, Liceului Teoretic "Mihail Sadoveanu", Colegiul Naţional “Gheorghe Şincai”, Liceul Teoretic „Ion Neculce”.

News regarding the project Strengthening the Environmental governance in Bucharest

On 9th February APSD-Agenda 21 organised a meeting of the extended team for the implementation of the project Strengthening Environmental Governance in Bucharest, a project developed in partnership with APSD-Agenda21, Askim Municipality – Norway, City Hall of Bucharest and the School Inspectorate of Bucharest and financed by the Norwegian Government through the Norwegian Programme of Cooperation for economic growth and sustainable development in Romania.
The meeting focused on discussing the proposed topics for the two training sessions conducted by 5 Norwegian experts for 40 civil servants who conduct their activity in the field of environment protection and eco-civic education in Bucharest. The objectives of the training sessions will be to help the participants understand „the global aspects concerning the environment” and to develop their competences for introducing these aspects in the local planning for environment. The sessions will also provide the opportunity for an exchange of experience between Norwegian and Romanian experts.
The participants also received information on the structure and the components of the environment campaign „Clear the Air in Bucharest”, organised during the upcoming phase of the project. The team decided to launch the campaign on 5th June – World Environment Day. The team also issued recommendations regarding the activities that will be held during the campaign and chose the visual identity elements of the campaign: poster, flyer and other promotional materials.
The extended team for the implementation of the project strengthening the Environmental Governance in Bucharest includes civil servants from the City Hall of Bucharest, Directorate for the protection of the environment and eco-civic education, Directorate for Education, from Sector Halls, from the Agency for the Environment Protection in Bucharest and from the School Inspectorate of Bucharest.

The project builds a model of implementation of human rights education activities with children and young people having youth as promoters. The multipliers will initiated and develop possible multiplying activities already in the phase of post-training course, a period of tutoring during which they will benefit from the support of two experts on project management and human rights education. It is estimated that during the 4 meetings held during the tutoring phase at least 5 new projects will be elaborated. The project will use non-formal education methods, using a participative and learner-cantered approach. Among key methodological aspects, we quote group work, active participation, theoretical and practical inputs, and simulation/case-study exercises referring to the environments where participants usually carry out their youth work.

During the visit the two Romanian experts met the Mayor of Askim and Norwegian experts. The discussions were focused on common strategies in the field of sustainable development with an impact on green house gases reduction in the atmosphere and on other pollutants affecting the quality of air, soil and water. The visit was also a good opportunity for an exchange of experience and good practices in the field of environment protection and for the preparation of a Climate Network that will include municipalities from Norway and Bucharest.

The experts appreciated the visit as highly beneficial for the activity they are conducting within their institutions, for the implementation of the Development Strategy for Bucharest and for the education on sustainable development. During the next implementation phase training sessions for young people and civil servants active in the environmental field will be conducted.

Press conference for the launch of the opinion survey: „The quality of the environment in Bucharest in the citizens’ opinion”

On 14th October the press conference for the launch of the study “The quality of the environment in Bucharest in the citizens’ opinion” was held. The event is part of the project Strengthening Environmental Governance in Bucharest, a project developed in partnership by APSD-Agenda 21, Askim City Hall – Norway, Bucharest City Hall and the School Inspectorate of Bucharest, financed by the Norwegian Government through the Norwegian Cooperation Programme for economic growth and sustainable development in Romania.

Among the participants there were Ms. Anne Lise Rognlidalen, commercial councilor within the Norwegian Cooperation Programme – Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bucharest, Mr. Mădălin Dumitru, director of the Directorate for Infrastructure and Public Services – Bucharest City Hall, Ms. Simona Mocănescu, superior councilor of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Costel Nedelcu, director of the Agency for Environment Protection – Bucharest, as well as representatives of the Bucharest City Hall, of Sector Town Halls, representatives of the media and environment non-governmental organizations, students and educational staff from Bucharest school units.

