Operational Programme Social Fund - Administrative Capacity Development 2007 - 2013

In the Social Assistance Sector, the OP ACD will mainly finance training for the staff

working in the National Authority for the Protection of the Child’s Rights, in the National

Authority for Persons with Disabilities, in the General Directions for Social Assistance and

Child Protection and in the Social Assistance Public Services, representing approx. 26% of

the total number of the personnel in the sector13.

13 The personnel of the General Directions for Social Assistance and Child Protection is around 41,000 persons,

out of which 3,100 are civil servants. Approximately 3,000 civil servants have to be trained. At the level of

towns, municipalities and communes a number of 504 Social Assistance Public Services operate (in which work

around 7,800 persons). In the administrative-territorial units where there are no Social Assistance Public

Services work around 4,000 persons having social assistance responsibilities. At this level there is a high need of

training for 90-100% of the personnel (approximately 11,000 persons)

Sector Problem Analysis

The most immediate administrative capacity issues identified for this sector are:

• administrative structures’ resistance to decentralisation at all levels, including the local

one, due to the lack of experience in the management and organisation of social services;

• insufficient communication between responsible institutions in the field;

• lack of relevant monitoring and evaluation systems of the services provided;

• the personnel in the local public administration structures is not properly trained for the

specific activities;

• structures insufficiently rationalised.

Consideration of these key issues is carried forward in the strategy of the Operational

Programme and in the formulation of the indicative operations to address the priority sectors.