FOSI ROM STRATEGY FOR 2003 

BACKGROUND

On October ’02, majority of 77 percent Montenegrin citizens who vote at the parliamentary elections gave legitimacy to Europe-oriented political block. After eight months of instability and crises in all three segments of power – legislative, executive and judicial, ensued as a result of political party’s struggles, Montenegro has a chance to use the newly established stability for shaping development strategy and political change capable to meet the needs of its citizens.

Rule of law, human resources development through modern educational system and economic recovery should be a logical choice for Montenegro development agenda. In order to ensure national consensus around the agenda and to show readiness to share all positive and possible painful aspects of reforms that would affects citizens and their families, serious u-turns in governance are needed. More transparent, professional and politically independent public and local administration, judiciary and media, openness to citizens’ initiatives is the most needed ones. The chance to accomplish this objective lies in political parties’ readiness to forsake its’ monopolistic inheritance and in a more inclusive approach of the Government towards civil sector initiatives.

Unlike the previous period, when reform processes were driven rather according to donors' than Government’s priorities, in the current post-election constellation it seems that the Government could gain momentum and take pro-active role in reforms. In that sense, possible establishment of coordination bodies (task forces) for particular reform areas, consisting of the relevant Ministry, NGOs and other donors would lead to a consistent plan of action in regard to the reforms.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IN 2003

Based on the given time span and limits of financial resources FOSI ROM will focus its activities on the areas where it can really make a difference and establish conditions for further development.

Education reform, law program, reform of public administration and local government, Roma and women programs as well as debate as strategic priorities in 2003 are expected to target major areas of human resources development, rule of law and protection of vulnerable groups, which would encompass all main actors in reform process and would have a long-term impact. In accordance with the basic open society principles, such as the participatory and open development of sector policies, the Foundation will pursue synergistic approach and funds matching in its strategy implementation, not only among governmental, non-governmental sector and other donors, but also among its own programs.

According to decision made by International Advisory Board (IAB) of FOSI ROM, Civil Society program will decline and will support particular NGOs in the area of culture, that are included in joint OSI / European Cultural Foundation’s regional program “Kultura Nova”. On the other side, Media Program will be reshaped and transferred into media component of all strategic programs for 2003, such as public awareness campaigns regarding new legislation and professional training for investigative journalism in strategic areas of FOSI ROM. 

Regarding the funds allocated for 2002 that haven’t been spent due to reorganization of FOSI in 2002, IAB expresses interest to use the opportunity of possible rollover of the funds for shaping additional strategic program components.

Where appropriate IAB will support the regional cooperation within the OSI network and with other NGOs.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES BY PROGRAMS

1. EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAM

• To support the continuation of the education reform processes and the development of quality and sustainable solutions in 2003 and the years to follow.

• To further build the capacities and institutions within MOE and other key educational institutions and NGOs.

• To help MOE attract other donors and international organizations, the World Bank and bilateral donors in particular, who could pick up the investments, which has FOSI so far integrally supported.

• To assist in the provision of awareness raising and public information activities, with an aim of initiating active participation of all education reform stakeholders.

• In order to enhance the cooperation with MOE, FOSI ROM intends to sign a Protocol for Cooperation binding both sides to increase their efforts towards the achievement of the common goal.

• Spin-off, the Pedagogical Center of Montenegro (PCM) continues the implementation of the Step-by-Step Program in both programmatic and financial terms, according to its Business Plan.

• PCM continue to run the OSI Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking Program (RWTC).

• PCM is to carry out activities in the fields of inclusive education (in cooperation with UNICEF) and to develop parent’s councils (in cooperation with the CRS – Catholic Relief Services).

2. LAW PROGRAM

• To stimulate closer cooperation between governmental sector (as a leader of the reform process), non/governmental sector (as state's partner in effectuation of certain reform projects) and donors, all aimed at encompassing the achieved reform results and their more efficient monitoring .

• To influence greater visibility of state's participation in the legal reform process as a guarantee of further sustainability of reform results .

• To enhance already existing donor cooperation in reform of respective segments of the legal system.

• To contribute to legal reform in wider sense, by means of initiating new program activities.

3. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM

• To raise the level of communication between service deliverers and beneficiaries in public administration and local government reform process.

• To inform citizens of major legislation standards as well as of the achieved standards in services provision in developed democratic states.

• To train personnel both in the sphere of management techniques and personnel management and in the sphere of direct work and communication with citizens.

• To offer an expert assistance to local government.

• To boost cooperation between local authorities and NGOs.

