In compliance with the stated project goals for 2001 the Project developed along the following four lines: educational and consultative, analytical, informational, and “Interaction” programme. Due to the fact that Moscow Government was the major donor in 2001 Project developments took place mostly on regional level.

In 2001 the following activities took place within the scope of educational and consultative programme:

• Organized and performed 10 educational seminars and training sessions for NGO staff and municipal employees in Moscow;
• Jointly with the Administration of Sarapul district of Republic of Udmurtia a seminar on social projects was organized and held for NGO leaders of Sarapul.
• In 2001 the total number of consultations deliveed within the Project was 1976, including:
• Individual consultations for NGOs conducted by the Project manager - 432;
• Thematic consultations for initiative groups and NGOs – 200 (attended by 118 NGO representatives);
• Individual consultations on social projects as a resource for interaction between community and authorities - 298;
• Individual consultations held within Public Consultations programme - 692;
• Consultations on projects submitted to the contest of socially significant programs 2001 (held by the Moscow Government) – 273.
• Over 2500 people attended Center for Social Partnership within the reported period.

Within the reported period Center focused on forming NGO unions within the following five administrative circuits of Moscow: Northwestern, Central, Southern, Northern, and Northeastern.

• Interaction between NGOs and authorities has been most successful in Northwestern administrative circuit which was used by the Center as the pilot grounds. Contest-based system of economic support to NGOs has been implemented in this district. With the consultative support from the Center, the circuit Administration (prefecture), NGO club, and Foundation to Support Entrepreneurial Initiative joined to launch for the first time in Moscow an exhibition to demonstrate the role of NGOs in the realization of socially significant programs of Northwestern Administrative Circuit. Nearly 100 NGOs working in the circuit participated in the exhibition.
• An initiative group was formed in the Southern Administrative Circuit to prepare regional NGO festival. Festival was held on September 22 on the territory of Tsaritsino memorial estate. “Together!” was the motto of the festival. Over 60 public associations and NGOs took place in the festival. Over 3000 Muscovites attended the festival. Leaders of NGOs that took part in preparing and conducting the first in Moscow NGO festival formed the core of the territorial union of NGOs of the Southern circuit. Compiling a directory of services offered by NGOs of the Southern circuit is underway. It is expected to be ready for publishing in the first quarter of 2002.
• Territorial union of NGOs engaged in communal sphere has been formed in the Central Administrative Circuit. Center assisted in establishing training and consulting office for creation and development of associations of home owners on the basis of ТСЖ "Trehprudnoe".
• Jointly with the autonomous non-commercial organization “Children’s newspaper “Dialogue-Parus” Center developed the project for creating youth informational center of the Northern Circuit, which will later serve as the basis for a territorial NGO union.
• Jointly with the public organization “Youth League” Center developed provisions for the “Good Deeds Marathon” of public associations and NGOs of Northeastern circuit. It is envisioned as a mechanism to join efforts put in by NGOs and local administrations of the circuit. A 1 year Marathon took off on the City Day in September 2001.

Profile associations of NGOs in 2001 organized and conducted a series of round table discussions held as preparatory work for the Civil Forum and formation of the regional delegation representing Moscow at the Forum.

• Center initiated creation of an extended Moscow organizational committee of the Forum, which would include representatives of all types of NGOs.
• Center prepared and conducted meetings between Moscow public associations, representatives of local administrations and the media. An outcome of these meetings was creation of the organizational committee for the Civil Forum. 180 people participated in the meetings.
• Center prepared and held round table discussions of NGO leaders on “NGO role in Self-governance” attended by 65 people.
• Jointly with Mayor’s office Center planned and organized Science and Practical Conference devoted to the decade of self-governance reform in Moscow.
• Within the framework of the Conference on the decade of the self-governance reform in Moscow Center organized and held the round-table discussion in the Moscow City Hall on “Public formations and social partnership as a resource for the city self-governance in Moscow”. 114 people participated in the discussion, of which 80 represented NGOs and 20 represented governmental bodies and administrations.

Club for business and informal communication between NGO leaders continued its work on the basis of the Center.

• There were 15 meetings held within the club for informal communication between NGO leaders,
• There were 7 meetings of journalists’ club and local media editors.

Center continued to develop its international links.

• Jointly with the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation Center took part in formation of the Russian delegation to participate in the International Conference of Women’s organizations in Vilnius (June 15-16, 2001);
• Within the framework of the International Conference in Vilnius, Center organized a round-table discussion on “Women and Municipalities”;
• Within the framework of the joint project with the Presidential Academy of State Services and Southern Illinois University 2 Center employees attended training in the USA.,
• Center established partnership relations with the Moscow High School of Social and Economic Science within the framework of the international projects for NGOs “Window to Russia”;
• Jointly with the VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) center developed project for “student training as a resource for NGO development”.

• Second part of the book “Social aspects of communal policy” has been prepared for publishing. The book is intended for leaders of community based organizations and municipal employees.
• A book entitled “Strategy of social partnership” has been prepared for publishing. The book summarizes information accumulated by the Project on the current state and the future of interaction between NGOs and governmental bodies and local governance bodies.

• Center prepared and sent to Bratislava materials for the book “BUILDING INCLUSIVE POLICY PROCESSES IN THE CIS STATES” (a UNDP RBEC RSC publication):

1. "Present situation and the future of civil society in CIS countries "
2. Case study based on the Center for Social Partnership experience on developing the legal foundation for interaction between NGOs and governmental bodies.

• Center organized and performed public expertise of 200 socially significant projects submitted by NGOs to the small grants contest administered by the Committee for Public and Interregional Relations of the Moscow Government.

In the reported period the following work aimed at promoting and supporting NGO activities was conducted by the Center.

• Maintenance and updates of the Project’s Internet site www.spcentre.ru. Center provides access to electronic versions of all publications produced by the Center and most important legal documents and laws of the Russian Federation and the city of Moscow regulating NGO activities and their interaction with governmental bodies, and other materials on issues that should be of interest to NGOs.

• Jointly with the company "100%" Center prepared and published 1000 copies of the book entitled "Under 100% sign". The book describes positive experience of NGOs in organizing summer camps for children and youth.

• Jointly with the Committee for Public and Interregional Relations of the Moscow government and a public organization “Women’s Employment” Center prepared and published the pilot issue of the illustrated magazine “Social Partnership” (3000 copies). Magazine is devoted to promoting experience of interaction between NGOs and governmental bodies; it describes civil initiatives, achievements and shortcomings of the third sector in Russia. Pilot issue of the magazine contains materials of the first contest of the publications in local media on the subject of social partnership “People for People” organized by the project in 2000.

• All publications published by the Project were disseminated among NGO leaders and municipal employees for free.

• Center jointly with the “Dialogue” foundation prepared a series of radio broadcasts “Addresses of Charity”, which is designed to inform citizens of charitable activities of NGOs.

• Jointly with the Committee for Public and Interregional Relations of the Moscow Government, “Dialogue” foundation, and the club of journalists and editors of local media created within the framework of the Project, Center organized the second contest of publications in the local media “People for People”. Contest is currently underway. Results are to be drown in February 2002.

• In 2001 Project was given coverage on the following radio stations: "Moscow", "Voice of Russia", "Mayak", in radio programs "Addresses of charity" and "Moscow and Muscovites", in newspapers "Evening Moscow", "Moskvichki", magazines "Social Partnership" and "Moscow Rhythm", and on cable TV.

