Local Leaders Improved Skills for Good Governance

The PRO-Local Governance for People and Nature programme has started with the cycle of advanced training for local government representatives who are already leading local Good Governance Centres. At the first training, the participants obtained practical skills to improve interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, advocacy, and collaboratively formulate sustainable responses to developmental challenges.

The kick-off training of the new training cycle was held from 13 to 15 November in Vrnjačka Banja for 20 representatives of local self-governments, who in the previous two iterations of the programme successfully completed the training on the application of the principles of good governance in practice, and who are currently leading respective local Good Governance Centers. This training marked the opening of a new chapter in strengthening the capacities of local governments for the continuous improvement of local governance.

This first training in a series reiterated and emphasized the commitment of the PRO programme to continuous capacity building of local self-governments, this time providing participants with the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills, and master additional and advanced tools for solving the complex challenges of local governance and local communities’ sustainable development.

The training responded to the need to master the basic competencies necessary for improved application of good governance in practice, including knowledge and skills necessary for effective interpersonal communication, conflict management, negotiation, advocacy, situational analysis and evidence-based decision-making. Using a dynamic mix of expert presentations, role-playing and situational exercises, participants participated in activities tailored to scenarios to practice improving local governance through real-life examples. The culmination of the training was the practical application of SWOT analysis, enabling participants to identify the challenges of local governance and design tailor-made solutions, based on the given framework.

"This training gave us a new perspective on communication and negotiation," one participant noted. "The practical tools we have learned will undoubtedly help us to apply the principles of good governance more effectively in our communities."

This session was the first in a series of three parts, designed to progressively enhance the competencies of local Good Governance Center leaders. The second training, planned for March 2025, will focus on project management and decision-making, while the last session in June 2025 will deal with public policy development.

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