RAPORT ROCZNY - Małopolski Instytut Samorządu Terytorialnego i ...

58 Report on MISTiA’s Activities in 2008MISTiA is largely focused on supporting enterprise. In 2008, MISTiA experts: provided free consulting and information as a partof activity of the Consulting Centres based in Krakow and Tarnów, delivered training for the project “The Academy of Management”.In addition, 2008 saw the opening of the project “Become an Entrepreneur in the Małopolska Region”. Under the project,comprehensive support will be provided to those, who plan to set up their own business. The support will include training, adviceand financial assistance.Projects supporting development of the civic society include the project “Transparent Poland” which aims to enhance thetransparency of the state authorities, continuation of the project “We Can Do More – Partnership for Social Cooperatives” asa part of the EQUAL Community Initiative, which involved direct support for NGOs: “Training and Consulting Centre for anNGO” and „Be Not Afraid of Federalisation”. In 2008, we opened the Regional Centre of the European Social Fund. Activitiesof the Centre involve provision of comprehensive legal, training and information services to NGOs preparing projects financedfrom the ESF.For many years, the Institute has been supporting development of local democracy in the CEE countries. In 2008, we organisedstudy visits of representatives of Ukrainian local government authorities to Małopolska under the project “Transparent Ukraine– Building Effective and Ethical Local Government in Ukraine” and “Investment-Attracting School for Eastern Ukrainian LocalGovernment Entities”. We also gained a very interesting experience from the implementation of the project “Youth Ambassadorsof Europe – Moldova” in collaboration with the British Embassy in Warsaw.ConsultingIn 2008, we delivered 25 consulting services. They mainly involved development or updating strategic documents importantfor local governments, including: Development Strategies, Local Revitalisation Programmes and Strategies for Solving SocialIssues. MISTiA experts prepared these documents on request of municipalities, counties and cities and towns of the MałopolskaRegion.The activity of the ForumsThe operation of the Forums is based on the author’s concept of MISTiA which is predominantly addressed to local governmentfunctionaries from the Małopolska Region. Some Forums have been operating for over a decade. At present, 15 Forumsoperates at MISTiA with 1,400 in total, holding abut 180 meetings during the year.In 2008, the Forums included:The Forum of Treasures of the Małopolska Region Local Government EntitiesThe Forum of Heads of Local Administrative Units and Mayors of the Małopolska RegionThe Forum of Southern Poland SecretariesThe Małopolska Welfare ForumThe Municipal Spatial Management ForumThe Local Government Educational Sector ForumThe Registrar’s Office Staff ForumThe European Officials’ ForumThe Forum of Crisis Management CoordinatorsThe Ecological Forum of Local GovernmentThe Forum for Chairpersons of Municipal and Commune Councils of MałopolskaThe Małopolska Academy of Active SeniorsThe Małopolska Forum of Public Administration LawyersThe Małopolska Forum of CultureThe Public Health ForumStrategic Analysis CentreThe Centre for Strategic Analyses is a part of MISTiA which specialises in research in the social field, prepares analyses andreports on activities of local government entities, NGOs and SMEs. In 2008, 6 projects were implemented and research studiesprepared, of which the most important was the project “ABC of Evaluation – Improvement of Service Quality in Local GovernmentEntities, “The Municipal Programme in Support for Historical Buildings and Sights in the City of Krakow” and ‘The Diagnosis ofthe Labour Market in Miechowski County”.