• To avoid over-lapping and to increase collaboration on the same abovementioned issues through establishing of the Task force for PA-LG Reform consisted from representatives of donors, NGOs and Ministry of Justice, which will guide the reform process.

4. ROMA PROGRAM

• To initiate establishment of the Task Force consisting of Governmental and Non-Governmental representatives in charge of preparing a short-term action plan, with well defined and shared responsibilities as a first step toward joining resources.

• To further promote need for education of Roma children by means of gathering main interested actors around the need for a long-term policy on a national level that would encourage/lead to successful social integration of Roma and would produce sustainable change.

• To further strengthen weak capacity of numerous Roma NGOs in terms of their advocacy and monitoring skills, all aimed at fostering dialogue on a local level on best ways how to address critical problems of Roma community.

• To influence policy makers and other actors to develop and adopt Roma-sensitive policies.

5. WOMEN'S PROGRAM

• To take up a more targeted approach on gender and education, which will include both educational/research initiatives and the support to the information and documentation centre.

• Regarding violence against women, to encompass both the activities in the field of legislation change, institutionalization of the services so far delivered by the third sector and the strengthening of NGOs providing support to victims of domestic violence and trafficking.

• To rely on the initiatives and activities going on region-wide as well as to help foster the cooperation of local NGOs with their counterparts in the region.

6. DEBATE PROGRAM

• To promote and implement a debate methodology as one of regular forms of practice in secondary and higher education institutions in Montenegro.

• Revitalization of the program and activation of the local schools club, as well as the linking of the program with the education reform process taking place in Montenegro.

• To increase efforts at establishing partnerships with other donors and international organizations in order to be able to fundraise for conducting of particular activities as well as to help ensure the sustainability of the program.

PARTICULAR PROGRAM PRIORITIES

1. EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAM

• Support to MOE in mobilizing other donors

After three years of education reform, it has now become clear that it cannot be sustained without the engagement of other donors and international institutions which would take over and continue investments into many different activities so far mostly supported by OSI. However, at this moment, there is only one large-scale project (EU funded VET/Phare project) related to the education reform in Montenegro and conducted by international organizations other than OSI. Neither the World Bank nor bilateral donors have so far been involved in the field of education reform.

For all these reasons, support to MOE in the mobilization of other donors will be one of the main activities of the Foundation in 2003 and the years to follow. FOSI Rep. Office – Montenegro will rely on the international influence OSI has in terms of the engagement of other donors, governments and organizations in the reform processes in education. Also, at the meeting between the Foundation, OSEP-SEE, UNICEF and EAR representative, it has been agreed that these two organizations will together with FOSI Montenegro stand behind the realization of these activities.

• Expert help to key reform segments

Montenegro suffers from a bad lack of know-how in the fields of education reform management. The situation is further worsened by the fact that, currently, there is no institution in Montenegro which is treating these issues. The Ministry is for this reason facing an extremely difficult and responsible period during which experts and institutions capable of dealing with the increasingly demanding educational environment should be created. Our Foundation therefore intends to provide expert support to MOE in the fields of curriculum and legislation reform, textbooks production reorganization, institution building and teacher training, relying on the vast experience and knowledge gathered under the auspices of OSI.

-   Curriculum Reform

The greatest need for expert help in the next three years will be in the field of curriculum reform. This is when the most significant documents will be developed, institutions created and, according to the MOE Strategy for education reform for 2003 – 2004, new curricula will start being implemented in a number of selected schools. The vast curriculum reform structure, which is now being created, will need both expertise and guidance in their efforts. The Foundation therefore intends to continue its support in order to provide a sustainable and quality process, which, again, is a prerequisite for all other developments and changes in the education system.

-   Educational Legislation Reform

The whole process of developing new educational legislation has been taking place through the support of FOSI Representative Office – Montenegro. We expect that MOE will need additional expert help for the preparation of by-laws and other regulatory papers and will therefore remain open to these initiatives.

-   Textbooks Publishing

The process of reorganization, capacity building and textbooks preparation and writing at the Textbooks Publishing Agency of Montenegro (the only of this kind in Montenegro) will be taking place along the reform of curricula. In fact, this process has already started and three experts with international reputation have conducted study visits to the Textbooks Agency through OSEP-SEE. The Agency has prepared a strategy for the next two years and our Foundation plans to provide expert support to their efforts.

-   Institution Building

According to the strategy of education reform drafted by MOE for the period 2003/2004, new institutions will be created and the Ministry will be subject to serious reorganization. We expect that the Ministry will need expert help both in the management of these activities and in developing human resources to be employed at new institutions.

