[CivilSoc] New Internet information network for and about local governments in Eastern Europe

[Piroska Hugyecz]

New Internet Information Network Aids Local Governments in Eastern Europe
Despite enormous strides in establishing democracy and opening markets in
the region, much remains to be done in Eastern Europe, especially at the
local level.  Many countries of the former Soviet Union had little tradition
of independent and autonomous local governance and an equally fragile
tradition of information sharing and dissemination.  Local governments
looked to the West for examples of best practices, but increasingly they
look to others in the region who come from a similar background to point the
way forward.
 The Local Government Information Network (LOGIN) - an Internet-based
information tool designed specifically for the needs of local government
officials was created in 1999 to help share the information on what works,
and what doesn't - where to go for information on topics ranging from local
government finances to waste management and municipal services.  Through a
sophisticated and multi-lingual web based interface anyone in the region (or
in the world) can access the stores of knowledge that reside in the LOGIN
database and that are contributed by organizations throughout the region.
Working with organizations in each country who are already serving local
governments (associations of local authorities, non-governmental
organizations and private sector companies such as a Polish publishing
house) LOGIN provides timely, useful information on twenty different topics
related to local government issues as well as news updates, training
opportunities, legislative updates and news on EU integration.  The database
is accessible in all the languages of the region and English and supports,
among other features, an ever-growing library of research, case studies and
best practices on a wide range of local government issues. LOGIN is not a
collection of links. The LOGIN database provides full text, downloadable
documents.
With support from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United
Nations Development Programme, the Open Society Institute, the Council of
Europe and the World Bank LOGIN is steadily adding new countries to the
network and will soon cover the entire region.
For additional information, please contact Mr. Kristof Varga at
kzvarga@osi.hu <mailto:kzvarga@osi.hu> and visit LOGIN at: www.logincee.org.