The results of the Project “Strengthening of local democracy” (LOD) implemented in 14 municipalities in BiH were presented on Thursday, September 30, in Jahorina during the final workshop of the first phase of the project. The Project started 18 months ago with the goal of establishing permanent partnership between civil society organizations and local authorities.
„The European Union puts great importance on increased participation of civil society organisations in the democratic process as well as good cooperation between civil society and government at all levels, something that strengthens the quality of democracy and contributes to reconciliation. That is why we allocated 1.5 million Euros for this project implemented by UNDP. We hope that after the project implementation Civil Society Organizations will become better partners to the Government in responding to the citizens needs, but also to become stronger pressure groups to force the Government to respond more rapidly and more effectively to their citizens needs,” explains the Head of Operation Section I for Justice and Home Affairs, Public Administration Reform, Social Dialogue and Civil Society in the Delegation of European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maria Farrar-Hockley.
A total of 37 municipalities applied to participate in the LOD project, out of which 14 partner and six joined municipalities were selected to receive technical support.
„A total of 251 projects were presented and 59 of them were selected for financing. The projects addressed social inclusion, youth issues, ecology, reduction of poverty, gender issues as well as democracy, minority groups, culture and tourism. The municipalities co-financed the projects with 10% of their own funds,” stressed LOD (UNDP) Project Leader Samir Omerefendic.
One of the municipalities that participated in the project “Strengthening of local democracy” is the Laktasi Municipality where 4 projects were successfully implemented.
„Even before this project we had great participation of non governmental organisations in the work of the municipality. We had a system of budget allocation but all of it is improved owing to the LOD Project,” said the representative of the Administrative department of the Municipality of Laktasi Jelena Racic.
The municipality Novi Grad which has signed cooperation contracts with 67 NGOs managed to implement 5 projects.
„We have improved all procedures in accordance with ISO standards thus strengthening our capacities. It is very important that we have managed to include the public in the decision making process and all of that will enable better services for the citizens,” explains with pleasure Hazima Pecirep, Chief of Department for Integrated Development of Novi Grad Municipality.
Through the implementation of this project mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of activities and results of the non governmental sector were adopted. Also, it clearly defined the standards for monitoring of relations between local authorities and civil society organizations.