The study was conducted by IRSOP on a representative sample and it tackles the citizens’ perception in what concerns Bucharest environmental problems, identifies solutions suggested by the citizens themselves for improving the quality of the environment and implicitly the life-quality of Bucharest inhabitants. The survey contains also a component of self-assessment which highlights the degree of civic responsibility towards maintaining a healthy environment and also the ecological behavior of the citizens. The results of the study were presented by Mr. Petre Datculescu, director of IRSOP and they are available in electronic format on the website of APSD-Agenda 21.

In July 2009 APDD-Agenda 21 finalised the project „Young people involvement in civil rights promotion”, a project financed by the Council of Europe through the European Youth Foundation and developed under the sub-category D-HRE as a pilot project with focus on human rights education. The project involved a training for trainers course, followed by workshops, finalised with a Companion type publication. A number of 20 teachers and young volunteers attended the training course, which was developed on the main topics of human rights education, all of them acting as multipliers. For the selection of the target group APSD-Agenda 21 benefited from the help offered by its partner the School Inspectorate of Bucharest. The 6 educational units selected were: Şcoala cu clasele I-VIII nr. 64 „Ferdinand I”, Grup Şcolar „Decebal, Şcoala generală nr. 114 „Principesa Margareta”, Colegiul Naţional „Gheorghe Lazar”, Şcoala generală nr. 195, Liceul Pedagogic-Buzău. The children, indirect beneficiaries of the project, which were treated as partners in the testing of activities from the HRE Manual Compasito, were pupils aged between 6 and 14 years old (grades I to VI), who worked in groups of approximately 15 pupils.

During the project 18 activities were translated from the HRE Manual – Compasito, 13 of them being adapted by the facilitators during 134 workshops where more than 380 pupils from the 6 selected school units took part. The Companion type publication was printed in 300 copies and it is also available for download on our website.

Self-assessment report of civil servants "Quality of public services in the view of civil servants - self-assessment report to local public institutions" (July 2009)

"Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda21” completed the self-assessment report of civil servants "The quality of public services in the view of public servants - self-assessment report to local public institutions" (July 2009).
The report was prepared within the "Citizens charter” project, financed through PHARE 2006 - Increasing the role of civil society in the integration process of Romania conducted by Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda21 in partnership with the National Agency of Public Servants.
The study was conducted during April-May 2009 and consisted in the application of 958 questionnaires in three types of public institutions in each location as follows: Bucharest City Hall and two district town halls (City Hall District 4 and District 6), Municipality of Cluj-Napoca, Prefect’s Institution of Cluj County and Directorate of Labor and Social Protection in Cluj, Municipality of Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Prefect Institution of Mehedinti, County Agency for Work Employment of Mehedinti county, Municipality of Tulcea, Prefect Institution of Tulcea and County Agency for Work Employment of Tulcea county, Municipality of Vaslui, Prefect Institution of Vaslui and County Agency for Work Employment of Vaslui county.

According to the results of this report, public servants have a rather positive perception on the trust that citizens invest in public institutions (72.7% more and a lot more), compared with the level of confidence of citizens who are at a lower level, (53.2% were very much confidence).

Professional training, institution management and staff courtesy are characteristics which lay in the perception of public servants the first position on the list of characteristics of institutions / local authorities that provide services of good quality.
Regarding the management of institutions in providing services there is a positive perception of those dimensions that constitute the relationship of the citizen with the institution / public authority: neat of the servants, environment created for the citizen to feel comfortable when they enter a public institution, courtesy with which citizens are treated. The flexibility of the program with the public is, in turn, an important element in the relationship with institutions / public authorities.
In the view of civil servants indicators of perception of quality of public services are grouped into two large sizes:

quality of service itself which refers to the following items: the way authorities take into account issues raised by citizens and the priority they attach to their problems, timeliness, competence and courtesy with which they offer answers, timeliness of offering answers, etc., but also some aspects of equipment and the variety of media for citizens’ information;
management of institutions in providing services, which was limited to items related to the context in which the interaction between citizen and public servant: space planning, a flexible working hours with the citizens or the existence of an organizational culture.

