The Government of Switzerland and Local Partners Improve Good Governance in Kragujevac

Representatives of the Swiss Cooperation Office and the “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” Programme visited Kragujevac to gain deeper insight into the programme’s activities in the field of good governance. During the visit, special attention was given to the work of the Centre of Excellence for Good Governance, established with the support of the programme and playing a key role in advancing transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in local government.

Over the past two years, the Programme has provided continuous support to the City of Kragujevac in building the capacities of the local administration to apply the principles of good governance in practice. As part of this support, a comprehensive training programme was implemented, consisting of six thematic modules, each dedicated to one of the core principles of good governance: accountability, rule of law, transparency, citizen participation, efficiency and effectiveness, and non-discrimination and equality.

A training-of-trainers programme was also conducted, along with ongoing mentorship, allowing knowledge to be transferred and applied within the local context. By completing this training, participants may become accredited lecturers at the National Academy for Public Administration, contributing to the creation of a professional network of local-level good governance experts.

The ultimate goal of this support was the establishment of a permanent and functional mechanism within local government – the Centre for Good Governance. This centre ensures that good governance principles are consistently integrated into all aspects of public operations – from planning and decision-making to policy implementation and project execution – thereby securing the sustainability of achieved results and further local capacity development.

This type of support has been implemented in 22 local governments, with a total value of 125,000 Euros. One concrete result is the “Paths of Nature” project, carried out by the City of Kragujevac in cooperation with the association “Prvi prvi na skali.” The project aims to expand green areas and strengthen ecological awareness through tree planting, educational workshops, and promotional campaigns. The project proposal placed particular emphasis on good governance principles, especially equality and citizen participation, demonstrating the practical application of acquired knowledge.

During the visit, representatives of the Swiss Cooperation Office expressed satisfaction with the results Kragujevac has achieved in the area of good governance, highlighting the importance of ongoing institutional commitment to these principles. The visit once again underscored the value of cooperation between local governments and international partners in building more transparent, equitable, and efficient public services for all citizens.

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.