In accordance with the selected strategy in 2001 100% of financing for the project was obtained from national sources.

In 2001 Pilot Center for Interaction between public and governmental structures continued its systematic effort raise NGO profile in Russian society. From the legal standpoint Center worked under the umbrella of UNDP without forming a new legal entity.

Simultaneously Center for Social Partnership worked on preparing charter documents necessary for setting up an autonomous noncommercial organization “Center for Interaction between Public and Governmental structures “Social Partnership”, which will become the Project’s assignee. Currently, Charter documents are undergoing legal examination at the Legal Office of the Moscow City Hall.

The issue of continuing the work started under the umbrella of the Project was raised at the session of the Moscow Government on October 9, 2001 devoted to the program of public development of Moscow. In order to provide sustainability of the results achieved by the Project, Moscow Government delegated the Committee for Public and Interregional Relations to become a co-founder of the new autonomous organization. It was also instructed to support the Center for Social Partnership via the mechanism of social order.

To provide for the functioning of the “Center for Social Partnership”, the Committee for Public and Interregional Relations of the Moscow Government signed a new 5 year lease for the premises located at Shukhova Str., 17/2. Necessary funding will be allocated in the city budget for 2002.

Worked conducted within the framework of the Project is aimed at overcoming the backwash of many years of authoritarian rule in the Russian Federation and raising the degree of civil society organizations in formulation and realization of the social policy. It is fully compliant with the stated objective (DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE) of forming an effective partnership between non-commercial non-governmental organizations and Moscow city administration and increasing the capacity of NGOs for participation in formulation and realization of social policy.

This work is aimed at raising the professional level and capacity building of major target groups:

• Leaders and activists of non-governmental not for profit organizations engaged in the social field;
• State and municipal employees.

Following outputs have been achieved by the Project:

Upon the completion of the Project Center will continue its work as an autonomous non-commercial organization, providing analytical, consultative, informational, and organizational services in the field of interaction between governmental bodies and non-commercial sector.

This output stipulates achievement of Objective 1 of the Project.

In compliance with the plan,

• Center has developed and regularly updates a database on NGOs participating in the realization of governmental programs (planned outcome 2.1).

Instead of the planned publication of the “Society and Power” bulletin (planned output 2.3) Center carried out the following activities:

• Initiated and supported publishing of “Social Partnership” magazine;
• Cooperated with the regular radio program “Addresses of Charity” broadcast on national radio channels six times a week;
• Contributed to an increase in the number of publications on NGOs in local Moscow media distributed for free.

• Center supported publication of books on NGO activities,
• Set up partnership with “Powerful Computer Technologies” company. The goal of the partnership is to allow Internet broadcast (in Real Video format) of most interesting and significant events for NGOs free of charge.
• Center created the club of journalists and editors of local media to help inform city population of NGO initiatives and projects.

It was proven that there is no immediate need for a specialized permanent NGO press center in Moscow. It’s creation will require allocation of significant resources including premises, equipment, trained professionals, etc. At the same time already existing press centers in Moscow are not working at full capacity and can offer NGO organization of press-conferences at a discounted price.

Thus Objective 2 as formulated in the project draft has been achieved.

At the same time there are wide possibilities for supporting civil initiatives in the expanding informational field.

Positive effect of the work carried out within the scope of the informational programme of the Project will to a large extent depend on the further steps. In particular in order to provide for sustainability of the achieved results further work with local media is needed on regular and systematic basis.

Center conducted large work on collecting information for the NGO database and establishing contacts with NGOs involved in socially significant projects and programs. Over 500 organizations of this type participate in information exchanges, discussions, consultations, and meetings organized through the club for business and informal communication. The established NGO network has been successfully developing. It contributes to interaction between NGOs, their mobilization and strengthening their role in society. Network carries the functions of the center for promoting new ideas, contributing to formation of the civil society in the Russian Federation. Thus the planned Objective 3.1 has been achieved.

As was planned (output 3.2) Center on a regular basis conducts round table discussions and annual conferences on NGO participation in the formulation of social policy, local self-governance, and perfecting mechanisms of effective interaction between civil society institutions and governmental bodies.

At the same time there are issues of developing their network and increasing its efficiency. Lack of modern means of communication experienced by many organizations makes information exchanges difficult. Frequency of communication and working contacts between NGO leaders, the degree of cooperation between various organizations is not homogenous and to a large extent depends on NGO’s location as those parameters vary among administrative circuits.

Consultants of the Center for Social Partnership and NGO leaders representing NGO network took an active part in the development and debates of the draft of the Law. Center played an active role in lobbying the Law in Moscow City Duma. This Law allows city and municipal authorities to provide financial and other forms of support to civil associations that contribute to social and economic development within their jurisdictions. It clears way for further perfecting of the legal field of interaction between institutions of civil society and authorities.

In 2001 Center prepared detailed comments to the Law; it also designed forms of model agreements and conducted systematic consultative work among municipal employees. This works lays practical basis for implementing mechanisms of rendering support to NGOs such as grant programs (contests of socially significant projects by NGOs) and social requests, etc.

This result stipulates achieving Objective 4.

Outputs 4.1-4.4 planned in the Project draft assumed development of a number of separate law drafts “On grants”, “on forms of economic support to NGOs” and a provision “On motivating NGO leaders”. The achieved result surpassed all expectations as the Center managed not only to prepare proposals including all forms of interaction between NGOs and governmental bodies but also to pass the Law “On interaction between Moscow city Authorities and non-governmental non-commercial organizations” through the City Duma.

Staff of the Center on a regular basis including in 2001 have been engaged in developing provisions for a city contest (grant program) of socially significant projects administered by the Committee for Public and Interregional Relations of the Moscow Government. Center also provided expertise of the submitted projects.

In 2001 Center initiated and supported through providing consultations and organizational skill the first contest of socially significant projects (small grants program) by NGOs in one of administrative circuits (Northwestern) of the city. This contest constituted practical implementation of the Law “On Interaction Between City of Moscow Authorities and Non-governmental Non-commercial Organizations”.

Thus it makes obvious promotion and practical implementation of mechanisms of economic support rendered by city authorities to NGOs as stated in Project Objective 5.

Work of the Center for Social Partnership has been evolving around consultative and educating functions day in and day out. Over 2000 NGO leaders and representatives of governmental bodies visit Center annually.

Center organized and performed several training programs, some of which were carried out in cooperation with the Russian Presidential Academy for State Services, Southern Illinois University (USA), and German Academy of Management of Lower Saxon (Germany). These seminars helped representatives of state and municipal administrative bodies get a better grasp of the NGO role in society and mechanisms of interaction between NGOs and authorities. Participants of training courses organized through the Center abroad are systematically employed by the Center as consultants and instructors.

It is an expert opinion that Center for Social Partnership efforts in consultative and educational field caused positive changes in certain target groups:

• State and municipal employees now have a better understanding of the role NGOs play in modern society,
• NGO leaders participating in realization of socially significant projects now have a better knowledge and understanding of project culture.

Aforesaid constitutes achieving Objective 6. However the need for educating both NGO leaders and representatives of state and municipal administrative bodies has not diminished but became greater.

Practical work on developing interaction of NGOs among themselves and with local administrations, that was conducted on experimental grounds in Moscow, demonstrated the need for the third neutral party. Center for Social Partnership assumed this role in facilitating effective dialogue between NGOs and administrations.

Strategy and technologies of social partnership are the experience accumulated by the Center, which can be replicated in other regions of the Russian Federation.