The research report of the monitors "Quality of public services in the view of citizens – Citizens’ with the quality of services public authorities and institutions offer"(July 2009)

Association "Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda21” completed the monitors’ research report „Quality of public services in the view of citizens – Citizens’ satisfaction with the quality of services public authorities and institutions offer "(July 2009).
The report was prepared within "Citizens’ charter” project, financed through PHARE 2006 - Increasing the role of civil society in the integration process of Romania, conducted by Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda21 in partnership with the National Agency of Public Servants.
The study was conducted during March-April 2009 with contribution of 30 volunteers involved in the project which interviewed 1161 people in five locations of the project: Bucharest, Cluj, Mehedinti, Tulcea, Vaslui.
According to the results of this report, a majority of citizens asked by volunteers to complete the questionnaire: have been receptive, polite with monitors (63.2%) and honest to most questions (81.4%). However, the majority of respondents (60%) had the unique experience or a low frequency interaction with institutions and local authorities, who influenced the perceptions and expectations regarding the quality of the services they should receive. Unlike the model developed by EUPAN, which was the basis of the questionnaire, where the indicators on the characteristics of services provided by public institutions and local authorities were grouped into 5 large dimensions, in the present instance, indicators of perception on the level of satisfaction with services provided, have been grouped into two large dimensions as follows:

quality of the service itself - the response of authorities to requests and concerns of citizens - how the authorities take into account issues raised by citizens and the priority they attach to their problems, timeliness, competence and courtesy with which they offer answers, timeliness of offering answers, etc.,
management of institutions in providing services - how institutions create their image of offering competitive services, the aspects of creating a pleasant and friendly communication, framework in which the interaction between citizen and civil servant takes place: variety of media, a flexible program with citizens, modern equipment held by the institution and appearance of employees.

Between 28th of July and 2nd of August was held in Sulina the first edition of the Summer School "Student’s Ombudsman - promoter of child’s rights in the scholar ethos", activity of the project Student’s Ombudsman. There were invited teachers, school managers, representatives of school inspectorates and pupils. The event, which gathered 60 participants, was organized in partnership with School Inspectorate of Tulcea County, County Youth Authority and the high school "Jean Bart" from Sulina. Being in the fourth year running, "Student’s Ombudsman" asserted as a project able to help young people to assume responsibilities, militating for asserting their rights, to help develop young people's participatory behavior. Become themselves bidder’s education, young people enrolled in the project developed the necessary skills of their adult life in a democratic society. In this context, the summer school was meant for sharing experiences and best practices on the functioning of Student’s Ombudsman in schools. Intended to be made annually, the school gathered during the 4 days 60 students and teachers from schools that developed Student’s Ombudsman project. During the summer school there were held training sessions on children’s rights, with the support of trainers, children rights experts and workshops aimed to propose alternatives to promote children rights in schools. A network of participants has been created and will be completed annually. The summer school will ensure the exchange of experiences between the two editions through the publication „Student’s Ombudsman”, which will include best practices, methodology for solving cases, initiatives to promote human / children rights in schools, collaboration with teachers and school managers, with local communities, obstacles and how they were overcome, etc. First editions of the publication have been completed during the summer school and are available, yet, on request from organization’s headquarters and will be published on the website of the organization. The publication will be sent to participants and the executive office to be disseminated by CNE. Every year, will be selected / completed the editorial team of the magazine.

Between 30th of March to 1st of April 2009 was held at Azuga, the training course of civil servants as part of the project "Citizens’ Charter" - PHARE 2006 - increased role of civil society in the integration of Romania. The 30 participants, civil servants representing the local partner institutions included in the project, attended the three lectures of British expert Roy Stephenson, Deputy Director Policy Projects – Government Communications Group at the Cabinet of Prime Minister of Great Britain. He talked about the British experience in implementing the Citizens’ Charter and provided examples, and ways of making charters for public institutions, referring to aspects of the concept, creation and implementation.
During the course there were included interactive work sessions for analysis and completion of the self - assessment questionnaire for each institution.
Based on the discussions there was drafted a timetable for further steps in creating the Citizens’ Charter in every institution and the organization of the following visits for support and assistance of the project team.

