Representatives of the Rēzekne municipality participated in the final conference OF the project LLI-59 “Open LeaderSHIP”

On 28 March, the final conference OF the project LLI-59 “Open LeaderSHIP” “innovative governance trends and methods, effective management of change and good practice” took place at the Centre for Culture. More than 100 representatives from Latvian and Lithuanian municipalities, the Latgale Planning Region Administration and the Euroregion “Lakes Land” Bureau took part in the conference. The participants included representatives from Aglona, Baltinava, Prize, Dagda, Daugavpils, Kraslava, Livans, Ludza, Preilu, Rezekne, Vilaka Municipality and Daugavpils City Council, as well as representatives from the municipalities of Lithuania Anyks, Ignalina, Kupiiski, Moled, Svenchologne, Utena, Zarasa District and Visaginas.
The final conference served as a summary of the results for nearly two years of Interreg V-A Latvia – Lithuania's cross-border cooperation programme 2014-2020 FOR the PROJECT LLI-59 “practical training and action cycle for promoting cooperation between institutions and staff capacity building (Open LeaderSHIP)”. The objective of the project is to strengthen the quality of public service services in project partner institutions and local governments of Latvian-Lithuanian cross-border regions by promoting co-operation and increasing the capacity of employees.
The conference was opened by Deputy Chairman of the Latgale Planning Region Development Council and President of Vilaka Municipality, Sergei Maksimov, who expressed gratitude to the project partners and pointed to the versatility and advantages of the Lean management system, with which he, as the President of the Municipality, had to face the implementation of the project. The participants of the conference were also addressed by Ginth Kraukle, Vice-President of the Municipality of Livani, by congratulating all Lephans and explaining how the project had affected the work of the municipality of Lephen.
The words of gratitude were said by Inga Šidlauskiene, Director of the “Lakes Land” Bureau of the leading partner of the project, and the successful collaboration with Latgale planning region, which combined several activities in both Lithuania and Latvia. I. The Chief of Latvia explained more about the progress of the project in Lithuanian municipalities, pointed to the main benefits and obstacles in the implementation of the project.
The implementation of the Lean management system in Lithuania was presented by Zarasu and Ignalina District Municipalities. As the Lithuanian municipal representatives pointed out, the main benefit has been the possibility of learning and learning something new, as well as using theory in practice. The most successful example of the implementation of the Lean system is the annual Ignalina Social Services Centre established by the year, which, based on the Lean system, developed a standard of service provided by the Centre – a manual.
With the improvements and benefits of the activities organised by the project, 4 municipalities of Latgale Planning Region – Preilu, Vilnius, Awards and Livani Municipalities – were shared. The employees of these local governments have not only learned the basic principles of the Lean management system, but have also launched the practical implementation of the system in local government work, which has enabled the development of the human resources development direction, the integration of financial resources, systematisation of services, acceleration of day-to-day work processes, as well as the targeted work on the building of the image of the local government and the realization of the vision.
The second part of the conference on innovation in European municipalities and the management of effective change was told by a lecturer from Austrian John Adler, under whose leadership the Lean system principles have been introduced by several companies and municipalities in Europe and THE US. The lector called for not to fear the change and find his “Polarstar”, to know his direction, the goal, and step forward. J. Adler provided practical examples of improvements made in European cities of different sizes, where, often initially faced with high resistance, changes have taken place in the direction of sustainable development.
The conference moderator, Lean management system “coach” and SIA “Growth Quarter” representative Karlinna Anna Rozenfelde concluded at the conclusion of the conference: “although the project LLI-59“ Open LeaderSHIP ”is approaching the end, it is just the beginning of the change path for Lithuanian and Latvian municipalities. Wish to seek continuous improvement, as provided by the Lean management system. '
The conference was organised by the Interreg V-A Latvia - Lithuania Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 project LLI-59 “practical training and action cycle for promoting cooperation between institutions and staff capacity building (Open LeaderSHIP)”. The total funding of the project is EUR 382 667,64, including 325 267,50 EURO is the financing of the European Regional Development Fund. This publication is prepared with the European Union's financial support. The content of this publication is fully responsible for the planning region of Latgale and is in no circumstances considered to be the official position of the European Union.