City of Vilnius Municipal Capital Development Programme
The main objectives of this European Bank for Reconstruction and Development-funded programme were to enhance the City of Vilnius’ ability to develop and fund a capital investment programme. The two most significant programme achievements were the development of a ranking system for capital projects and the development of a framework for the implementation of Development Cost Charges by developers.
Funding Agency
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the Canadian Technical Cooperation Fund
Timeframe
2003-2006
Geographic Focus
The geographic focus of this programme was the City of Vilnius, Lithuania
Project Partners
The programme was implemented in partnership with the City of Vilnius and Economic Research Centre (ERC) in Vilnius, Lithuania. The ERC is a non-profit organization with a wide and significant history of working with municipalities in Lithuania, including with the City of Vilnius. ERC operates as a research institute and consulting group. Its main research spheres are economic development and economic policy; regional development; industry restructuring; knowledge economy and enterprise economy.
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Background
After gaining independence from the former Soviet Union, Lithuania, like other transitioning economies, began to shift from a centrally-planned and financed local government structure to one that was more democratic, decentralized, and locally-accountable. This unprecedented increase in the level of responsibility for a transitioning capital city like Vilnius was extremely difficult given that it affected every aspect of municipal management, involved changes to national laws, and went against years of Soviet-style modes of operating. As Vilnius gained more responsibilities for service provision to its citizens, it was faced with the need for a more decentralized municipal financial system and for new revenue sources to be able to fulfill its new obligations, to reach European standards, and to compete globally.
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Project Description
The goal of this programme was to support the improvement of the capital budgeting process of the City of Vilnius and promote the efficient generation of resources which could be used to fund an ongoing capital infrastructure programme for the City.
Key results included:
- A common understanding of the City’s current systems, critical issues and key areas for improvement, informed by European and EU best practices and where they want to be
- An action plan to implement a new, integrated capital management programme (including information technology plan)
- A common understanding of existing and potential revenue sources
- An action plan to implement a revenue enhancement programme
- A range of options for alternative capital financing that the City may consider for future investments.
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Approach
This programme was not a typical “design and deliver” program as it had a significant implementation component and the nature of the tasks required Municipal officials to lead the implementation. Programme consultants advised, recommended and helped with the documentation. The programme achieved its results through extensive stakeholder-led research, in-depth reviews of European and local best practices, and the input of Canadian expertise in municipal finance, capital investment, and related issues.
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Canada-Baltic Municipal Cooperation Program on Strategic Urban Management (CBMCP): Phases I and II
The first phase of this five-year technical cooperation program focused on providing the municipal administrations of the Baltic capital cities of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius with an understanding of democratic planning approaches and to innovate the means by which these approaches could be applied in the prevailing post-Soviet context. Initially, municipal strategic plans were formulated as the first steps in the creation of city land-use planning and development functions that supported emerging democratic and market-based economic conditions. In the second phase of the project, the strategic planning cycles were completed within each of the three capital city governments and economic development initiatives were implemented, thereby institutionalizing strategic planning and economic development mechanisms within the local authorities’ modes of operating. A series of capacity development initiatives were delivered which resulted in the adoption of new institutional practices related to urban management, administration and performance measurement. In addition, the second phase saw the replication of the strategic planning processes and capacity building in seven additional municipalities in the region.
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Funding Agency
The Department of External Affairs and International Trade Canada (Task Force on Central and Eastern Europe) and the Canadian International Development Agency (Central and Eastern European Branch)
Timeframe
1994-1999
Geographic Focus
The geographic focus of this program was in the former Soviet Baltic Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Specifically targeted were the capital cities of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.
Project Partners
The program was implemented in partnership with the capitals of Estonia (Tallinn), Riga (Latvia) and Vilnius (Lithuania) and the Ministry of Public Administration Reform and Local Authorities and the Ministry of Culture (Lithuania); Ministry of Regional Development and Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Finance (Latvia); the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Finance (Estonia).