-   Teacher Training

Apart from the teacher training activities conducted through the Pedagogic Agency (OSI Step-by-Step) and UNICEF (Active Learning), there have been no systematic efforts at increasing the skills of teachers in order to prepare them for the new reformed school. FOSI Representative Office Montenegro will focus its efforts at mobilizing donor support for this issue, but will also have an open and flexible approach in order to be able to provide expert support for quality initiatives in this field.

In the context of the first strategic goal, i.e. mobilization of other donors, it is important to point out that expert support on the part of the Foundation should be flexible and organized in such a way as to enable OSI to withdraw in the future from the program components taken up by other organizations.

• Ensuring adequate transparency, accountability and public debate on the reform process

This component represents a follow-up to the media/public information campaign on education reform the Foundation developed and launched last year and are fully compatible with the Media Campaign Task as defined in the new MOE strategy for education reform in 2003/2004 (public debates, round tables, news releases, TV shows and videos, etc.). The Foundation also intends to make the most of the activities initiated within the project of developing a Resource Pack on Communicating Education Reform (sensitization and training of journalists, training for MOE employees/PRs, organization of national seminars, etc.).

EVALUATION CONCEPT AND EXIT STRATEGY¹¹

In the context of the change in its strategic orientation from an integrated to a more focused approach to education reform, the Foundation has developed an extensive and thorough evaluation concept covering the period behind us, i.e. 1999 – 2002, and envisaging the activities in the period to follow, i.e. 2003 – 2005.

Monitoring of the existing data and the quality and quantity of direct outputs will start in 2003 and continue into 2004 and 2005, thus enabling us to gain insight into the quality and feasibility of our project and, if necessary, rethink and re-direct our activities. FOSI ROM intends to use a contextual approach to the evaluation in order to capture the manner and extent the political context affects the project implementation and outcomes. It is planned that in 2005 a comprehensive evaluation, external and participatory in character, is conducted and its findings distributed to all reform stakeholders.

The fact that OSI has been the initiator and the dominant donor in the education reform process throughout the previous three-year period, and that, consequently, the evaluation of OSI activities will at the same time be the evaluation of the whole process, will certainly contribute to the significance of this evaluation in terms of its relevance for MOE and its decision and policy-making in the future.

FOSI ROM has developed its exit strategy around the three strategic components it intends to pursue in the next and the years to follow. The exit strategy will be based on the following:

• a comprehensive evaluation of the programme,

• preparation of a resource pack for those who will continue investments in the reform processes, and

• mobilization of donors and other partner institutions who will continue to support education reform in Montenegro.

Evaluation  has a two-fold purpose: to give insight into the impact of the OSI activities in the education reform process, and to provide examples of best practices to MOE/ educational institutions in Montenegro and the donor community as part of the resource pack on the education system change.

Resource pack on the education reform in Montenegro will contain all documents recording the processes of change and will include evaluation findings, best practices and experience acquired throughout the 6-year reform process. The resource pack will be made available to all education stakeholders in Montenegro as well as donors and other international institutions in the field of education.

Establishing partnerships with other donors will greatly contribute to the sustainability of the reform process and, consequently, continue and justify both OSI and MOE activities at introducing changes in the education system. We strongly believe that, apart from the willingness of Montenegro to embark on this comprehensive project of reforming the educational system, the participation of international financial institutions (IFI) will create the necessary preconditions to the achievement of this goal.

BUDGET

2. LAW PROGRAM

• Reform of Judiciary/Judicial Training Center

One of the most successful projects initiated by FOSI as part of the legal reform efforts in Montenegro is Judicial Training Center. With its reliability and professionalism it has attracted several other donors, some of which (European Agency for Reconstruction) have offered technical assistance in developing a long-term curriculum of the Center. EAR is considering more significant financial contribution to training activities of the Center in the course of 2003, while CoE and USAID will offer certain focused training programs.

FOSI financed institutional and part of the educational activities of the Center in the previous two years. Following Memorandum of Understanding, signed in March 2000 between Ministry of Justice, FOSI and COLPI, financial inputs of respective donors were reviewed. JTC has already been made part of the official Government budget proposal for 2003 and Ministry of Justice expressed willingness to continue its support to the Project. Consequently, FOSI will reduce its budgetary input in JTC in 2003 to its institutional costs.