Center proposed and tested:

• Curricula and forms of joint training seminars for state and municipal employees,
• Scenarios of social events helping establish mutual trust between NGOs and administrative bodies,
• Foundations of the club of informal communication and creative presentations of NGOs,
• Territorial festivals and exhibitions of NGOs as an activity-based foundation for territorial associations of NGOs,
• Other forms of know how of social partnership (forming focus groups of NGOs, contests of publications in local media, etc.).

In the course of the project adequate mechanisms of replication of the Center’s experience to other regions have been discovered:

1) short-term training sessions on the basis of the Center for groups of 2 to 4 people representing both administrations and NGOs of regions interested in developing social partnership;

2) seminars and training sessions in other regions organized by specialists of the Center with the aim of passing along know how;

3) publication and dissemination of informative and methodological materials.

This stipulates achieving Objective 7 as formulated in 2000 at the trilateral meeting assessing Project’s progress and its perspectives. The wording was as follows: “To develop know how of implementing strategy of social partnership in municipalities in order to facilitate their effective social-economic development”.

In the previous edition Objective 7 suggested establishing a foundation for NGO support through the system of small grants and (repayable) loans. This objective lost its actuality since establishing of the foundation “Moscow Charitable Reserve” (not related to this Project) in Moscow to pursue similar goals.

Among factors that had positive effect on the Project progress are:

• UNDP’s high profile, which contributes a great deal to establishing partnerships with state and independent institutions, helps in setting up international contacts, and promotes ideas of civil participation in formulation and realization of social policy,
• Active and multi-faceted work of the Committee of Public and Interregional Relations of the Moscow Government on public development, which goes far beyond the scope of this particular Project,
• Support rendered to the Project by the government of the Netherlands,
• Support to the Project by UNESCO and regional UNDP bureau in Bratislava (RBEC),
• Highly qualified help in planning and performing a number of events provided personally by the Permanent Representative of UNDP in the Russian Federation, Coordinator of UN Representative Offices in the Russian Federation Mr. F. Lions, Permanent Representative of UNDP in the Russian Federation in 1997-2000 Mr. F. Elghouayel, Chief of Moscow UNESCO bureau W. Reuter, UNDP Project Coordinator in 1997-2000 Mr. A. Avanesov, and international consultant Mrs. Gergana Zlateva.

An important factor, which stimulated execution of the Project in 2001 was preparation and participation in the Civil Forum of the Russian Federation.

An important factor, which stimulated execution of the Project in 2001 was preparation and participation in the Civil Forum of the Russian Federation.

The major difficulty in formation of the civil society in Russia and in particular in raising the role of NGOs in resolving social issues of particular administrative districts via cooperating with administrations is the popular stereotype that can be put in two words: "state must". According to this stereotype all social problems must be resolved by governmental structures on a regular and highly professional basis. It is because of this stereotype, which is so deeply rooted despite the fact that the state obviously cannot handle most acute social problems (e.g. orphans, homeless citizens, people with disabilities, drug addicts, etc.), that society neglects and distrusts the efforts of socially active citizens and their associations who seek new forms of providing social help. Another detrimental factor is the professional level of both state officials and enthusiastic volunteers, that is often very low and thus often results in the mistrust of administrative bodies towards them.

This stereotype deeply rooted in public opinion represents a powerful factor constraining development of NGOs rendering social services.

On the other hand citizens have a certain distrust substantiated by certain facts towards non-governmental institutions. Unfortunately, bulk of information on non-governmental non-commercial organizations presented in central Russian media is negative and mostly relates to cases of fraud where charitable foundations are used for money-laundering. This is a major obstacle to forming a positive public image of NGOs that take an active part in the realization of social policy.

Experience accumulated in the course of the Project proves that in order to have effective communication between authorities and NGO within the municipality there is a need for conceptual and legal basis, which can be established through the Law “On interaction of regional executive bodies of the Russian Federation with non-governmental non-commercial organizations”. This Law sets legal framework and defines particular forms of support and help.

Most crucial for formation of the civil society in the Russian Federation now is support to grass-roots non-governmental non-commercial organizations, which as a rule work within the municipality. These organizations are the sprouts of civil society growing naturally. They know real interests of citizens, results of their activities are easily seen; local administrations usually want to help them. As demonstrated in practice, leaders of these public associations advocating interests of small groups of population do not realize themselves as subjects of local governance. They do not see the possibilities offered by cooperation for social and economic development of their municipalities. These organizations represent potential resource for local development. Factor crucial to the development of these NGOs is creation favorable conditions for attracting population’s money.

Center for Social Partnership experimental work proves that establishing of a structure that deliberately works on developing partnership relations between authorities and institutions of civil society can make a real contribution to establishing mutual trust and implementing effective mechanisms of interaction between municipal administrations and NGOs. Neutral position and equal interest in supporting civil initiatives and increasing administrations’ effectiveness, and accurate implementation of social know how allows such a structure to become a center for establishing trust and self-governance.

Creating cooperation among NGOs facilitating population’s involvement into decision-making and democratization of governance is possible along the following lines: territorial and interest based. Moscow’s experience shows that leaders of many NGOs have negative experience of associations and therefore avoid joining coalitions. At the same time creation of informal interest based groups of NGOs for joint lobbying and information exchange seems possible at this stage. NGOs rendering services to population are more prone to horizontal cooperation based on territorial principle. Social and economic development of the municipality is the basis for forming mutual trust between administrations and NGOs working in the social field.

Implementation and effectiveness of particular mechanisms of interaction between NGOs and administrations is to a large extent dependent on the position assumed by leaders of execute branch of power. Training courses conducted abroad serve as a powerful means of destroying old stereotypes of omnipresent state in favor of delegation of functions related to execution of specific work to NGOs. Organization of the training abroad has hidden dangers of turning into just another “unplanned” vacation for state officials. Thus organizers of such programs should be held responsible for their results. With careful selection of participants and foreign partners, with detailed planning of objectives and content, such training trips not only help change official’s view on the NGO role and potential but also lead to setting up personal contacts among the participants necessary for further planning of their joint efforts. An important condition to organizing this costly form of education is involvement of participants in joint work upon the completion of training.

Another lesson learned from the Project is the realization of the role of club work in establishing mutual trust and increasing social capital. Clubs for business and informal communication, territorial NGO clubs, clubs in local libraries allow to create an attractive atmosphere, involving new people and allowing for mobilization of human resources.

Peculiarity of the Project is that it does not only produce real changes but also indirectly enables process of self-development and self-organization. Thus changes caused by the Project are multi-faceted and affect all sectors of society: public, commercial, and non-governmental non-commercial sectors.

Leaders of non-governmental non-commercial organizations engaged in the social field and participating in socially significant projects administered by the Moscow Government mention in the first place that with the opening of the Center there appeared a place where they could discuss pressing issues, meet with each other, learn about each other’s achievements, receive a consultation, informational and technical support. Most representatives of this target group link future development of the Project with the expansion of the premises of the Center and more efficient solution of issues of economic support to NGOs rendered by state and municipal authorities.

State and municipal officials involved in the Project in the first place mark possibility of receiving special literature, learning about foreign experience and a high professional level of consultants. They are grateful to the Center for their help in analysis of empirical materials and the reference data made available to them at the Center. Future of the Project, from their point of view, lies in the field of monitoring of NGO activities and search of innovative solutions, that contribute to local development.

