LGPSRI (Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative Open Society Institute) Budapest, Hungary has awarded a grant to the NISPAcee publication project. The goal of this project is to translate SIGMA*, NISPAcee and other relevant publications from English to CEE national languages based on requests and needs of governmental institutions or NISPAcee member institutions from CEE countries.

The objective of the project is to make publications, which were developed and published with an aim to provide decision-makers, civil servants as well as academics from CEE countries with a tool which could help them in the transition period and reform efforts, accessible for them in their native language.

SIGMA - Support for Improvement in Governance and Management in Central and Eastern European Countries - is a joint initiative of the OECD Centre for Co-operation with the Economies in Transition and the European Union's PHARE Programme. The initiative supports public administration reform efforts in thirteen countries in transition, and is financed mostly by PHARE. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an inter-governmental organisation of 29 democracies with advanced market economies. The Centre channels the Organisation's advice and assistance, over a wide range of economic issues, to reforming countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. PHARE provides grant financing to support its partner countries in Central and Eastern Europe up to the stage where they are ready to assume the obligations of membership of the European Union. Established in 1992, SIGMA works within the OECD's Public Management Service, which provides information and expert analysis on public management to policy-makers. It facilitates contact amongst public sector managers and encourages the exchange of relevant ideas and experiences. SIGMA offers beneficiary countries access to a network of experienced public administrators, comparative information, and technical knowledge connected with the Public Management Service. SIGMA works in five technical areas: Reform of Public Institutions, Management of Policy-Making, Expenditure Management, Management of the Public Service, and Administrative Oversight. In addition, an Information Services Unit disseminates published and on-line materials on public management topics.

How to apply:

• Eligibility is limited to members of NISPAcee and other institutions with professional interest in public administration in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Applicants will have to prove the utility of the translated publications in their respective countries, the distribution policy, quality of translation, and an ability to cover the distribution costs.
• Priority will be given to institutions, which will distribute the publication at their own expense.
• Applicants should determine clear overall calculation of costs of translation (checking/editing) and publishing (priority will be given to reasonable price quotes for translation and publishing).
• The institution must meet re-print conditions of the copyrigth holder, and acknowledge credit to NISPAcee, LGI/OSI and the copyrigth holder.
• Extra copies will be made available upon demand, by the organisation, for at least six months after publication, to satisfy late requests.

Further information about the call and deadlines, as well as a list of previous publications that have been translated, please visit http://www.nispa.sk/_portal/page.php?sid=74