• Clinical Legal Education

In the framework of the overall support that OSI has offered to the development of legal education in Montenegro, a program of cooperation with the Law Faculty of the University of Montenegro was initiated back in year 2000. Law Faculty has, in the meantime experienced significant infrastructure/technical support from FOSI and has reached the point where the development, in terms of infrastructure, human capacity and methodology, becomes obvious. FOSI therefore decided to shift its attention in 2003 to one specific component of the legal education, being namely Legal Clinics Project - supported jointly by FOSI and ABA CEELI.

Three clinics are currently operating at the Faculty i.e. civil law clinic, commercial law clinic and administrative law clinic (with criminal law clinic starting in October 2002). An exchange program with the University of Nebraska has been initiated with the assistance of the ABA CEELI Office in Podgorica and with joint financial support of FOSI and ABA CEELI. As a new method Clinics will be incorporated in the new Faculty curriculum, due next year. Following an evaluation done by FOSI in June 2002, legal clinics in Montenegro need to be built up and developed by additional expertise and strategic planning experiences which understates continued support of FOSI throughout 2003.

• Anti-Corruption Initiative

The Government of Montenegro adopted a set of anticorruption legislation (Anticorruption Law, Law on Money Laundry Prevention and Law on Conflict of Interests) that will soon face parliamentary procedure. Although these laws will support main anticorruption activities, their proper and effective implementation needs to be strengthened through different, more focused sub-activities. FOSI considered several courses of action as potential contribution to the mainstream activities in the anti-corruption initiative:

• Awareness campaigns, designed to explain contents and significance of the new legislation and to increase citizens' readiness to monitor cases of abuse;

• Development of NGO advocacy skills;

• Training for journalists and the encouragement of journalists to cooperate with local and international NGO experts and trade unions to ensure more effective media coverage of anti-corruption initiatives;

• Support for expert groups and NGOs to undertake the needs assessments on possible alternations of the new legislation;

• Training of employees from authorized institutions on the new legal procedures;

• Development of monitoring centres and channels for direct approach of citizens to authorized institutions for anti-corruption struggle.

Both, NGO sector and Governmental Agency for Anti-Corruption Initiative (established under the Stability Pact for SEE) would remain our partners in implementation of this program activity.

• Reform of penitentiary system

FOSI's efforts in regard to the reform of penitentiary institutions in Montenegro will be mainly directed towards:

Support to the Center for Education and Professional Development of personnel in the penitentiary institutions in the Republic of Montenegro (in cooperation with the OSCE, ABA CEELI and CoE): Following a thorough need analysis carried out by OSCE and CoE indicating that there was lack of continuous professional development of the prison personnel, above mentioned Center was officially established in March 2002 by the Decision of the Government of Montenegro, although it was only in September 2002 that it started its activities, after its Curriculum has been revised with the assistance of the OSCE/CoE experts. FOSI, therefore, currently considers possibility of providing additional expertise in certain training programs that were not carried out in the course of 2001, as indicated by our previous strategy. These trainings would tackle some of the most critical issues in treatment of prisoners such as development and implementation of special programs of resocialization, violence and harm reduction, professional ethics, modern standards in treatment of long term prisoners, partnership with NGO sector in  implementation of certain projects etc.)

Promotion of alternative sanctions/non-custodial measures: In spite of the existing legislative framework which allows implementation of alternative sanctions in the judicial practice, these measures are rarely used. There is a need for legislative review that would propose new framework for their implementation, in accordance with contemporary/internationally recognized standards. The adoption of the new Petty Crimes Law (that is currently being drafted), could be used as an entry point for alternative sanctions until revision of Criminal Code and Law on Criminal Procedure is done. In the meantime, FOSI intends to cover this issue by means of promoting alternative sanctions (round tables, conferences, workshops, provision of expertise in presenting comparative models/selecting best practices which could be applicable in Montenegro. Partners of FOSI in this program activity include UNICEF and ABA CEELI.

NEW INITIATIVES

• Freedom of Information/Free Access to information

In the previous period FOSI supported, although through Media Program, several initiatives aimed at creating the necessary preconditions for adoption of relevant information legislation in Montenegro. An NGO - Free Access to Information Program (FAIP) was established back in year 2000 in order to carry out necessary comparative analysis on the issue and prepare model law on Free Access to Information. Their model law has been ultimately submitted to Council of Europe for comments and response was rather favorable.

Currently the drafting of Free Access to Information Law is being considered by state actors and FOSI intends to continue its support for activities directed towards creation of social climate necessary for the introduction of this legislation. This primarily by means of public campaigns and related "lobbying", provided that the specific emphasis is being given to initiatives undertaken in accordance with TI and Article 19 mandates in this regard.