During 6th - 8th of March took place, at Busteni, the training course for volunteers within the project "Citizens’ Charter", project financed through PHARE 2006 - Increased role of civil society in the integration of Romania. The three days of training included lectures on law and government structures, focusing on legislation and government structures (assistant: Adriana Circiumaru, legal adviser at NACS), Law transparency and free access to public information (assistant: Monica Dimitriu, Head of European integration, international relations and foreign assistance programs at NACS), underlying a complex of activities included in the project and a presentation related to the principles and fundamentals of effective communication (assistant: Paula Mihai, Inspector on educational work at School Inspectorate of Buzau county.
The most important and instructive lectures for volunteers were supported by the Dutch expert Frank Faber, Projectleader on Citizens’ Charter in Netherlands, on how to collect information to substantiate a citizens’ charter and gave some examples of citizens' charter - European models.
The 31 volunteers took part in interactive activities designed to enhance the information gained and were encouraged to express ideas, proposals and recommendations for project activities where they will be involved. There were presented, as well, procedures and tools they will use in their monitoring activity on perception of citizens about the quality of the services offered by public institutions and public involvement in local decision making.
Volunteers had the opportunity to know each other and met the project team, and were invited to choose one coordinator for each of the five locations of the project.
Volunteers have expressed enthusiasm for participating in the project, even suggesting alternative procedures, adapted to the particularities of each location, to help in building a vision as appropriate as they could on the concerned matters.

"Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda21” in partnership with the National Agency of Civil Servants launched on January 27, 2009, 11:00am, at the National Agency of Civil Servants the "Citizens Charter", project funded by the EU, PHARE 2006/018-147.01.02/02/DEM 21, Increased role of civil society in the integration of Romania.
The aim of the goal is to increase the role of civil society in promoting the principles of good governance and citizens’ participation in policy making at local level. 1,200 people, 30 volunteers and 1,000 public servants from the 15 institutions and local governments from five counties: Cluj, Mehedinti, Tulcea, Vaslui and Bucharest Municipality will be involved in developing the Citizens’ Charter and building an awarding system of the best practices in the process of reforming the institutional and transparent decision making of Romanian public administration.
The approach will be building on and will adapt European models. Within this aim it will be ensured the transfer of expertise and know-how of the two EU Member States: England and Netherlands. The experience will be disseminated in other 15 counties through the National Agency of Civil Servants and through the Association of Municipalities and Cities in Romania.
The project will be unfolding on a period of over 10 months, December 2008 - October 2009 and will promote, for the first time in Romania, a national awarding system for good practices of public institutions and authorities in the domain of standards of quality and of attracting people in the act of decision-making.
The launch of the project, performed in the presence of local partners involved in the project, representatives of 15 public institutions: town halls, institutions of the prefect and decentralized institutions from the 5 locations and media representatives, aimed to assess the timing of activities and responsibilities of local partners.
Eugen Coifan, Vice President of NACS, the associated partner in the project, opened the meeting by stressing out the importance of the project within the nowadays Romanian context. Project Manager and Executive President of the association APSD - Agenda 21, Nina Cugler, continued with a summary of the project, focusing on its purpose, of the innovations it brings and the good collaboration with NACS on projects aimed to adapt the European communitarian acquis to Romania.
The discussion included topics as: the relationship between citizens and government, the possibility of assimilating the role of ethic counselor in mediating the relationship between citizens and client through the so-called "compensation mechanisms", project’s calendar, recruiting volunteers, potential difficulties in implementing proposed activities, citizens’ involvement in drafting charters for institutions. Finally, participants expressed their intention to contribute actively to the project’s activities and have made their own proposals and the draft strategy was approved.

from the County Council of Hunedoara, Silaghi Mihaela from the Mayoralty of Călan), Deiac Viviana from the Economic-Social Development Agency of the County of Hunedoara, Mariş Andreea from the Association for the Strengthening of Civil Society Valea Jiului, Petroşani, representatives of the County Council of Students, under the coordination of the teachers Ion Sterea and Sorin Vlaic and, last but not least, an important number of citizens living in the commune.

