Good Governance principles to be promoted in Russia

PRESS RELEASE 23 November 2012
Good Governance principles to be promoted in Russia

The North-West Institute of Public Administration starts the first training session of the international project on "Promotion of Good Governance principles in North-West Russia” on 26 November.

During the week the training programme for civil servants from North-West Russian regions and municipalities will be focusing on principles of effective management developed by the Council of Europe, ways of interaction between authorities and civil society, innovation strategies, citizen participation in local government, the principles of project management, and other aspects of good governance.

In addition, two more weekly sessions are scheduled for March and September 2013. Upon completion of trainings courses and examination civil servants will receive an official certificate. Active students will also get a chance to participate in one of the study trips to the Nordic countries. That will be an opportunity to explore implementation of innovative good governance practices in Finland, Sweden and Norway.

The new initiative is devoted to issues acute for modern Russian society such as good governance, standardization and evaluation of public services. Such standardization instruments and tools are supported and developed by the Council of Europe through promotion of the “Strategy for Innovation & Good Governance at a Local Level“.

During the project life-cycle Russian civil servants of regional and local authorities from North-West Russian Federal District will get an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the European Good Governance Principles on the levels of the European legal framework, national strategies as well as particular regional and local authorities practical activities in the Nordic countries.

Study of European best practices and adaptation of key principles of standardization and public services to the Russian regional and local context will promote efficiency and quality of public institutions, increase levels of cooperation with citizens, political parties, interest groups and civil society institutions.

The project is implemented by the North-West Institute of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Centre for NGOs Development and the Institute of Regional Press. The project is co-financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers within the Knowledge-Building and Networking Programme and the Council of Europe.