• Trial Monitoring Project (TMP)

TMP is a new project in Montenegro initiated jointly by OSCE, UNHCHR, CoE and ABA CEELI, following an overall need assessment indicating specific needs to establish a mechanism (a monitoring body) that would be designed to objectively monitor and report on criminal cases with regard to the respect for/application of human rights standards in law and practice. The Project’s ultimate purpose is to obtain additional, unbiased and direct reporting information on institutional functioning and to determine possible shortcomings so as to improve law reform within the country. Several donors have been involved in planning and implementation procedure and few have expressed willingness to contribute financially. While expertise and training is already available (as indicated by OSCE) no funding for institutional costs has been provided. In this regard, UNHCHR might consider contribution in terms of premises while OSCE and FOSI consider joint participation in institutional costs in year 2003.

• National Law Program

FOSI expresses general readiness to support the legal reform in all of  its aspects that might arise in the near future. The willingness of the Government of Montenegro to add an extra value to the ongoing process by establishing and supporting a joint governmental/non-governmental/judiciary supervisory group that would contribute to the transparency and efficiency of the overall process, would be an initiative that FOSI would consider supporting. This especially having in mind identified drawbacks of the legal reform process, reflected in lack of proper management, effectiveness and transparency of the reform activities.

AREAS OF POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH OTHER DONORS:

OSCE

• Assistance to Montenegrin government in prison reform;

• Assistance to judicial reform process through building up the capacity of the local judiciary and facilitating independent trial monitoring in Montenegro;

• Assistance to Montenegrin government in its activities directed towards combating corruption.

ABA CEELI

• Enhancement of legal clinics at the Law Faculty;

• Trial Monitoring Project.

EUROPEAN AGENCY FOR RECONSTRUCTION

• Support to Judicial Training Centre

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

• Assistance to the development of the Judicial Training Center for Judges through expert meetings on the institutional developments / participation in the training;

• Further implementation of the existing Action Plan defined by the Prison Reform Steering Group in Montenegro, with a particular emphasis on legislative reforms, training of prison staff and the treatment of various categories of prisoners.

UNICEF

• Promotion of diversion/non-custodial measures

BUDGET

3. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM

• Support the public administration and local government reform process

Within this program line FOSI ROM will support the Ministry of Justice in the proceeding and implementation of the laws on Public Administration, assistant the Ministry in raising awareness campaign on introduction of Ombudsman in Montenegro (in cooperation with Media Network Program), provide assistance to the Ministry of Justice/NGOs in inclusiveness of the processes of drafting, discussion, and adoption of ordinances (in cooperation with Law Program), etc. and provide assistance to municipalities/NGOs in inclusiveness of the processes of drafting, discussion, and adoption of ordinances.(in cooperation with USAID).

• Training and education

FOSI ROM should focus on supporting trainings for civil servants, in cooperation with other donor organizations and local NGOs. That means training for public administration civil servants on new legislation implementation (in cooperation with the European Agency for Reconstruction), and trainings for local government civil servants on new legislation implementation in cooperation with the local NGOs.

Besides these abovementioned trainings, it is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the Montenegrin training institutions. FOSI ROM will explore the possibilities of creating a new institution for civil servants or will support one of the already existing training organizations.

To support the educational component of the Montenegrin public administration, FOSI ROM will initiate a programme supporting curriculum development of new courses in collaboration with the Faculties of Law and Economics. The programme will:

• Support development and introduction of new courses in public policy/administration within faculty of law and economics;

• Provide training opportunities (e.g. within the summer school programme of the Central European University, Budapest) for young faculty members capable of developing and teaching the new subjects;

• Translate and adapt core textbooks within the subject areas of public policy/ public administration/ local government.

Mentor Program OSI LGI will be used as support in this process.

We will provide the information about opportunities for post-graduate studies and research for public administration and local government civil servants (in cooperation with network scholarship programs).

• Support directly to local governments/NGOs devoted to collaboration with Local Governments

The Foundation will continue with support to local communities keeping the grant -giving under this activity line, funding innovative projects, best practices of local governments. The general public tenders will not be held anymore. They will be replaced by specific calls focused on identified priorities (e.g. citizens bureau). Part of the funds from the programme line will be used to evaluate the projects and part of the funds from the programme line will be used to support and disseminate the experience of most innovative projects (through publications, training curricula, dissemination through the association of municipalities and workshops which will include presentation of the best practices, and inter-municipality cooperation in problem-solving processes) Increasing of the involvement of local media in municipalities’ activities is to be expected too.

