Strengthening local engagement: WeBER 3.0 workshop empowers grantees for public administration reform

As part of the Western Balkan Enablers for Reforming Public Administrations – WeBER 3.0 project, a workshop was held on Friday, February 28, at the Envoy Conference Center for grant recipients of the Local PAR Citizen Engagement Small Grant Facility.

The goal of the workshop was for grantees to present the results and experiences gained during the implementation of their projects, which began in May last year. The event provided an opportunity for organisations to exchange best practices, share experiences in applying the design thinking methodology, and discuss cooperation with key stakeholders at the local, regional, and national levels.

Following a constructive discussion on potential synergies between projects, the second part of the workshop featured a presentation by the WeBER Initiative project team in Serbia on financial reporting rules, emphasising best practices for reporting, project implementation, and responsible use of funds. Subsequently, Project Manager Branko Birač provided a detailed explanation of the narrative reporting template, highlighting the importance of clarity in showcasing project results and impact. Participants were also introduced to a citizen survey questionnaire, which grantees will use at the local level to collect feedback on citizens’ experiences with public administration services.

The discussion continued with a focus on organising Local Forums for PAR – events where grantees will present prototype solutions for challenges faced by local communities that their projects aim to address.

The workshop concluded with a review of project visibility, as well as discussions on opportunities to enhance cooperation and support provided by the WeBER Initiative to grantees and local civil society organisations.