Public Administration Monitoring for Better Local Governance

In December 2022, the European Policy Centre (CEP) together with partners (Center for Balanced Regional Development (CenTriR) National Coalition for Decentralization (NKD) from Niš, Ecological Center Stanište from Vršac) successfully finished the implementation of the project Public Administration Monitoring for Better Local Governance. This project was focused on equipping local civil society organizations with methodological tools, knowledge and skills for monitoring public administration reform (PAR) at the local level. The project was intended to support local CSOs to become professional and reliable partners in policy making and local reform processes through PAR monitoring and advocacy that was based on facts and evidence.

The project directly supported 40 local CSOs and had the aim to strengthen their capacities and to provide mentoring support in the field of application of a comprehensive methodology and tools for monitoring the fact-based public administration reform, which the project had developed. PAR monitoring itself was conducted in 17 local governments (12 from central Serbia, 4 from Vojvodina and the City of Belgrade).

Project activities were grouped into four work packages:

1) WP 1 was included in the activities related to the development of a methodology for monitoring public administration reform at the local level and tools needed for its implementation, involving all relevant actors from the civil sector at the local level, as well as representatives of MDULS and SCTM.

2) WP2 have included capacity building of local CSOs for the application of the developed methodology, as well as monitoring of public administration reform in 17 local governments, which included preparation and publication of 17 individual monitoring reports and one comparative PAR monitoring report in all 17 LGUs.

3) WP3 was focused on regular CSO consultation sessions and advocacy plans and their implementation through public events and closed-door meetings.

4) WP 4 was included in a campaign (street actions and online) which was intended for all citizens in Serbia, was focused on issues of public administration reform at the local level, as well as an open call for citizens ‘contribution to the campaign and the development of the “Book of Citizens’ Experiences”.

The project was funded by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia within the Civil Society and Media Support Program, which aimed to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU integration process by empowering civil society to actively participate in decision-making. The project was co-financed by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue.

Here you can find the information about publications and events produced during the project (in Serbian).

Contact: Branko Birač, Project Manager – branko.birac@cep.org.rs

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