Local Self-Governments Introduced to the Opportunity to Establish Good Governance Competency Units

Meetings with decision makers in 25 towns and municipalities marked the beginning of activities of the Programme “PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature” aiming to establish Good Governance Competency Units in local self-governments (LSGs).

Good governance at the local level relies on the implementation of the positive legal framework, but there is also a large undefined part in the area of the protection of public interest, for which the laws in Serbia do not prohibit additional regulation, PRO Programme Senior Officer for Good Governance Dragan Mladenović said during the meeting.

“This is why it is very important that good governance processes in local self-governments are constantly improved, and professional staff have a key role in this. And this is why it is really important to use the opportunity to advance and improve the work of LSG representatives, through acquiring new knowledge, exchanging practical experience and spreading information on good governance,” Mladenović said.

In June, the two-year training cycle will begin, which will introduce LSG representatives to good governance principles and their practical application, and Mali Zvornik, according to Presedent of the Municipality Zoran Jevtić, is planning to make use of the new opportunities provided by the programme, in order to ensure continuous efforts on improving the LSG.

“Relying on good experience, we are planning to continue co-operation within the new programme and enable staff to participate in envisaged training, so they can adopt new positive approaches to their work and apply them in their settings,” Jevtić said and added that Mali Zvornik intends to, in addition to training, also take advantage of the programme’s support to revise local strategic documents, as well as the opportunity to use the funds for the implementation of project activities.

In previous programmes, European PROGRES and Swiss PRO, the establishment of expert teams for good governance in 55 LSGs was supported, which participate, as a consultative mechanism, in the development and implementation of local public policies, development projects, as well as in other activities contributing to raising accountability, transparency and efficiency of LSG operations.

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.