Strengthening institutional capacity and establishment of a
community development network in the Ivano-Frankivsk Region
Duration of the case: 1 year (September 2004 – September2005)
Prepared by: Mariya Kovaliv and Genadiy Rusanov
Association of Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
April 2006
Abstract
This project strived to unite the most active representatives of local communities around
professional and institutionally developed non-governmental organizations working in the sphere of
community development. During project implementation, mechanisms of delegating certain
functions and authorities of local governments to non-governmental organizations were developed.
These functions and authorities were mainly related to the development and implementation of
community strategies and development projects and programs. Activities of non-governmental
organizations and their network are aimed to take some of these delegated functions and become
hubs of innovation, which then became a model for replication in other communities, since the
established network would have sufficiently strong informational, methodological, and qualified
human resources. Non-governmental organizations, members of the network, also play the role of
business development support centers and provide local businesses with information, consultation,
legal, training and resource services (i.e. access to computers and Internet, email, etc.). As the
network became established, more non-governmental organizations joined it, which drastically
increased the percentage of citizens involved to the decision-making in the community and capable
of implement and protect their civic rights and freedoms.
Background
This project strived to resolve the following problems:
- low level of citizen engagement in the development and implementation of community
strategies
- insufficient institutional capacity of non-governmental organizations as representatives
of the most active sectors of the community. This particularly relates to nongovernmental organizations working in the areas of community development;
- lack of community resource mobilization
About the organization
Association of Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk (AEDIF) was established in 1997 with
the goal to facilitate economic and social development of Ivano-Frankivsk Region and its
communities.
Objectives of the AEDIF:
Strategic planning, development and implementation of regional, local, and community
development plans, projects, and programs
Training and professional development in regional and local economic development
Conducting research and analysis regarding regional and local development
Exchange of experience and information with other regions of Ukraine and other countries
Organization of seminars, conferences, training programs, establishment of training and
analytical centers
Association of Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk works in close partnerships with more
than 30 active NGOs in the City of Ivano-Frankivsk, many communities located within IvanoFrankivsk Region, other regions of Ukraine, Canada, Poland, and Slovakia. We also keep close
contact with Ivano-Frankivsk City Administration, Ivano-Frankivsk State Regional Administration,
a number of national, regional, and local mass media, local and international (University of
Waterloo in Canada and University of Cleveland in USA) higher educational establishments, a
number of technical assistance projects throughout Ukraine. Association’s experts provide training
and consulting to NGOs as well as local government of the region regarding community
development, mobilizing local resources, civil society strengthening, and other issues on an ongoing basis.
Association works in close partnership with Ivano-Frankisk Regional State Administration, District
State Administration, and Municipal Administrations in the region. According to the Decree of the
Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration nr. 503 dated June 04, 2003 „On the development
of draft social and economic development strategy of the region”, the Association is designated as
one of the developers of a regional economic and social development strategy and economic and
social development strategies of 10 communities throughout the region.
Association’s staff and experts participated in a number of trainings, internships, workshops and
conferences on strategic planning, local and regional economic development, NGO coalition
building and operation, project development and management, communication management, local
governance reform, and others. Besides this, all Association’s staff received practical training in
USA, Canada, Slovakia, Poland, and Lithuania.
Association is an active member of several regional, national, and international networks, including
Ukrainian National Association of Regional Development Agencies and CEE Citizen Network.
Objectives and activities
Objective 1:
Examine the institutional capacity, activities, needs and potential of non-governmental
organizations in the pilot communities.
1.1. Conduct focus group sessions and consultations with non-governmental organizations
of the region
1.2. Conduct consultations with local governments to identify perspectives and mechanisms
for cooperation with non-governmental organizations
1.3. Conduct consultations with businesses that are active in the community
1.4. Conduct a series of preliminary strategic planning sessions to develop an overall
strategy for the network of non-governmental organizations
Objective 2:
Strengthen the professional level of non-governmental organizations – members of the network
2.1. Conduct a series of trainings. Topics were identified during the initial examination stage
(see activity 1.1.) and based on further consultations with non-governmental organizations.
2.2. Jointly develop a comprehensive strategy for the network of non-governmental
organizations.
2.3. Discuss the developed strategy with local governments and businesses.
Objective 3:
Increase the technical and informational capacity of non-governmental organizations – members of
the network
3.1. Purchase computer and office equipment to strengthen the technical capacity of the
NGO network
3.2. Develop a web-portal of the NGO network.
3.3. Develop and publish profiles of the pilot communities.
Description of the implementation
Project Activities
1
Objective 1: Examine the institutional capacity,
activities, needs and potential of non-governmental
organizations in the pilot communities.
1.1. Conduct focus group sessions and consultations
with non-governmental organizations of the region
1.2. Conduct consultations with local governments to
identify perspectives and mechanisms for cooperation
with non-governmental organizations
1.3. Conduct consultations with businesses that are
active in the community
1.4. Conduct a series of preliminary strategic planning
sessions to develop an overall strategy for the network
of non-governmental organizations
Objective 2: Strengthen the professional level of nongovernmental organizations – members of the network
2.1. Conduct a series of trainings. Topics will be
identified during the initial examination stage (see
activity 1.1.) and based on further consultations with
non-governmental organizations.
2
3
4
5
Months
6 7 8 9
10
1
1
12
2.2. Jointly develop a comprehensive strategy for the
network of non-governmental organizations.
2.3. Discuss the developed strategy with local
governments and businesses.
Objective 3: Increase the technical and informational
capacity of non-governmental organizations – members
of the network
3.1. Purchase computer and office equipment to
strengthen the technical capacity of the NGO network
3.2. Develop a web-portal of the NGO network.
3.3. Develop and publish profiles of the pilot
communities.
3.4. Develop and publish profiles of the partner NGOs.
Impact, results and lessons learned
Objectives
Objective 1. Examine the
institutional
capacity,
activities,
needs
and
potential
of
nongovernmental organizations
in the pilot communities.
Quantitative Results
- 10 focus group sessions (2 in each
community)
- 5 consultation sessions with
governments of the pilot communities
- 5 consultation sessions with
businesses of the pilot communities
- 10 strategic planning sessions to
formulate an overall network strategy
Objective 2. Strengthen the
professional level of nongovernmental organizations
– members of the network
- 10 training workshops (2 in each
community)
- 1 strategy of the NGO network
- 5 round table sessions to discuss the
developed strategy with
local
governments and businesses
Objective 3. Increase the
technical and informational
capacity
of
nongovernmental organizations
– members of the network
- 5 computers purchased for the
NGOs – members of the network
- 5 laser printers purchased for the
NGOs – members of the network
- 1 NGO network web portal
developed
- 5 community profiles developed and
published
- 5 NGO profiles developed and
published
Qualitative Results
- analysis of the institutional
capacity, activities, needs and
potential
of
non-governmental
organizations
- community development NGOs
network established
- basis for intersectional partnership
established
- improved awareness within
communities regarding existing
problems and issues and their
potential solutions
- improved planning of NGO
activities
- common vision and strategies
agreed by the all sectors of the
community
- improved information exchange
between network members
- improved technical capacity of
NGOs
- NGO network information
resource established in the Internet
promotion
of
the
pilot
communities’ potential
- improved promotion of the NGOs
and their network
Contacts information
Mariya Kovaliv and Genadiy Rusanov
Association of Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk
26 Dnistrovska St., Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine
Office Telephone Number(s): + 380 342 552022; + 380 342 552026
Fax Number: + 380 342 559156
E-Mail Address: aedif@aedif.if.ua ;
www.aedif.if.ua