(2010-2013)
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Public Participation in Local Sustainable Development in the Cities of Medias and Sighisoara
July 2003 – January 2004
The project was a Romanian-American Sustainable Partnerships (RASP) under the Umbrella Grant Program World Learning/USAID. It started after the signing of the Sub-grant Agreement, on 21 July 2003, as part of the LA 21 project. The partners were the National Centre for Sustainable Development (NCSD), the Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation (REPF) of Miercurea Ciuc, Romania, and the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) of Washington DC, USA.
Phase one of the project involved the local assessment of the civil society sector through two roundtables in Sighisoara and Medias. Phase two of the project involved the engagement of the partners in the training of civil society organizations and local authorities in Medias and Sighisoara. As a result, ELI prepared a handbook that addressed the issues of interest to the local participants: sustainable development, environmental legislation, access to environmental information, environmental advocacy, etc.
The training activities were performed in two sessions by ELI and then by NCSD and REPF. The agenda was designed to meet the specific needs of the local partnerships in implementing sustainable development projects. ELI brought expertise and information which were highly beneficial to the Romanian organizations. The training provided by ELI helped with capacity building for the REPF and NCSD staff by describing alternative approaches to environmental law enforcement, environmental advocacy, etc. Similarly, the Romanian organizations provided information and examples which sparked ELI’s interest and initiated talks on future possible projects among the three partners.
In September 2003, the draft Local Strategies for Sustainable Development of the Sighisoara and Medias Municipalities, formulated under LA21 UNDP project, were submitted to public debate. Thanks to technical assistance provided by the REPF and NCSD staff, three project proposals were selected for grants in the two cities. In Medias, the project of a partnership of 4 NGOS, “Pro Natura Mediensis (The Citizens of Medias for Nature): A Sustainable Cohabitation” received a total grant of $9,000. In Sighisoara two grants were awarded, each amounting to $4,500:
- "Preservation and development of the natural potential of the Serches Lake" submitted by the association "Partnership for Environment – Tarnava Mare";
- "Adopt an oak", submitted by the organization "Sighisoara Durabila".
Learn more:
Environmental Partnership Foundation, Local Agenda 21 in Sighisoara and Medias
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