TI-Bulgaria publishes the first Local Integrity System Index on the occassion of the International Anticorruption Day, 9 December
Today, 9 of December 2015, Transparency International – Bulgaria officially presents the results of Local Integrity System Index – 2015. This is the first annual comparative research ranking of key institutions of local authorities and municipalities. Local Integrity System Index offers a comparative picture of the anticorruption capacity, role and governance of the municipal council, mayor, municipal administration, political parties, judiciary system, police, business, media and civil society in the 27 municipal regional centers of Bulgaria. When these authorities function in compliance with the leading standards of independence, transparency and integrity they form a sound Local Integrity System and provide an effective and integral governance.
The Index was presented today at a discussion at Sheraton Hotel Sofia.
The purpose of the discussion was to present the best practices and opportunities for improvement of the local environment in Bulgarian municipalities. Among the participants in the forum were representatives of the local government and regional administration authorities, NGOs, business and media.
Local Integrity System Index is a three year-long initiative of Transparency International – Bulgaria, financially supported from America for Bulgaria Foundation. Twenty-six civil partner organizations across the country are involved in the project. The purpose of the initiative is to not simply evaluate the better and the worse performance of the local administrations and structures. The index provides a platform for exchange of good practices and capacity development at all political process actors, civil society and business at local level in the Bulgarian cities and regions.
Training seminar for the local monitoring teams of the Local Integrity System Index initiative took place on 16-17 January 2015 in Sofia
Representatives of 26 non-governmental organizations throughout the country took part in a training seminar within the Local Integrity System Index initiative of Transparency International-Bulgaria. The seminar took place on 16-17 January 2015 in Sofia.
The aim of the meeting, titled “Index of the Local Integrity System: how to conduct the monitoring?”, was to provide practical guidance to the local monitoring teams to implement the methodology for assessment of the key institutions at local level, encompassed by the study: municipal council, mayor, municipal administration, political parties and coalitions, district courts, police, business, media, civil society.
The participants shared their expectations from the work on the initiative and exchanged contacts and practical experience from their activities on projects in the regions that they represent.
Transparency International-Bulgaria presented the Methodology for Assessment of the Local Integrity System in Bulgaria
On 28 October 2014 TI-Bulgaria officially presented the Methodology for Assessment of the Local Integrity System in Bulgaria, developed within the framework of the “Local Anticorruption Index” project. The initiative is implemented with the financial support of America for Bulgaria Foundation.
Among the participants in the event were representatives of the regional administrations, regional public councils for prevention and counteraction of corruption throughout the country, municipal administrations of the municipalities-regional centres, representatives of the National Associations of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as representatives of the national media.
The methodology will serve as the basis for assessment of the institutions and structures which are at the centre of the local integrity system at the level of municipal self-governance in Bulgaria: municipal council, mayor, municipal administration, political parties, business, media, non-governmental organizations, courts and police. The assessment will encompass all 27 municipalities-regional centres in the country in the period 2015-2017. The research activities will be performed in collaboration with representatives of non-governmental organizations from all municipalities-regional centres in the country.
The first Local Integrity System Index in Bulgaria will be published in late 2015. It will allow for comparison among the systems for integrity in governance and counteraction of corruption in the 27 regional municipalities in the country. At the same time, the index will serve as a basis for exchange of good governance and organizational practices, as well as for supporting the municipalities that have received lowest scores to develop their capacity, role and mechanisms for integrity in the public governance and development.