From March 28 to April 20, 2001 the Project RUS/97/005 documentation was audited by independent auditors. The audit was conducted in conformity with the provisions of the project document, generally accepted auditing standards, and the principles and procedures prescribed by the UNDP procedures and standards for accounting, financial management and reporting of nationally executed programs/projects. The purpose of the project audit was to provide the UNDP Administration with reasonable assurance and verification that the realization of the project by the executing agency does not contain doubtful financial transactions and distortions. The audit included (but was not limited to) the review of the following factors for the implementation of the project:

• Methods of management;
• Institutional structure;
• Financial accounting, control and reporting;
• Staffing;
• Assessment of the rate of delivery;

The auditor made several comments which are not of matter of principle and concluded positively, with minor reservations, on the performance of the project. The auditor also noted that the Project had potential for further expansion and prolongation.

• To complete the process of acquiring the status of an autonomous non-commercial organization by the Center for Social Partnership (with reservation of the right to use the current premises at Shuhova Str. 17/2).
• Hand over equipment and furniture acquired by the Project to the Center.
• For the Moscow Government to transfer to the Center the amount allocated in 2002 budget in the form of a social contract for experimental work on organization of interaction between local authorities and NGOs to foster social and economic development of municipalities.
• Widen the scope of work on the formation of territorial associations of NGOs to all administrative circuits of Moscow.
• To maintain friendly, open, and creative atmosphere in the Center for Social Partnership.
• To continue work of clubs for informal and business communication.
• To continue analytical, informative, and publishing activities of the Center.

The goal of the project is to support the organization of the Center for Social Partnership in Moscow in order to contribute to the process of dynamic interaction between non-governmental organizations and governmental structures; to strengthen the role of non-governmental organizations in the formation of social policies and in rendering social services.

Main Activities and Output

The "Strategy of Social Partnership", formulated within the project, will contribute to sustainable socio-economic growth of the country. Key elements of the strategy are:

- Forming a network of relationships for NGOs, businesses, governmental structures, and citizens in order to develop the potential of a territory;
- Joining the efforts of NGOs and relevant governmental specialists within social issue areas, based on the principle of complementation and partnership;
- The recognition of share financing to be a basic method of investment in a social sphere.

The strategy of social partnership has been formulated during implementation of practical experiments, on the basis of analysis of international experience, practice of consultation of noncommercial organizations, observing the activities of state and municipal control bodies in Moscow, analysis of the applications and the requests and needs of citizens. The realization of this strategy into practice is an important and pressing problem in Russia. The main difficulties in its solution are: backwardness of current laws, habits of the citizenry to dependence on the state and of the state to command-style governing, and lack of development of public and noncommercial organizations working in the social sphere.

In order to promote the strategy of social partnership the following concrete measures were carried out in the course of the project:

- Prepared and lobbied the text of the municipal law "On Interaction Between the City Authorities and Non-governmental Organizations". (The law was adopted this year;
- its base "On Development of Local Self-government" is included as one of seven priorities of development in the program of Moscow government for 2000);
- A book "Interaction Between Governmental Structures and Third-Sector Organizations in the Sphere of Social Policy (international experience)" was published with a circulation of 1000 and distributed among local authorities, NGOs and higher educational establishments. The demonstrated significant interest in and demand for this publication convey the necessity for a second printing;
- In the city executive bodies and local governments partnerships were developed with specialists in the best way to realize the strategy of social partnership and they are proving influential on the acceptance of administrative solutions. These specialists are also involved in the educational program of center;
- A training program on the of "Advancement of Teaching, Training, and Research on NGO Administration and NGO-Government Relations in Russia" was conducted in cooperation with Southern Illinois University (USA) and the German Management Academy of Lower Saxony for 22 representatives of city and local administrations. (Partners were determined based not only on high level of the competence of the experts, but also the willingness of these educational establishments to provide partial financial support and organization of the training);
- 69 state and municipal employees of Moscow and 17 representatives of the Russian regions were trained under the specially designed program at the seminars in the Center for Social Partnership and in the Russian Academy of Public Services (RAPS) to the Presidency of the Russian Federation;
- A book "Northwest Area of Moscow", devoted to the description and analysis of interaction between municipal governmental bodies and NGOs based on the experience in an experimental site in the Northwest Administrative Circuit of Moscow was published;
- Systematic individual and subject group consultations on legal, economic and organizational issues were conducted. The leading specialists of the Moscow Government and the Center conducted these consultations;
- Since January 1998, over 2000 individual and 47 subject group consultations, 2 two-day and 6 one-day seminars for NGOs and state employees were conducted;
- The actual methodical materials of total amount more than 200,000 pages were prepared and distributed among the leaders of NGOs;
- An experimental course "NGOs and Their Role in Modern Society" was introduced at Moscow Pedagogical University with the purpose of educating young Russians about capabilities of self-implementation in noncommercial sector;
- Constantly updated informational resource for NGO was created on the base of the Center's Internet web site. It contains detailed information on the legal bases for civil participation, the work of Moscow Government, and grants and competitive financing for NGOs. It also provides direct access to many of the Center's publications.

Within the framework of the Center's Interaction Program, the work on forming networks of non-governmental organizations was advanced:

- 9 profile groups (each profile group is made up of representatives of the most effective NGOs in Moscow working on a particular issue) conducted in sum 126 round tables and meetings within the Club for Professional Communication with the Center as their base;
- Informal communication meetings for the leaders of NGOs, to learn about and network with other NGO leaders, such as "A Meeting for You" are regularly carried out;
- The practice of jointly developing integrated programs was introduced. In particular, a joint social target program "Disabled People for Each Other", including participation by a number of civic organizations, was started. An idea of conducting meetings called "Thank You!" was developed and implemented. It aims to increase the interaction between NGOs and local authorities;
- Precedents in the financial cooperation of NGOs were set;
- Working contacts with NGOs in 8 Russian regions were established;
- During the period from June 1, 1998 till December 31, 1999, 5280 representatives of non-governmental associations and state organizations have visited the Center for Social Partnership on miscellaneous issues.

A new project was initiated in order to facilitate work with the regions. The essence of the project is in the training of state employees on interaction with the third sector on the basis of branches of RAPS. Due to the support of the United States Information Agency (USIA) the implementation of the project through the joint efforts of RAPS, Southern Illinois University (USA) and UNDP (through the Center for Social Partnership) was begun in 1999. The project includes professional exchanges, developing and introducing study courses devoted to the above-mentioned problems in four regional branches of RAPS (St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Samara, Khabarovsk). A new mechanism of spreading the idea of wide participation of third-sector associations in forming social policy in Russia is being developed.

The search for new sources of financing is an acute and important component of the activities carried out within the framework of the project. Pursuant to the principle of share financing of the most expensive measures, such as foreign trainings, funds from the European office of the program "Governance. Democracy. Participation" in Bratislava ($25,000), the German Management Academy of Lower Saxony ($12,500), UNESCO ($32,000) were attracted along with UNDP funding. Prolongation of the project in 2000 became possible due to the donor-contribution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the amount of $96,000.

Project Progress analysis

The realization of the Project showed that its objectives are determined correctly and correspond to the goals of sustainable development of Russia. The problem of the search for effective means of interaction between public associations and governmental bodies and a question of effective application of NGO potential in solving acute social problems has become especially urgent due to the social-economic crisis in the country and a decrease in the budget for social needs.

Finances at the disposal of the Project are spent rationally, in strict correspondence to its goals and budget. The Project has an innovative character; it is managed in an effective and flexible way.