On the 28th of May 2008, the General Annual Assembly of the association APSD – Agenda 21 took place at its headquarters, on which occasion five years of activity were celebrated. Together with the members of the association and some of its active volunteers, representatives of our main partners took place in the event, partners without which the most important projects implemented in these five years would never have become reality. Thus, we would like to thank the following for being by our side: UNICEF Romania (present at the reunion was Mr. Eugen Crai), the National Agency for Civil Servants (represented by Monica Dimitriu and Doru Vasilescu), The School Inspectorate of Bucharest (represented by Mrs. Mihaela Florescu), The County School Inspectorate of Buzău (represented by Mrs. Paula Mihai), as well as the other School Inspectorates and high-schools involved in the project “Student’s Ombudsman”, currently in the fourth year of implementation.

Nina Cugler, Executive President of the Association, talked about the activity of the former five years, insisting on the importance of youth participation in programs for the community, of fruitful partnerships and of the extending the collaboration with association from other EU member states.

The partners and collaborators of the association emphasized the fact that they have found in APSD – Agenda 21 a responsible partner with a professional team, able to identify the problematic issues in the specific fields of activity and come with viable solutions. The team work together with the partners was appreciated, as being a key-element for the success of joint projects.

Mr. Eugen Crai highlighted the collaboration of APSD – Agenda 21 with UNICEF Romania, pointing out three factors which led to its duration and success: the avant-garde of ideas, the passion put in each activity carried out and the ability to attract values.

On its 5th anniversary, APSD – Agenda 21 instituted the quality of honor member of the association. Its president, PhD Alexandru Taşnadi handed out diplomas to the 16 collaborators, representatives of partner institutions of volunteers, designated honor members, and thanked them for their support.

Between the 22nd and the 24th of February, in Buşteni, there took place the training course for the volunteers in the project „Transparency and Ethics in the Public Administration”, finance through the PHARE 2005 – Strengthening Democracy in Romania program.

The three days included lectures on legislation and structures of the public administration, highlighting the Law on transparency and the Code of Conduct for Civil Servants (trainer: Adriana Cîrciumaru, juridical counselor, NACS), on the C.L.E.A.R. methodology (trainer: Monica Dimitriu, head of service, European Integration, International Relations and Programs with External Assistance, NACS), which represents the framework of the activities included in the project, and also a presentation on principles and bases of efficient communication (trainer: Paula Mihai, Inspector with the Educative Work, School Inspectorate of Buzău).

The 31 volunteers took part in interactive activities, meant to consolidate the received information and were encouraged to express their own ideas, propositions and recommendations concerning the activities of the project they are to be involved in. They were also presented the procedures and instruments they will use in the monitoring process for the evaluation of the citizens’ perception on the degree of transparency of the public institutions and the population’s involvement in the decision making at local level.

The volunteers were given the opportunity to get to know each other and to meet the project team and were also asked to choose, from among themselves, a coordinator from each of the five locations of the project.

The volunteers expressed their enthusiasm towards the participation in the project and even suggested alternative procedures, adapted to each location’s special situation, meant to contribute to the building and accurate vision on the adressed issues.

„Transparency and Participation in the Public Administration” – Project Launch

The gathering of the representatives of the main participants in the project „Transparency and Participation in the Public Administration”, financed by PHARE 2005 – Strenghtening Democracy in Romania, on the 17th of January, marked its official launch.

Eugen Coifan, vice-president of NACS, the association’s main partner in the project, opened the reunion by highlighting the importance of the project in the present Romanian context. The project manager and executive president of the association APSD – Agenda 21, Nina Cugler, continued with a short presentation of the project, insisting on the purpose and area of implementation, and Monica Dimitriu, head of service at NACS, talked about the CLEAR methodology, a primary instrument in achieving the project’s aims.

An important dimension of the meeting was the clarification of each participant’s responsibilities in the project, at local level.

