LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Use the right to be involved

Relations between citizens and state, despite the democratic changes of the year 2000, remained unsatisfactory. Political activism of majority of citizens has dropped to the level of sole turnout in the elections (meaning once in three or four years). Any activities related to the control of those elected as citizens' representatives in the institutions of power are reduced to a minimum. The lack of control is not, however, the only problem. Apart from it, there is the issue of lack of initiative among citizens themselves, which would be reflected in their use of legally guaranteed rights to initiate certain socially relevant issues, representation of their own interests; there is also an inadequate communication with local authorities and non-use of legally allowed forms of self-organisation as well. The direct consequence of such a situation is the frequently observed irresponsibility of political elite, both at the local and central level; on the other hand, many of the citizens' rights remain unfulfilled. 

Inadequate transparency and pressure of public opinion creates the space for some very negative phenomena such as nepotism and corruption, which lead to great losses and damage at the expense of citizens, particularly when the citizens' rights and interests are concerned. On the other hand, the consequences of irresponsible behaviour of political decision makers are mostly felt among the citizens who represent the part of so called marginalised groups, because of the limited possibility for their voices to be heard in an adequate manner. In the surroundings prevailing in Serbia, the problem is particularly present, due to the denial and intolerance towards such groups within the population.

It is however unrealistic to expect that the individual engagement can lead to the activities related to the final control and monitoring of the work of politicians. This is where the non-government organisations (NGOs) enter into the field, as well as citizens' associations and media, who represent a kind of intermediary between the authorities and citizens. In Serbia, at local level, one of the major obstacles for the so-called watchdog activities stems from the inadequate capacities of local non-governmental organisations. This is reflected above all in the fact that they don't have sufficiently trained personnel in the area of functioning of local self-government; they also lack knowledge on possibilities provided for the direct participation of citizens in the decision-making process and in the process of fulfilment of their rights at the local self-government level; the third reason is unfamiliarity with the necessary methodology, which is the most efficient in the area of monitoring the work of bodies of local self-government, as the venue where the most important decisions are being made for the members of local community.

However, even if the functioning of local non-governmental organisations is improved, the issue will remain unresolved of their networking, for the purpose of efficient exchange of ideas and experiences. This is why this project does not have as the sole aim to improve the capacities of local non-governmental organisations, but also to encourage them to co-operate with other non-governmental organisations and local authorities with the joint aim, which is the promotion and protection of rights and interests of citizens (particularly the marginalised groups).

Project Goal
The general objective of this project is, in the long run, to improve conditions for the efficient recognition of citizens' rights in local communities which would help inforcement of rule of law. This long-term objective will be accomplished through a series of particular goals, which are:

1. Encouragement of civil sector to become more actively engaged in the advocating of for more efficient and transparent work of the local self-government. 
2. Capacity building within the civil sector, particularly among members of minority groups (ethnic, gender, disabled persons, etc.), to monitor and control the work of the local self-government bodies;
3. Encouragement of co-operation between the civil sector and local authorities in the joint resolution of problems of local community and improvement of work of the local self-government.
4. Encouragement of co-operation and exchange of experiences between local NGOs and various local communities in the area of representation of interests and recognition of rights before the bodies of local self-government.

The project activities are:

1. Project presentation to the project participants
2. Agreement with local non-governmental organisations/associations and local self-governments on the participation in this project
3. Preparation of material and manuals for training and monitoring of the work of local self-government bodies
4. Training 1 for representatives of local NGOs
5. Training 2 for representatives of local NGOs
6. Monitoring of the work of municipal assemblies by representatives of NGOs
7. Analysis of data obtained in the process of monitoring the work of MA, and creation of report on the results of monitoring of work of MA in the target municipalities
8. Distribution of reports to local media in targeted municipalities