"The Strategy of Social Partnership" designed within the framework of the project can form the basis for propagation of the obtained experience and effective solutions in the field of organization of interaction between public and state structures in other regions of Russia. The obtained results, such as programs developed by the specialists of the Center, books which were published, and new methods of work developed during the experiment, can be replicated in the regions. The problem of adapting the experience of the pilot project to local conditions will become a central task at a later stage of its development.

Within the framework of the second phase of the project RUS-97/005 "Establishment of the Pilot Resource Center for Interaction between non-governmental and governmental structures "Social Partnership" in Moscow " the following activities were conducted:

I. Activity of the Center on the territory of Moscow.

1. The Law "On Interaction Between Moscow Governmental Authorities and Non-governmental, Non-commercial Organizations" was elaborated by a work-group, organized in the Center for "Social Partnership". The Law was adopted on April 12, 2000 and came into operation on June 28, 2000.

2. On September 22nd an International Seminar "Partnership for development. Retrospective views and Forecasts" was held. It was devoted to the discussion of problems of interaction between non-governmental and governmental structures in Moscow in view of the decisions of United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Social Development.

3. Specialists of the Center have prepared a digest of UN General Secretary Kofi Annan report made at United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives.

4. Analytical materials for the first vice-premier of Moscow Government, L.I. Shvetsova were prepared.

5. The Center for Social Partnership took part in organization of a Contest of socially-significant programs for NGOs and non-profit organizations, which was conducted by the Committee for Inter-regional and Public Relations of Moscow Government. Training for the consultants from NGOs (total 13 people) was organized on the base of the Center. More than 200 consultations were provided by the experts of the Center and Moscow Government on the base of the Center for Social Partnership.

6. A competition in North-West Administrative district of Moscow will be conducted within the framework of a program "Partnership for development", this Competition received financial aid with the help of the Center.

7. 6 educational seminars on the basis of the experimental ground of the Center for "Social partnership" in North-West Administrative district of Moscow were conducted within the framework of the program "Partnership for development".

8. The system of regular thematic (group) and individual consultations for NGO, conducted by the specialists of the Centre, the leaders of advanced non-profit organisations and specialists of Moscow Government (Committee for Interregional and Public Relations, Department for Economical Policy and Development of Moscow) was formed.

II. Work in the regions of the Russian Federation.

1. A three-day seminar and a fair of social projects were conducted jointly with Volgograd Center for NGO development on the problem of "Social partnership - as a resource of sustainable social and economic development of a region and a territory".

2. Distant consultations on a subject of social partnership for the representatives of administrations and public organizations of Smolensk, Astrakhan, Novosibirsk, Volgograd, Ulyanovsk, V.Novgorods, Yamalo-Nenetskii autonomous district are conducted.

3. A number of meetings and discussions were conducted within the framework of educational programme on the basis of the Center for "Social Partnership" for the representatives of public organizations coming from Moscow region, Tver, Vladimir, Makhachkala (Dagestan), Nijnii Tagil, Labytnagi (Yamalo-Nenetski autonomous District), Novosibirsk.

4. Representatives of 5 regions took part in an International Seminar "Partnership for development. Retrospective views and Forecasts" on September 22, 2000.

5. The list of services rendered by the Center for "Social partnership" for the representatives of Russian Regions is prepared.

6. Jointly with UNESCO and Department of Local Self-government of Ministry of Federation, national and migration policy the project on dissemination of technologies of social partnership was launched.

7. First mini-training for representatives of Pskov was organized in the Center.

8. Specialists of the Center took part in Youth Forum of the Assembly of Peoples of Russia (November 15-18, 2000). They were invited as consultants for organizing problem-project seminar. As a result of their work 10 project proposals on development of interaction between youth organizations were formulated.

III. International links.

1. The educational project, initiated by the Centre for "Social Partnership" and being realised in co-operation with the Russian Academy of State Service under President of RF (RASS), South Illinois University (USA) and UNDP was started. It is devoted to the development and application of a number of educational courses for state personnel, which explain the role of the third sector in the modern society and show the opportunities of non-commercial non-governmental organisations in the development of the territories.

2. Within the cooperation with UNDCP/WHO programme coordinator Nadia Gasbarrini, we organized 3 round-table discussions. Representatives of more than 30 public organizations and local institutions participated in these discussions. Employees of the Center permanently interview the representatives of public organizations and local authorities in order to select participants for the project the Global initiative a UNDCP/WHO on primary preventive measures on drug and alcohol abuse.

3. Several working meetings with representatives of Russian VSO program (Voluntary Service Overseas) in Eastern Europe were held. Now we are elaborating a joint project with VSO.

4. Training for the group of representatives of Moscow governmental officials and public associations on a problem of interaction between governmental and non-governmental structures took place in German Management Academy (land Lower Saxony, Germany) in June - July 2000.

5. In the framework of research programme the Center cooperates with the representatives of LEADER II programme (Community initiative launched by European Commission) on the problem of partnerships development.

6. Work-contacts with representatives of the Dutch, Swedish, French and Finish embassies are established. With their assistance the data acquisition on foreign organizations working in the sphere of social policy is conducted in order to establish partnership and cooperation with them.

6. A meeting of Moscow NGO leaders with the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Ms Ofelia Calcetas-Santos took place in the Center for Social Partnership on November 4, 2000.

7. A meeting with Chief Technical Adviser of the UNDP programme Good Governance Tony Verheijen was held on October 24. The agreement on cooperation in training of specialists on the problem of interaction between governmental and non-governmental structures has been reached.

8. Specialists of the Center take part in the work on UN Common Country Assessment Document.

1. Context

UNDP Project RUS/97/005 was designed to facilitate the overcoming of the consequences of years-long authoritarian rule in Russia and to enhance the participation of civil society institutions in the formulation and implementation of social policies.

The general problem addressed by the project is defined by the fact that the vast majority of the population, including decision-makers, do not understand the role and potential which the non-governmental organizations have in the solution of social problems in the context of modern democracy development.

The executives authorities (who enjoy the highest authority in Russia) are making use of traditional and purely government-based mechanisms for social protection and delivery of social services. However the economic crisis has led to the situation when the numbers of those in need of social services grew dramatically, while actual allocations by the state and other budgets for social expenditures shrank.

In this context, following tasks are very important for the RF:

• adaptation (taking account of the national peculiarities) of the successful global expertise concerning participation of civil society organizations in the solution of socially vital problems;
• development of laws to create conditions for NGO’s capacity building;
• search for and implementation of specific mechanisms for interaction between the authorities and NGOs.

A positive prerequisite for having this problem successfully solved is a sustained numeric growth of non-governmental and non-for-profit organizations in the Russian Federation.

In line with the selected strategy this project is a pilot one and is being implemented in two phases. The objective of Phase I (1997-1999) was the establishment of a pilot Resource Center “Social Partnership” and to identify most efficient forms of operation. The objective of Phase II (2000-2001) is to expand the Center’s activities to cover other regions of the RF and translate the positive experience of interaction between the authorities and NGOs.

The sustainability of the project results implies a stage-by-stage shift to relying upon financing from national sources exclusively.

The donor contribution made by the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been used to fund RUS/97/005 Phase II in 2000.

The main objective of the project (DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE) is to create effective partnership between not-for-profit public organizations and the Moscow Local Government, thus strengthening the capacity of public organizations to participate in policy formulation, implementation, networking and service delivery.

