Supported by: Ekopolis Foundation and Center for Philanthropy ETP-S Slovakia within the program “Your Earth” financed by Trust for Civil Society for Central and Eastern Europe

Project span: May 2002 – June 2001

Project team: Oľga Gyárfášová, Marián Velšic, Jozef Majchrák

Co-operating Institutions: FOCUS Agency

Objectives: To strengthen support in the society for the reform of public administration; to promote the adoption of the prepared concept of decentralization and modernization of public administration; to increase the level of informedness of the public on issues of public administration and local democracy. The basis of this project was a representative sociological survey, carried out in May 2001. The survey sought to find answers to the following questions: what is the level of informedness of the citizens about individual aspects of the public administration reform; what views exist on the possible impact of this reform on solving specific problems; what is the level of citizen participation; what are the perceptions of the local level representatives and what is the citizen’s identification with Slovakia’s regions. The target groups were selected based on their role in the process of implementation of the reform. These included the following:

• General population of the Slovak Republic (the public)
• Mass media (journalists)
• Non-governmental organizations
• Politicians and experts deciding on the form and the means of carrying out the reform

Outputs:

Final report in the form of a chapter titled "Local Administration and Decentralization Through the Prism of Public Opinion" published in Reform of Public Administration in Slovakia 1998- 2002. Context, Players, Elections. Available in the Slovak language only.

Analysis of research findings: Active Approach to Addressing Local Problems Has an Influence on Positions Toward Reform (May 2001). Available in the Slovak language only.

Analysis of research findings: Slovaks are the Most Proud of Europe and their Town/District (May 2001). Available in the Slovak language only.

Analysis of research findings: The Reform of Public Administration as Perceived by the Public (June 2001). Available in the Slovak language only.

Analysis of Research Findings: People are not Ambivalent About the Reform of Public Administration, monothematic page in SME daily, published on June 11, 2001. Available in the Slovak language only.

Interviews for regional, nation-wide, and foreign media.