Source: official web-site of Ivan-Frankivsk City Council
Today, on March 18, the first meeting of Advisory Committee of Partnership for Local Economic Development and Democratic Governance Project (PLEDG Project) took place.
PLEDDG Project is implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Canadian Government. It will be implemented in the course of 5 years. In December 2015 PLEDDG Project signed Memorandums of Cooperation with partner cities, one of which is Ivano-Frankivsk, aimed at the development of 4 regions of Ukraine. The goal of PLEDDG project is local economic development, creation of favourable business environment, decentralization process support. This cooperation is aimed at strengthening of local municipal sector, introduction of effective democratic governance, small and medium business development.
The vital tasks of the project are the problem of internally displaced persons and their integration in local economy; creation the centers for administrative services provision; cities’ marketing and branding; investments attraction (adaptation of the “Investment map of Ukraine” project). Special attention is paid to environmental sustainability and gender equality.
In January-February 2016 the cities formed their advisory committees where the directions of PLEDDG Project implementation in each city will be discussed. These advisory committees are interim advisory bodies created for the period of Project implementation. They will supervise, analyze and monitor Project implementation in each of the partner-cities.
Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor and Head of the advisory committee Mr. Ruslan Martsinkiv made opening remarks at the meeting. He mentioned the importance of PLEDDG Project for receiving international experience. The Mayor stressed that the priority in the development of Ivano-Frankivsk is given to energy efficiency programs and provision of public services and utilities. Therefore, it is important for the city authorities to get recommendations from the international partners in relation to improvement of this sector.
Advisory committees are composed of the representatives of local governments, local deputies, public organizations, business associations, women organizations, and mass media. Number of members in a Committee is defined on the basis of the principle: no more than 40% of local authorities’ representatives, and the rest – competent, experienced, qualified representatives of the non-governmental organizations and institutions of the city.
The activity of the advisory committees is transparent and open to public. All protocol decisions, addresses and conclusions are of advisory nature and are mandatory for consideration by the executive committee, departments and divisions of the city council in each city, in which they are created.
The main task of the advisory committee is to facilitate public dialogue on topical issues of the local governance, development and implementation of the strategies, plans, special programs, projects and measures in the sphere of democratic governance, small and medium business support, investments attraction, introduction of transparent and efficient management models complying with the priorities of local development and facilitating the implementation of the reforms.
Video: Channel TRK Vezha