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Background
After gaining independence from the former Soviet Union, the Baltic countries were faced with a need to change from centrally planned, Moscow-dominated governance and economic systems to a democratic and market-oriented system, able to function in a competitive global environment. A key aspect of this transition has been the decentralization of decision-making powers to local authorities. This unprecedented change has been extremely difficult given that it affects every aspect of municipal management. It has had an impact on the laws under which a municipality is administered, the economic base of the municipalities, the political system, the social structure, the ethnic mix, the rights and relationships between state, municipality and private individuals and every other conceivable aspect of the environment in which a municipality functions. This was a total metamorphosis and it occurred extremely rapidly. This is a situation that had no precedent in modern municipal history and as such placed an enormous burden on municipal governments.
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Project Description
The goal of this cooperation program was the formulation and implementation of a multi-stakeholder strategic planning process in the capital cities of the three participating Baltic countries, to direct the strengthening and restructuring of their urban management systems in support of the ongoing processes of decentralization and democratization. Particular emphasis was placed on capacity building for local economic development and on implementing economic development initiatives coming out of the strategic plans such as economic profiles, portfolios of municipal investment projects, investment in tourism marketing programs, streamlining of municipal tendering and project approval processes and the establishment of capital investment and debt management programs. In addition, the delivery of a series of capacity development initiatives (in areas ranging from project finance to municipal organizational effectiveness, stakeholder participation, official plan formulation and regional cooperation) led to the adoption of new institutional practices related to urban management, administration and performance measurement. The replication of the strategic planning processes and the capacity building activities was completed in seven additional municipalities in the region.
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Approach
This multi-year technical cooperation program stressed the collaborative transfer of knowledge and skills through a variety of mechanisms including demonstration projects, training workshops and professional exchanges. A capacity development program was designed and delivered utilizing Canadian professional training missions to the Baltics, a number of study tours to Canada for Baltic professionals, curriculum development and on-site training workshops and international/regional conferences. By utilizing the train-the-trainer approach, this program ensured the sustainability of its results, by building the capacity of 30 Baltic professional trainers in the fields of strategic planning, problem solving, group facilitation, performance measurement, stakeholder involvement it territorial planning, urban economic base analysis, municipal economic development and urban heritage conservation.
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Latvia Municipal Exchange Program on Urban Development and Environmental Management
The Latvia Municipal Exchange Program on Urban Development and Environmental Management was a short-term technical cooperation and knowledge sharing initiative. The primary activity was a four-week municipal training program, delivered in Canada, for Latvian professionals and decision-makers. This project served as a springboard for the more comprehensive technical cooperation program, the Canada-Baltic Municipal Cooperation Program on Strategic Urban Management.
Funding Agency
The Department of External Affairs and International Trade Canada (Task Force on Central and Eastern Europe)
Timeframe
1992
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Geographic Focus
Participants in the exchange were drawn from municipalities across the Republic of Latvia and the program was delivered in Canada, in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Project Partners
Our overseas partners in this initiative included the National Latvia Federation, the Latvian Architects Association and the Association of Latvian Engineers. Many Canadian municipalities also contributed their time and expertise, as did the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Canadian Executive Services Organization.
Background
Latvia, like all former Soviet Republics, was undergoing a transition to democracy and the free market economy in the early 1990s. This transition meant reform in political and bureaucratic institutions including local governments. With these administrative reforms came the need for training at all levels, to give decision-makers the tools to guide their institutions through this challenging transition.
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Project Description
The objectives of the Latvian Municipal Exchange Program were to enhance the quality of municipal and environmental management in Latvia, to promote mutually beneficial linkages between Latvian decision-makers and Canadian organizations and to establish opportunities for Canadian private and public sector organizations to participate in the restructuring of Latvia.
Approach
The program objectives were achieved through the delivery of an in-depth, four-week, municipal training program. The training program consisted of a study tour for Latvian professionals of facilities in Ontario and Quebec, which was followed by work placements within Canadian municipalities and/or private sector organizations in a number of provinces. Each Latvian delegate was placed in a work environment best suited to his or her community and professional needs. |
