Naranchuluun Төсөл хүлээн авна
Орон нутгийн засаглал, төрийн албаны шинэчлэлийн санаачлага (LGI)
Бодлогын тэтгэлэгт сургалт 2006/2007
LGI-ийн тэтгэлэгт сургалтын хөтөлбөр бүс нутагт бодлогын шинэчлэлийг дэмжиж, бодлогын төвшинд нөлөө үзүүлэх авьяас, чадвартай хүний нөөцийг бий болгох, бодлого судлаачдын үндэстэн хоорондын сүлжээ бий болгох чиглэлээр ажилладаг.
LGI хөтөлбөр 2006 оны 10- сараас 2007 оны 10-р сард болох тэтгэлэгт сургалтдаа төсөл хүлээн авна. Сургалтын талаархи дэлгэрэнгүй мэдээллийг http://lgi.osi.hu/documents.php?m_id=81 -ээс авна уу.
OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM INITIATIVE
Nador utca 11, 1051 Budapest, Hungary
Mailing Address: H-1397 Budapest, P.O. Box 519
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Call for Proposals
Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative (LGI)
Policy Fellowship 2006/2007
I. Purpose
LGI's fellowship program supports practical policy reform in the region, builds the capacities of talented individuals who are well placed to influence policy, creates networks of multinational experts, and supports the mission of LGI. Each year LGI selects talented professionals from Central, East and South-East Europe and the Newly Independent States to participate in the one-year program. Fellows work in small teams under the guidance of a well-respected mentor to produce policy-oriented studies on a given topic. The completed studies are impact oriented; each contains an advocacy or implementation strategy and concrete policy recommendations. LGI provides its fellows with training on how to write effective, concise, fact-based, practical policy reports. Other training modules LGI offers its fellows are public speaking, presentation skills and advocacy methods. At the conclusion of the program LGI works with its Fellows to determine what steps it can take to support the proposed recommendations in the completed studies. Fellows are generally policy researchers, policy advisors, civil servants and members of NGOs, advocacy groups or professional associations.
- To learn more about the Open Society Institute see: http://www.soros.org/
- To learn more about the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative see: http://lgi.osi.hu/index.php
II. The project
The primary goal of the LGI Policy Fellowship program is to support policy research aimed at stimulating innovative and practical policy reform. Each year broad topics are identified for candidates from different country groups. LGI is currently calling for Fellows for its 2006/2007 program, which will run from October 2006 to October 2007. For more background information about the fellowship program see: http://lgi.osi.hu/documents.php?m_id=81
This year LGI is featuring two topics:
Topic 1: "Assessing the 'New Public Management' reforms in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union"
Topic 2: "Spatial Analysis in Addressing Concentrations of Vulnerable Groups"
III. Fellowship topics for 2006/7
Topic 1: Assessing the 'New Public Management' reforms in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union
Team Mentor: Professor Guy Peters, University of Pittsburgh.
Governments have been attempting from their inception to make their bureaucracies more efficient and effective. Any number of ideas have been tried to achieve that goal, but during the past several decades the ideas of the New Public Management (NPM) have become a dominant approach to improving performance in the public sector. While the ideas of NPM have been characterized a number of different ways, the basic concept has included greater use of market-type programs to manage personnel and programs, the creation of greater autonomy for public organizations and public managers, greater attention to the “customers” of public services, and the use of alternative forms of service delivery. These reforms also tend to enhance the role of public managers in governance, and to some extent reduce the control of politicians. Not all governments have adopted all of these instruments, but a variety of packages have been adopted.
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe were gaining their independence at about the time that these ideas became central in the reform of the State. Both through their own decisions and through pressures from various international organizations such as the World Bank many of these states implemented the ideas of the New Public Management in their public sectors. In addition, some of the reforms came from within central government while some represented innovations by local and regional governments. Although there were some severe doubts whether this style of public management was appropriate for these countries emerging from decades of authoritarian government, the programs were implemented. In many cases these methods of administration have been in place for a decade or more and it is now appropriate to assess their effects on governance and consider alternatives to this style of management. Some of the same reconsideration is taking place in the more established governments of Western Europe, North America and the Antipodes, and it is important to assess the options for continuing improvements of governing. Some specific questions might be:
1) Have the expected improvements in efficiency within government been realized, and how do we know? If not, what have been the major barriers to enhancing efficiency? How can any such barriers be overcome?
- Has the emphasis on autonomy of organizations produced difficulties in coordination and managing across the whole of government? If so, what are possible solutions?