Among the participants in the discussion were also Adriana Gorgoneţu from the Town Hall of Bucharest, Luciana Pascu from the County Council of Bacău, Dorin Nistor from the Town Hall of Sibiu, Ovidiu Tarnu from the County Council of Hunedoara, Viorica Ciotîngă from the County Council of Teleorman, Adriana Bodilcu from the Town Hall of Alexandria. The guests were given the chance to express their opinions and worries concerning the implementation of the project. The discussion included issues such as: the relationship between the citizens and the public administration, the legislation in the area of transparency and citizens’ participation in the decision making, the project’s calendar, the recruitment of volunteers, the possible difficulties in the achievement of the proposed activities, informing the citizens about the existent participation opportunities, etc. At the end, the participants expressed their intention to become active contributors in the project’s activities and presented their own propositions concerning these activities. The project strategy was also approved.

Seminar for dissemination of the results of the "Observer of the Prefect Institution" project

The two reports elaborated on the basis of the monitoring run by the group of volunteers and the public consultations organized by the association were made available for the participant NGOs.

The gathering facilitated the foundation of the „Network for the Promotion of Sustainable Development”, the initiative group being made up of the organizations present at the seminary. The network wishes to take upon itself the objectives entailed in the project, its purpose being the creation of a favorable framework for the constitution of partnerships between the members of the network, for experience exchange and for providing support and expertise in the fields peculiar to sustainable development: education for sustainable development, encouragement and support for national and international partnerships, environmental protection, support for groups experiencing high risk of marginalization or social exclusion, enhancement of the creative potential of certain groups – youngsters, researchers, mass-media representatives, the academic environment; promotion of multiculturalism, public administration reform, consolidation of the civil society, measure-taking against actions/ provisions that violate the principles of sustainable development.

Round Table „The Prefect Institution – Comparative Perspective in Romania and France”

A round table was organized on the 18th of July at the National Agency for Civil Servants headquarters, in order to benefit from the presence in Romania of Mr. Jacques Michaut, representative of the Prefect Institution in Paris. The gathering represents a part of the „Observer of the Prefect Institution” project, financed by the European Union through the PHARE 2004 – Civil Society financing line.

The meeting had as purpose the experience exchange concerning specific means of ensuring local level governing and sharing examples of good practice from the Prefect Institutions in the two countries, in the fields of crisis situations management, directing the decentralized civil service and the relations between the Prefect and the local civil service.

Present at the event was Mr. Victor Paul Dobre, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior and Administration Reform, Mr. József Birtalan, president of NACS and Secretary of State, Mr. Dănuţ Culeţu, Prefect of Constanta, Mihai Capră, Prefect of Galati and president of the Association of the Prefects and Subprefects in Romania, Marinică Cazacu, Prefect of Ialomita, representatives of our partners and mass-media. The European Commission Representation in Romania was represented by Monica Loloiu, Assistant Political Speaker and the Embassy of France in Romania was represented by Aurelie Richard, person in charge with the decentralized cooperation mission and NGOs.

Mr. Victor Paul Dobre highlighted the role of the prefect as representative of the government at local level, aspects related to the depolitization of the Prefect position and underlined the on-going character of the law, the effects of which are tightly connected to the process of decentralization.

In her presentation, Mrs. Nina Cugler, Executive President of APSD – Agenda 21, project coordinator, made a summary of the problems encountered in the process of implementation of the law, problems which were brought to her attention during the public consultations with Prefects, Subprefects and civil servants at local level.

Mr. Jacques Michaut gave a detailed insight of the attributions entailed by the Prefect position in France and spoke about examples of good practice related to crisis management situations and leadership of the deconcentrated public service. Following his exposition there was a dialogue with the Prefects present at the reunion.

Round Table „The Prefect Institution – Comparative Perspective in Romania and Italy”

A round table was organized on the 18th of June at the National Agency for Civil Servants headquarters, in order to benefit from the presence in Romania of Mr. Antonio Infante, vice-prefect from Rome. The gathering represents a part of the „Observer of the Prefect Institution” project, financed by the European Union through the PHARE 2004 – Civil Society financing line.