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES AND OUTPUTS.

Immediate objective 1 is to establish a Resource Center for NGOs "Social partnerships" in the city of Moscow as a tool for integrating the work of NGOs and their governmental counterparts.

Immediate objective 2 is development of an information program able to support NGOs and CBOs in their growing role in the society and increase the representation of their activities in the mass media.

Immediate objective 3 is to assist NGOs from Moscow and their governmental counterparts to network among each other and exchange information on current and forthcoming events, as well as problems, in order to mobilize and strengthen their role in the social and public sphere. The main output will be a network of NGO/CBO that could serve as a focal point, affording to such groups a meeting ground, promoting the idea of information sharing and fostering the growth of civil society in general.

Immediate objective 4 consists in the establishment of an analytical and research program which will provide the client non-governmental and governmental organizations with conceptual support for the development of interaction between the "third sector" and the government.

Immediate Objective 5 is the elaboration and proposal of regulations for the economic support of NGOs in Moscow, as well as practical implementation of the proposed methods.

Immediate objective 6 is to render consultation to NGOs and governmental representatives, assist them in solving day-today problems, and conduct training programs for NGOs and civil servants.

Immediate objective 7 as stated in the project document is the establishment of a revolving fund for financial support to projects of NGOs with determined financial need and ensuring its sustainability. However, as a result of the adoption in 2000 of new Tax Code and Budget Code of the Russian Federation and the establishment of the Moscow Charity Reserve Foundation, the tripartite assessment meeting decided to reformulate this objective as follows: “ To elaborate technologies of implementation of the strategy of social partnership in municipal bodies as an effective method of social-economic development of a territory”.

The Project’s target groups are

• leaders and managers of non-government not-for-profit organizations working in the social sphere
• state and municipal servants

In line with the selected implementation strategy the basic pilot activities under the Project are oriented to the target groups in Moscow with further translation of positive experience to other regions of the RF.

Eventual beneficiaries are broad groups of socially vulnerable population which will benefit from increased both NGOs’ activity and effective interaction between NGOs and authorities.

Objective 1

1. Definition of the Moscow Resource Center for NGOs "Social Partnerships"’ structure and areas of consistent efforts. Capacity building of the staff. Involvement of international consultants into the activities of the Center.
2. Search for financing sources to ensure sustainable operation of the Center.

Objective 2

1. Additional edition of the book titled “On interaction between the third sector and the government in the area of social policy (international experience)”, distribution of the book among NGOs, executive and legislative authorities of the city of Moscow.
2. Publication of book relating to existing experience in the area of interaction between NGOs and the Moscow local government.
3. Further expansion of the database containing information on contact person, purpose and description of activities of the Moscow NGOs participating in governmental programs.
4. Expansion of a Russian language IT resource in the Internet for not-for-profit organizations.
5. Establishment of a press center for NGOs.

Objective 3

1. To organize, using the Resource Center premises a network of NGOs’ leaders and governmental representatives that could serve as a focal point, affording to such groups a meeting ground, promoting the idea of information sharing and fostering the growth of civil society in general.
2. Forum for interaction between non-governmental and governmental organizations which will promote better understanding between both sides and closer collaboration in various spheres.

Objective 4

1. Draft legislation for the city of Moscow "On interaction between the governmental organizations and non-governmental not-for-profit organizations” and lobbying it at the City Duma.
2. Development of “social partnership technologies” together with recommendations on the implementation of efficient forms of NGOs' interaction with the governmental authorities.

Objective 5

1. Development of Model Regulation on "City grants for NGOs" program for NGOs involved in the solution of social problems in one of the Moscow’s administrative territory.
2. Practical pilot activities to implement social partnership technologies and “grants for NGOs” program in the Moscow’s North-West District.

Objective 6

1. Study tour and training of NGO managers and governmental representatives on mechanisms of efficient interaction and cooperation in one of the advanced democracy countries.
2. Regular individual and collective consultations and advisory assistance services.

Objective 7

1. Identification of 3 or 5 regions for promotion of social partnership strategy and translation of the Center’s positive experience.
2. Analysis of the regulatory basis and existing scope of interaction and cooperation in the selected regions.
3. Identification of existing development players and shaping of teams of governmental representatives and NGO managers prepared to implement the strategy of social partnership.
4. Organization of adequate training activities and consultations aimed at capacity building of project participants from regions of the RF.
5. Formulation of joint action programs of local governmental representatives and NGO managers with the view of social and economic development of regional territories.
6. Organization of festivals of NGOs, competitions of socially sound projects proposed by NGOs for territories.
7. Participation in the Russian Academy of State Service under the RF President (RASS) and the University of South Illinois (USA) joint project aimed at promotion of civil society concept through the RASS’s regional educational networking.

1. Activities actually implemented during the reporting period

In the framework of Objective 1

• The Project involved the advisory services of an international consultant (Mrs. Gergana Zlateva).
• The Resource Center for NGOs "Social Partnerships"’ structure and areas of consistent efforts were defined.
• Systematic and regular participation of the Center in publication and information programs, as well as analytical and educational programs was ensured for the sake of increased efficiency of interaction and cooperation.
• For the purposes of the Project additional funding was allocated from the Administration of the Moscow North-West District, UNESCO, Fakel Charity Fund.

In the framework of Objective 2

• book titled “ Moscow’s North-West Meridian” and describing experience of joint work and interaction between NGOs and local administrations of 8 sub-districts in the North-West territory of the city of Moscow was published (3,000 copies).
• A second issue (2,500 copies) of the book titled “On interaction between the third sector and the government in the area of social policy (international experience)” was prepared and published.
• Work was done to promote social partnership concept in mass media. For this purpose the Center organized the club for editors of local newspapers.
• Together with the club of editors a Moscow-wide competition of articles devoted to social partnership was conducted with the participation of 96 journalists representing 46 local mass media.
• A series of radio broadcasting progammes was prepared by the Resource Center in collaboration with several Moscow radio stations (Radio of Russia, Moscow Radio, Mayak)
• Russian language IT resource for NGOs was developed at the Center’s web-site (www.spcenter.ru).
• Database containing information on Moscow-based NGOs dealing with vulnerable groups and involved in socially vital projects was created and is now in use. The database contains more than 500 items.
• A limited on-line access the Moscow-based NGO database was provided.
• The Center’s web-site has a page in English language.
• In cooperation with powerful Computer Technologies Company direct Internet transmissions were organized in Real Video Format to show important events held at Center and keep video-tapes stored at the Center’s web-site.

In the framework of Objective 3

• Several seminars and round table discussions dedicated to interaction and cooperation aspects were held with the participation of international agencies (e.g., Marc Mallock Brown, UNDP Administrator, Nadia Gasbarrini, UNDCP/WHO programme coordinator, Ofelia Calcetas-Santos, Special Rapporteur on the Sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography of the UN Human Rights Commission, Tony Verheijen, Chief Technical Adviser of the UNDP programme Good Governance, visitors from the VSO organization (Great Britain) and other NGOs from Great Britain, Portugal and USA.
• Regular sessions of leaders club and informal communication club are being held.
• The leaders club conducted 22 working meetings in the framework of ten specialized associations of NGOs, alongside with 2 round table discussions and 5 coordination seminars, 18 consultations in organizational aspects of associations’ activities and 15 training lessons at Child Adoption School for parents who adopted orphans (together with ‘Pedagogical innovation” NGO).
• Twice a month NGO leaders and managers hold meetings in the framework of the informal communication club (including innovative NGO presentations)
• A course of conferences given by Mr. I. Yakushkin on historic review of social and cultural activities in Russia was published (1,000 copies).

