Czech Association of Development Agencies

Česká asociace rozvojových agentur

Seat:Na Jízdárně 7, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic, http://www.cara.cz
Postal address: Královopolská 139, 612 00 Brno

ČARA is a specialized professional association of Development Agencies covering with their services the new established Regions (NUTS III) of the Czech Republic.

The main objective is to support the systematic economic, social and cultural development of the Czech NUTS III Regions. The ČARA follows the regional policy of the Czech Republic set in the Law No. 248/2000 which is conformable with the EU regional policy.

ČARA was registered as a special-interest corporation according to the Czech Civil Code on February 19th 1997.

ČARA´s intention is to back up the implementation of the regional policy by complying with the regional specifics. The main partners within the Czech Republic are the state administration at central and regional level, regional and municipal self-administrations and with organisations representing the commercial and NGO sector, which participate in the economic and social development. The main foreign partners are public and private institutions dealing with regional development and associations with similar activities as ČARA has.

ČARA´s charge is to coordinate and strengthen the activities of their members and negotiate in their name in the range of the given mandate.

Specific targets:

• Drafting of legislative and system proposals focused on minimisation of barriers concerning conceptual development of the NUTS II and III Regions
• Contribute to implementation of standard development methods used in the EU member-countries
• Creation of generally applicable systems and effective instruments for regional development,
• Obtaining support from national authorities and external institutions for implementation of development programmes and projects in the Regions
• Elaboration of concepts concerning cooperation and negotiation with public and private sectors, NGOs and foreign institutions with the same or similar activities
• Presentation of the Association and promotion of their members
• Creation of an information network among the members with an effective data, information and experience exchange
• Active cooperation with the European Association of Development Agencies EURADA based in Brussels

ČARA stipulates high quality services performed by their members relating to:

• Creation and operating of Regional Information Systems coordinated by the Centre of Regional Development of the Czech Republic
• Providing activities concerning regional programming – elaboration of analysis, development strategies, programmes and plans
• Development, coordination and technical assistance in implementation of development policies, programmes and projects
• Executive activities within development programmes co-financed from different public budgets (e.g. state, regional or EU-funds)
• Representation of Czech national development institutions
• Promotion of the Czech Republic and the Regions abroad

Contracting parties:

• National Association of Business Development - NARP
• Association of Innovative Entrepreneurship of the Czech Republic – AIP ČR
• Czech Agency for business development a investment - CzechInvest
• Institute of Integration of the Czech Republic into the European Union - IICE
• International Consulting Centre of Municipalities – MEPCO
• Association of entrepreneurs of the Czech republic – SP ČR

Members of ČARA:

Bodies:

The representatives of the member-agencies constitute the general meeting, which is the highest authority of ČARA.

The Board of Directors has following 4 members from July 2007:

The Supervisory Board has following 3 members from March 2007:

Identification Number: 681 45 136
Bank: Ceska sporitelna, a.s., branch Brno, account: 1653348359/0800

Up-dated: May 22^nd 2009