Present at the event was Mr. József Birtalan, president of NACS and Secretary of State. Also, prefects and sub-prefects of their representatives from the four locations of the project, but not only, took part in the meeting: Mioara Mantale, Prefectul of Bucharest, Aurelian Danu, Prefect of Braşov, Nicolae Jecu, Prefect of Ilfov, Marinică Cazacu, Prefect of Ialomiţa, Mircea Nistor, Sub-prefect of Dâmboviţa, Mircea Ioniţă, Sub-prefect of Prahova, Nicolae Sorescu, Sub-prefect of Teleorman, Radu Stoian, Head of the Integration Coordination Service, Prefect Institution of Arad, Marinela Mrejeru, Office Advisor, Prefect Institution of Constanţa, Cristina Şoneriu, Juridical Advisor, Prefect Institution of Harghita, Ciprian Luţea, European Integration Advisor, Prefect Institution of Iaşi. Other participants were: representatives of the partners, of the European Commission Representation in Romania, monitors – volunteers in the project, journalists.

In the four hours dedicated to the meeting, the objectives and results of the project were presented by Mrs. Nina Cugler, Executive President of APSD – Agenda 21, the role and prerogatives of the Prefect as high official, in Romania as in Italy, were discussed and oppinions were exchanged concerning the shape and efficiency of the legislation in the two countries. Subjects concerning the crisis situation management and the directing of the decentralized civil service were also debated. Mr. Antonio Infante shared with the other participants his experience of 25 years in the Italian civil service and served as a veritable source of information for the reform of the Romanian civil service.

The survey „How neutral is the public service? What do citizens think, what public servants say?” has been lauched

The survey has been made by IRSOP as a component of the „Observer of the Prefect Institution” project, financed by the European Union thru the PHARE 2004 Civil Society program and coordinated by the Association Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda 21 in partnership with the National Agency of Civil Servants.

The study has been implemented between 4 and 8th of January 2007, been interwied 500 citizens and 32 public servants from all the locations of the project: Arad, Bucuresti, Constanta, Harghita and Iasi.

" I would like to congratulate the organization “Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development – Agenda 21” for the project run, having as objective the raising of the quality of the civil service at local level for satisfying the needs of the citizens and the community."

"Your project is a success, first of all because it responds to the need of democratic change of the public administration system in Romania and second because of the impressive number of direct and indirect beneficiaries."

On the 7th of November, the gathering of the representatives of the participants in the Observer of the Prefect Institution project meant its official release. There was a presentation of the main activities of the project and of the responsibilities of each partner. The participants were able to ask questions and make suggestions for a better organization of the activities and for improving the foreseen results.

On the 16th of November, the first meeting with the representatives of the Prefect Institutions in the five locations allowed them to learn more about their role in the development of the project. All participants showed their eagerness to contribute as much as possible to the activities in the project and presented their own propositions. The eventual difficulties that might come up during the implementation of the project were also discussed, and the participants suggested possible ways to avoid them. Each institution designated a contact person, for a better communication with APDD – Agenda 21.

The Conference “A New Mentality in the Public Service”, held on the 25th of October, represented the closing of the project ”Transparency and Ethics in the Public Service”. It reunited representatives of the central and local public administration, of the monitors who took part in the project and of our main partners (National Agency of the Public Servants, Romanian Television).
The event was honored by the presence of his Excellency Jonathan Scheele, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Romania and prof. univ. dr. Alexandru Taşnadi, Pro-dean of the Faculty of General Economics and President of our association.
The main subjects on the agenda were:

During the debates, public personalities from all over the country and representatives of the mass-media exposed their opinions concerning the problems that the Romanian public service has to deal with and came up with solution to these problems.

The activities during the project supported the initiative of modifying the Law of the Public Servants’ Behavior Code, by inserting an article 20 – (1) claiming that: “In the purpose of an efficient application of the present behavior code, the heads of the public authorities and institutions shall name a public servant, preferably from the human resources compartment, for ethical counseling and the monitoring of the obeying to the behavior norms”. Other important results of the project are: the elaboration of the Manual of Procedures for the Implementation of the Behavior Code, the survey concerning the Perception of the Citizens of the Public Service, two Reports of the monitors, 16 TV-reports broadcasted on TVR1, the organizing of Open Gates Day in the public institutions of all four locations of the project and, most of all, the establishment of an efficient public-private partnership for providing an effective public administration.