The setting up of a resource and coordination centre and an electronic system for drafting, managing and reporting on municipal European projects

The managing authority of the Technical Assistance Operational Programme awarded a grant for the implementation of a project with identification No. 0118-НСРОБ-1.10, BG161PO002-1.10.01-0001, entitled "E-PROGRESS- European projects, municipal activities and electronic management". The beneficiary is the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) and the contract value amounts to BGN 7 785 100, 00, the duration of the implementation activities being set at 36 months.

The aim of the project is to raise the capacity of municipalities to effectively and successfully manage projects co-funded by the Structural and Cohesion Funds (SCF). This will be achieved through strengthening the administrative capacity of municipalities in order to digitalise all activities related to drafting and implementing European projects; facilitating communications between municipalities and the managing authorities (MA), the certifying authority (CA) and the auditing authority (AA) in drafting, implementing, monitoring and controlling projects co-funded by the SCF; providing free-of-charge expert support to municipalities for drafting and implementing their projects.

The results of the project implementation is expected to be as follows: an electronic system developed and put into place for managing and implementing projects, as well as experts trained to work with it; around 200 municipalities provided for in technical terms;a national database created concerning municipal projects funded by the SCF, good municipal practices and technology solutions which will contribute to facilitating and speeding up communications between municipalities, MA, CA and AA; free-of-charge expert support provided by a resource and coordination centre to help with drafting and implementing projects of the beneficiary municipalities under the SCF; at least 6 new jobs created; improved publicity and effectiveness of the European projects implemented by municipalities on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The project provides for the implementation of two main activities - developing and establishing an electronic system for drafting, managing and reporting on municipal European projects on the one hand and setting up a resource and coordination centre for municipal projects on the other hand.