In the framework of Objective 4

• Draft legislation for the city of Moscow was completed and presented. On April 12, 2000 the Moscow City Duma approved the Law on "On interaction between the Moscow governmental organizations and non-governmental not-for-profit organizations”.
• Comments on the Law on "On interaction between the Moscow governmental organizations and non-governmental not-for-profit organizations” were prepared and a Model Charter for public foundations seeking territory development was drafted alongside with several standard agreements aimed to facilitate the practical realization of the legal provisions
• Reference book containing the above documents was published in 1000 copies for free distribution among local government bodies and non-governmental organizations.
• Further impulse was given to Social Partnership Strategy mainstreaming the local networking for territory advancement. Specific “social partnership technologies” fitting the needs of the RF’s regions were proposed.
• Summary of the speech made by the UN General Secretary at the Social Summit (“Copenghanen+5”) was prepared.
• An international seminar on Partnership for Development: Retrospective and Perspectives was held at the Moscow City Council to discuss the results of the Special Session on social issues of the UN General Assembly in Geneva, June 2000 (printed materials for the seminar, including the summary of the speech made by the UN General Secretary at the Social Summit, were published in 1,200 copies with the support of Informational Policy Department, Committee on Telecommunications and Mass Media and distributed in the Moscow Government’s offices, district and sub-district administrations and NGOs.)

In the framework of Objective 5

• Model Regulation on "City grants for NGOs" program for NGOs involved in the solution of social problems in one of the Moscow’s administrative territory” was drafted.
• Practical pilot activities to implement social partnership technologies were conducted in the North-West District where 7 organizational interaction and cooperation workshops were held.
• As a result of these activities a Club for interaction and cooperation in the North-West District was set up.
• Local competition of socially vital programs proposed by District’s NGOs was organized. The RUR 1 million grant fund for the competition was formed by the North-West District Administration and Fakel NGO.

In the framework of Objective 6

• Study tour for a group of 16 specialists representing the Moscow Government and NGO leaders was organized to visit the German Management Academy of the Lower Saxony to get training on efficient interaction and cooperation between authorities and NGOs.
• A system of regular individual and collective consultations and advisory assistance services for NGOs was established. Consultations are given by Center staff, leaders of advanced NGOs and specialists from the Moscow Government (Social and Interregional Relations Committee, Moscow Department for economic policy and development, Legal Department of the City Hall, Administration of the Central District, Schukino sub-district administration and other entities).
• During the reporting period 653 consultations were given in total:
• 82 – individual consultations for NGOs given by the Project Manager
• 48 – thematic consultations for start-up groups and NGOs (for 336 representatives of public and not-for-profit organizations);
• 168 – individual consultations on social designing as a tool of public and governmental cooperation;
• 227 – individual consultations through public consultative office;
• 128 – consultations on projects presented for socially vital program Competition in 2000 (the Moscow Government).

• During the reporting period the Resource Center was visited by more than 2,500 persons

• A team of 12 experts and consultants was trained from among the NGOs’ representatives. The Center staff and the team of experts and consultants conducted a public expertise of the projects participating in the Moscow-wide Competition of socially vital NGOs’ programs (141 projects), grant program, organized by the Moscow Charity Reserve (90 projects) and Social Partnership Fair in the Volga Federal District (16 projects).

In the framework of Objective 7

• In cooperation with the RF’s Nationalities, Federal Relations and Migration Policies Ministry translation of the Center’s positive experience to the RF’s regions was organized.
• Jointly with the Ministry following regions were selected:
• Staraya Rusa,
• Pskov,
• Saint-Petersburgh,
• Ryazan Region,
• Republic of Udmurtiya

• As agreed with the regions, short-term tours of local government authorities and NGO representatives to the Moscow-based Resource Center were identified as the basic tool for the translation of the Center’s positive experience.

• 20 local government authorities and NGO representatives from the above regions have already had short-term training at the Resource Center.

• “Partnership for the sake of Territory Development” Interregional Workshop was organized to discuss lessons learnt and the existing regulatory and legal environment in the area of interaction and cooperation in the regions. Participated 75 persons, including 18 in their capacity of short-term trainees.

• Distant consultations are being given to short-term trainees as follow up training activities.

• Together with RASS selection was made of participants of Dissemination of the South Illinois University and USIA-led Education, Training and Research in NGO Management and Interaction between Government and NGOs in Russia Project and their follow up consultations organized.

• Specialists of the Center conducted two out-reach seminars in Volgograd and Sarapul (Udmurtiya) for governmental officials and representatives of the public on matters of efficient cooperation.

Thanks to the financial support provided by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2000 it was possible to ensure a stable and systemic performance of the pilot Resource Center in Moscow and facilitate significantly the involvement of NGOs in policy formulation and implementation of social policies in the Russian Federation as one of the means of ensuring a sustainable social and economic development of Russia.

From the point of view of the project executors, its objective and outputs have been correctly defined and are in conformity with the objective of sustainable development of the nation.

Practically all planned activities have been accomplished. Substitution of specific activities was due to external changes or a constant search for better solutions.

Most of the outcomes planned by the project documents were achieved, specifically:

1. A pilot resource Center has been set up in Moscow, is now managed efficiently and providing a wide range of services to both NGOs and local governments.
2. A database, containing information on Moscow-based NGOs that are involved in the solution of socially critical issues, was created and is currently being expanded .
3. Resource library for NGOs was set up and IT resource created in the Internet.
4. A networking of Moscow-based NGOs was formed to cover most NGOs dealing with social issues and organize them in specifically targeted associations. Work is underway to form territorial associations of NGOs in sub-districts in order to raise their role in local community governance.
5. Moscow City Law on "On interaction between the Moscow governmental organizations and non-governmental not-for-profit organizations” was adopted. The adoption of this Law was to a freat extent due to active efforts made by the Resource Center which in cooperation with Moscow Duma deputy I. Osokina, specialists of the City Hall Legal Department and NGO leaders managed to organize the drafting process, a broad and open discussion of its draft provisions. The Law defines general principles of interaction between the Moscow government and NGOs, gives legal grounds for NGOs to provide social services and identifies form of financial support of NGOs’ social activities. The Law includes provisions regulating municipal grants and other forms of economic support on the side of the local governments.
6. The Moscow North-West District in its capacity of pilot field activities base conducted practical implementation of the designed mechanisms of support to NGOs on competitive basis, as well as creation of clubs and associations of NGOs, including governmental representatives. This work can be labeled as innovative. It helped broaden the local administrations’ vision and understanding of NGOs’ role and capacity and create a favorable environment for further advancement of the NGOs operating in this major district (900 thousand of inhabitants). There for the first time were implemented in practical manner the mechanisms of financial support for NGOs which have been provided for by the Law on "On interaction between the Moscow governmental organizations and non-governmental not-for-profit organizations”. Positive experience in interaction and cooperation gained in the North-West District was analyzed and approved by the Moscow Government at its special meeting. The District authorities hosted a special workshop for administration heads of 125 sub-districts. The purpose of the workshop was to learn on positive experience in interaction and cooperation and start up a dissemination process.
7. A targeted work started to launch the Center’s dissemination and translation activities across Moscow and other regions of Russia.
8. Training seminars were arranged for NGO leaders and governmental representatives.
9. Overseas study tours for mixed groups of governmental officials and NGO leaders were well prepared and organized. The praxis proved that the scrupulous preparatory work made by specialists of both the Center and the hosting side as for the training curriculum, selection of study objectives and visiting team members for study tours to an advanced democracy country represents one of the most effective tools in broadening visions of the state servants on the role and place of NGOs in modern societies, as well as on the need and potentialities of NGOs’ involvement in social policy formulation and implementation activities. In the process of project implementation we had to leave the plans on creation of a revolving fund and publication of “Society and Authorities” Newsletter. One of the reasons for the latter is that the Project national executing agency - Public and Interregional Relations Committee under Moscow Government – already arranged publication of monthly “Gerald of PIRC”. In substitution of periodic newsletter under the project it was arranged and carried out the publication of a series of brochures like “On interaction between the third sector and the government in the area of social policy (international experience)” (two editions), “The North-West Meridian of Moscow” and others. Certain difficulties emerged with relation to translating the Center’s experience to other regions of RF. Initially it was planned to arrange field missions of Center’s staff to make assessment of situation in the regions, but this activity was replaced, upon multiple requests, with inviting to Moscow the persons concerned. A convenient and efficient form to arrange that at the initial stage was elaborated through short-term study tours which allow for making the visitors acquainted with analytical materials and incorporate them for a short period in the Center’s current activities. This method facilitates better understanding and higher motivation of the participants for keeping in touch in future. The main hardships resides in the lack of funding for the support of this work on site. In project participants’ view, the planned establishment of press center for NGOs was of low efficiency. That is why during the execution process that activity was replaced with other work with mass media. It was quite innovative to launch a competition of articles devoted to social partnership aspects among mass media. It allowed to establish solid links between the Center and local mass media and focus the journalistic attention on the NGOs’ participation in social policy formulation and implementation. This activity was highly praised by both NGO leaders and the Committee for public and interregional relations. The latter committed to finance the second competition of articles in 2001.

