Good Governance Capacity Development Training Launched for 27 Local Self-Governments

The application of the principles of Accountability and the Rule of Law were the topics of the first in a series of training sessions for the capacity development of good governance expert teams at the local level, implemented with Swiss Government support by the Programme “PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature”.

The new generation of good governance experts are staff members in 27 local self-governments (LSGs), who, with the training held on Kopaonik 21-23 June 2023, embarked on a two-year training cycle to acquire skills and knowledge to apply good governance principles in everyday work.

Through practical examples, discussion and exercises, LSG staff will learn about good governance principles and master their application in practice, when developing and implementing local public policies, development projects, as well as in other activities contributing to enhanced accountability, transparency and efficiency of their work, PRO Programme Senior Officer for Good Governance Dragan Mladenović pointed out.

“The aim of the training is to build or additionally develop decision makers’ and professionals’ capacities in the local government, to apply the principles of good, democratic governance in everyday operations of local self-governments. Training participants will, after passing the test, be awarded certificates, and provided with the opportunity to attend a five-day training of trainers, and those who also complete this training successfully, will be eligible for accreditation with the National Academy for Public Administration,” Mladenović said.

Contribution to the first training was also provided by the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, and participants included representatives of Batočina, Blace, Čačak, Despotovac, Golubac, Ivanjica, Kladovo, Kragujevac, Kruševac, Kučevo, Leskovac, Ljubovija, Mali Zvornik, Merošina, Mionica, Nova Varoš, Paraćin, Petrovac na Mlavi, Pirot, Požarevac, Požega, Raška, Ražanj, Sjenica, Trstenik, Tutin, and Vrnjačka Banja.

“The group profile is such that I expect dynamic and challenging work. In addition to a mixture of theory and practical work, we are continuously encouraged to actively participate in the discussion, which will contribute to expand our knowledge and transfer it on to our colleagues in the future,” Jelena Petrović from Ljubovija pointed out.

The training is part of the support provided by the Programme to the LSGs for them to improve governance. Programme support will, inter alia, also cover the improvement of eGovernance, introduction of eServices, data opening, improved implementation of local regulations, which will be achieved through co-operation with the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, as well as promotion the provision of public services to citizens and businesses.

The Programme “PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature” is jointly implemented by United Nations agencies in Serbia - UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP, in cooperation with the Serbian Government, and with financial support of the Government of Switzerland.