- "How effective have been attempts to make public services more "user-friendly" and how far has this influenced bureaucratic behavior?" What strategies can be used to enhance the access of public services by citizens?
4) How have citizens responded to changes in the manner of delivering services? Are the expected improvements in citizen satisfaction being achieved? What can be done to enhance citizen satisfaction, and how can this dimension of performance be related to more “objective” measures of government performance.
5) Some aspects of NPM depend upon the existence of a strong civil society and the using the private sector to implement and evaluate policy. Have these changes been occurring and are there effective alternatives to direct government provision of public services? Can the public sector be effective in fostering civil society?
6) What accountability problems have been created by the implementation of NPM reforms? What remedies have been created to address those problems, and how effective are those remedies?
These questions, and many others, have been raised by the implementation of the NPM, and it is important to understand the implications of these management reforms. In particular, it is crucial to examine what further reforms may be needed in public administration in these countries, and whether the perpetuation of the NPM style of governing is the best option for these cases.
Target Fellows:
- Policy researchers, especially those connected to prominent policy institutes and think tanks
- Members of professional associations
3. Select civil servants
Applications will be considered from Central and Eastern Europe, South East Europe, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia.
Topic 2: Spatial Analysis in Addressing Concentrations of Vulnerable Groups
Team Mentor: Katalin Pallai, International Expert and Advisor to Budapest Mayor
Population groups, resources, services, and positive and negative assets are rarely distributed evenly across the territory of a municipality. Neighborhoods with high concentrations of impoverished and/or vulnerable groups often have the weakest endowments of assets and services. Thus, constraints resulting from income poverty and/or social marginalization are sometimes compounded by decisions made in the public domain. This process can constrain social mobility and lead to deteriorating opportunities for already deprived groups.
Informed municipal spatial analysis—of population clusters, their respective economic endowments/constraints, and the public services (or lack of) that are provided to them—is one useful tool that can aid policy makers in their approach to ameliorate conditions in deprived areas. Experience shows, however, that often times in East and South East Europe, municipal economic, capital investment, social and environmental development strategies have been formulated without a thorough spatial analysis being considered by the contributing stakeholders (i.e. local government, business community, NGOs, etc.).
Fellows interested in this topic would analyze attempts by 2-3 municipal governments in their respective countries to focus on the integrated improvement of public service delivery and economic opportunity in neighborhoods with a high concentration of poor and/or vulnerable households. Fellows would begin by undertaking a spatial analysis of each selected municipality to reveal the clustering of different population groups, local conditions and services. The results could then be compared with the strategies that have been recently formulated by those municipalities to see if their intended goals and objectives adequately address the needs of impoverished/vulnerable groups. Where formal strategies have not been elaborated, the results of the mapping exercises can be analyzed in the context of municipal expenditure allocations. In doing so, the “undeclared dimension” of governmental decisions, like group interests, affiliations and prejudices may also be exposed, and recommendations to combat those biases can be offered.
The analysis should include a description of the methods used to identify the target neighborhood, the investments and other interventions undertaken by the city government and any other partners involved, and of the impacts achieved. Based on that analysis, the ultimate findings should point to practical policy recommendations for local authorities with regard to intervention strategies to address pockets of vulnerable groups. For example, fellows might point to the need to refine service delivery schemes in order to accommodate different needs and demands in such areas.
Research proposals for this topic should include a shortlist of proposed municipalities that will be assessed (with justifications of why those locales have been selected), and the methodology by which you might undertake this policy study. Final approaches and methodologies will be jointly elaborated with the group Mentor.
Target Fellows:
- Policy researchers, especially those connected to prominent policy institutes and think tanks
- Members of professional associations
- Select civil servants
Applications will be considered from Central and Eastern Europe, South East Europe, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia.
IV. Methods and procedures
Grant
LGI will award successful applicants with a stipend for a period of 10 months between October 2006 and July 2007. The stipend will cover monthly expenses related to research and travel costs. Additional funds will cover costs related to attending three international workshops, at least two of which will take place in Budapest, Hungary.
Eligibility
Descriptions of ideal applicants follow each topic being offered. Fellows are normally civil servants, members of advocacy groups or professional associations, policy researchers and policy advisers. A graduate degree or equivalent is required. Applicants should be citizens of the countries noted under each topic. As a rule, Fellows will be based in their home countries and will be required to attend three international Fellowship workshops. Fellows are expected to continue with their current employment, spending only up to fifty percent of their time on the Fellowship program.