As a whole, the pilot Resource Center “Social Partnership” has managed to contribute significantly in shaping partnership tools and mechanisms for NGOs and local governmental bodies and, without any doubt, is fulfilling its facilitating role to strengthen the capacity of independent not-for-profit organizations and their role in social policy formulation and implementation.

The prestige and authority of the Center as a coordination bridge between public organizations and local government bodies have increased in the year 2000 both in Moscow and other Russian regions.

4.3. Project Sustainability and Related Outcomes

Successful realization of the Center’s basic programs and the interest showed by the targeted groups in having the Center’s activities expanded in Moscow have enabled the prolongation of the Project for the year 2001.

The Project final stage (2001) is being financed from domestic sources, proving, thus, the trend to project sustainability.

The major financing source for this joint Project is the Moscow Government which is interested in expanding the Center’s activities to cover administrative territories of the city as a consistent step to consolidate the local community self-governance system and involve the public participation in the communal reform.

The interest of Public and Interregional Relations Committee under Moscow Government in the project outcomes was proved by its commitment to keep on financing the Resource Center’s operation further on, in the aftermath of UNDP project completion.

However, municipal funding only cannot allow for “geographic expansion” of the project. The translation of positive experience to other regions which started thanks to the contribution made by the Kingdom of the Netherlands could only be maintained by means of additional funding (federal, regional, private, foreign donors).

The interest towards the Center’s activities and experience gained in 2000 prove the existence in a number of RF’s regions of necessary prerequisites for the implementation of social partnership technologies. There exist organizations and persons interested not only to study the Moscow’s experience, but also to adapt it to local conditions. Still, we cannot rely on local budget allocations for the translation process and establishment of local interaction and cooperation centers. That would be a too optimistic scenario, considering the present situation in Russia. Obviously, at this stage of development of the Russian society the democratic values and civic participation still require the support on the side of the nations with advanced democracy and stable economy.

Without Western donors, overseas study tours to be arranged by the Center will be the least feasible form of activity, despite their powerful role to change attitudes of the state servants towards the cooperation with the third sector.

In order to overcome these barriers it would be necessary to ensure for the Center by the project completion the status of independent not-for-profit organization and identify the cost-sharing scheme of its operation.

5. External assessment of project execution

5.1 Tripartite project review meeting

The tripartite meeting held on March 31, 2001 with the participation of representatives of project executing agency, the Moscow Government, UNDP and NGO leaders appraised as highly positive the execution of the Project in the year 2000 and a decision was taken to continue the Project until the end of 2001.

The tripartite review meeting emphasized:

10. great importance of the project outputs for human development in Russia, strengthening of democracy, promotion of citizens’ participation in formulation and realization of social policies;
11. innovative nature of the project;
12. flexible and effective management of available resources;
13. persistent search for additional cost sharing sources;
14. possibilities to replicate the experience learnt in other territories and regions/

(Minutes of the tripartite review meeting are enclosed).

From March 28 to April 20, 2001 the Project RUS/97/005 documentation was audited by independent auditors. The audit was conducted in conformity with the provisions of the project document, generally accepted auditing standards, and the principles and procedures prescribed by the UNDP procedures and standards for accounting, financial management and reporting of nationally executed programs/projects. The purpose of the project audit was to provide the UNDP Administration with reasonable assurance and verification that the realization of the project by the executing agency does not contain doubtful financial transactions and distortions. The audit included (but was not limited to) the review of the following factors for the implementation of the project:

• Methods of management;
• Institutional structure;
• Financial accounting, control and reporting;
• Staffing;
• Assessment of the rate of delivery;

The auditor made several comments which are not of matter of principle and concluded positively, with minor reservations, on the performance of the project. The auditor also noted that the Project had potential for further expansion and prolongation.

Project RUS/97/005 has been successfully implementing and developing for the sake of reinforcement of opportunities of civil society institutions in Moscow and the Russian Federation. The contributions made by the Kingdoms of the Netherlands in 2000 together with the Moscow Government, UNESCO and other donors have undoubtedly had a substantial impact on the democratization of the Russian society, enhancing the civil society participation in policy formulation and delivery of social services for vulnerable groups of the population, introduction of efficient mechanisms for interaction and cooperation between the government and the public and social partnership. The outputs of the projects are of sustainable nature and will facilitate the sustainable development of Russia.

National Project Manager Irina Leonova

The mission of the project consists in supporting Moscow social associations in their interaction with Local and State Government and between each other.

(Under the term "social associations" we imply non-governmental and non-commercial organizations, whose activity is directed on solving social-significant issues, not including political parties and movements, professional unions, religious organizations, national and sexual minorities unions).

In accomplishing their missions the specialists of the Center issue from the following statement: civil initiative, willingness of citizens for personal participation in solving social problems - are the fundamental values of democratic society. This statement should be realized and accepted by the majority of citizens, politicians, and governmental officials of Moscow and Russia. Our Center works to attain this goal.

Strategic orientation of work:

Perfection of legislation and standard acts in order to form favorable conditions for the work of social associations.

Popularization of ideas of the Third Sector among State employees; forming positive attitude toward civil and social initiatives; involving State employees into search of methods of constructive interaction with NGO.

Research and analysis of progress trends of Moscow social organizations, revelation of contradictions, objective difficulties in taking civil initiatives.

Providing and support of accessible informational exchange between NGO and governmental bodies of different levels; perfect information on NGO activity and all kinds of financial support.

To arrange all necessary conditions for business and informal communication between the leaders and active members of civil and social organizations.