*Please note that LGI looks favorably upon applicants who can demonstrate in their application that they have secured practical institutional support from a governmental ministry/department, or a reputable policy center or similar institution.
English Language: All applications must be in English and applicants must have excellent English-language skills. The English skills of finalists will be evaluated during interviews to ensure that they can participate actively in discussions in English with the expert committees and others in the Soros foundations network about their area of expertise.
For information about LGI's Russian-language fellowship program see: http://lgi.osi.hu/documents.php?m_id=107
Methodology
LGI will group Fellows into teams of approximately 4-6 members. Teams will be led by an expert mentor. Mentors will guide Fellows in formulating their final research plans, draft reports, and implementation strategies. Mentors will also facilitate professional cooperation and communication between members of the team. Fellows are encouraged to support each other’s work with their expertise and comments within their teams. LGI encourages teams of Fellows to develop joint or comparable research agendas.
Expected outcomes/ products
Fellows are expected to conduct high quality research according to the mutually accepted research protocol. As a final product, Fellows will submit a research report that is a persuasive policy document. Reports will be fact-based and will include policy recommendations. Implementation and advocacy plans will also be produced by fellows, to ensure forward thinking about the results of their findings.
Teams are expected to submit a joint report at the conclusion of the project. LGI may publish these studies in English and/or their respective local languages. Finally, LGI will seek ways to work with Fellows in the future on implementing aspects of their proposed policy recommendations.
Application procedure
Step 1. Submission of the Application:
- Applications should be emailed to LGI at the following address: [email protected]
- The subject heading must identify which Fellowship Topic you are applying for.
Applications must include ALL of the following materials:
- Statement of interest (1 page maximum)
- Research proposal (2,000 words maximum) including a well-defined research problem, topic justification, research methodology, and expected outcomes of the research. See individual topic descriptions for specific requirements.
- Professional CV (which includes: full name, email and telephone number of the applicant, country of origin and residence)
- English language writing sample (maximum 5 pages)
- The name and contact information of three people familiar with the professional capacities of the applicant.
**Please note that failure to submit all of the above documents will likely result in your application being immediately disqualified.
The deadline for submitting applications is June 21, 2006 (17:00 GMT). Late applications will not be considered.
Step 2. Review and selection:
Proposals must respond to domestic needs, be policy-oriented, focused and creative. Each incoming application will be registered by LGI upon reception. LGI will check each submission to ensure that it meets the formal criteria and quality. Submissions will be reviewed by LGI (see timetable below) and the team mentors.
LGI will contact shortlisted candidates for a follow-up interview either by phone or in person in the applicant's respective country.
Step 3. Feedback
All applicants will be notified by LGI of their status by July 31, 2006.
Step 4. Fellowship program
June 21, 2006 Deadline for submitting applications
July 31, 2006 Selection process finalized and applicants notified of their status
Summer/Autumn 2006 Selected Fellows sign contracts with LGI
October 1, 2006 Fellowship program begins, Fellows submit their detailed research plans.
Oct/Nov, 2006 Budapest Opening Trainings and Workshop
Fellows and Mentors will discuss the research they have undertaken thus far, develop a terms of reference for standardizing the individual reports (structure, language, key terms, approach, etc), and discuss possible conferences or workshops to attend during the year that would strengthen the reports. Fellows will be offered training seminars of policy paper writing.
March 1, 2007 First Drafts and advocacy/implementation strategies due
March/April 2007 Interim Team workshop. Groups meet to discuss and comment on each other's first drafts.
July 1, 2007 Deadline for full drafts — including executive summary, policy report, policy brief — of Fellowship projects
September 1, 2007 Mentors submit their review of full drafts.
October 1, 2007 Submission of final team manuscript.
Oct/Nov, 2007 Closing workshop in Budapest
October/December, 2007 Fellowship reports are reviewed and evaluated by external experts with regard to publishing. If deemed publishable, Fellows may be asked to revise certain aspects of their reports.
*Note: dates are subject to minor changes.
Step 5. Follow-up
Fellows will have the opportunity to have their reports translated and published in their respective countries. Fellows may also suggest concrete project ideas to LGI that would support their findings. Alumni-Fellows are often invited to participate in various LGI initiatives including curriculum development, technical assistance, consultancy work and publishing activities.
Applications should be submitted via email to:
The Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative: [email protected]
In the subject line please include:
"LGI Policy Fellowship 2006/7" AND the name of the topic you are applying for.
Project Manager: Scott Abrams: [email protected]
Project Coordinator: Angela Radosits: [email protected]