Local government projects limited only to the provision of equipment should not be supported in 2003.

Special attention will be given to the projects which encompass more than one program line of the FOSI ROM (e.g. Education of Violence against women for Local Government civil servants, in coordination and cooperation with Women Program FOSI ROM).

In the sphere of co-operation of municipalities with NGOs at the local level, we need to support those initiatives that contribute to better communication and collaboration among these entities, especially the projects in the common interest of citizens living in the same region (e.g. citizens participation in decision making process). Special attention will be devoted to improving the level of transparency of the entire reform process in the field of public administration and local government through provision of information and participation of foreign and local (professional) public in all the stages of designing, adopting, and implementing the projected solutions (e.g. public discussions on ordinances).

In operational terms, we need to use more the institute of target tender for municipalities, but also keep the open tender, for NGOs in the first place.

AREAS OF POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH OTHER DONORS:

European Agency for Reconstruction and Development:

• Support to the Government in the implementation of relevant legislation;

• Training for public administration civil servants on new legislation implementation.

Council of Europe (CoE), OSCE, UNHCHR:

• Support to enactment of legislation creating the office of Ombudsman

USAID:

• Support in preparation of ordinances;

• Training for local government civil servants on new legislation implementation.

BUDGET

4. ROMA PROGRAM

• Formal and non-formal education of Roma Children

FOSI put a lot of efforts in the meantime in order to reach an overall strategy when it comes to education of Roma children. Notwithstanding the existing political readiness to create conditions for improvement of Roma status, a clear vision of how to tackle this issue is still lacking. This has brought us to an idea to submit a project in January 2003 to Roma Education Initiative, encompassing thus all up-to-date achievements in the area of Roma education and pulling together all actors toward sustainable program of education of Roma aged 0-18 years. The submission of the project will be preceded by a tripartite agreement between FOSI, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, due end of 2002, defining responsibilities and commitments of the signatories in the Roma education process.

Until the project is officially submitted, FOSI would continue its support to Roma Step by step site(s) and all those NGOs that were precious and reliable implementers of certain non-formal pre-school/formal primary school (catch up classes) education projects in 10 Montenegrin municipalities. These NGOs have become indivisible part of the overall effort and will certainly be made part of the national initiative to be submitted to REI.

Agreement has already been made with the Ministry as regards children who by their age (9-18 years) overcome the legal school entry limit and are therefore made subject of certain basic literacy education programs. Ministry gave an official accreditation to the Universities for Adults in most cases and to schools in some, in terms of pursuing these programs in cooperation with the delegated NGOs. This is an important step toward second chance integration of Roma children into the formal educational system at certain later point.

While UNICEF is mainly interested in elementary education of Roma children (due to the fact that only primary education is, according to existing legislation, of an obligatory character), FOSI remains the only donor that treats the issue of Roma children education continuously at all educational levels. Our mission in the forthcoming period would, therefore, also be to address high school and, possibly, University Roma students by means of providing scholarships for them and establishing network of mentors that would follow their school activities, engagement and dedication and would, thus, represent a tool for their more successful scholastic performance.

Training for crafts, in our opinion, also remains a very important tool of providing economic independence of Roma.

• Further capacity building of Roma NGOs

The number of active Roma NGOs is constantly growing. Their capacity is rather weak notwithstanding training programs carried out constantly throughout previous two years. This will remain an important program activity directed toward focused, need analysis driven training.

• Literacy and health care education of Roma women

The issue of education of Roma women hasn't been significantly tackled by FOSI in the previous period while at the same time situation is alarming. Some of the projects sponsored by UNICEF and Italian INTERSOS, have lost funding in the course of 2002 and their future is uncertain. FOSI will therefore try to dedicate more attention to this issue in 2003 primarily through support to initiatives proposing awareness raising programs on reproductive health issues but also to Romani women literacy education.

• Enhancement of media coverage of Roma issues

FOSI will continue its support for initiatives targeted toward redressing prejudices and presenting some main, critical points of Roma reality in an objective manner. This program segment understates the need to upgrade level of current journalists' capability to communicate Roma problems/concerns to wider public. Certain capacity building in this regard also needs to be considered.

AREAS OF POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH OTHER DONORS:

UNICEF

• Educational activities (Agreement on Cooperation to be signed in due time)

BUDGET

5. WOMEN’S PROGRAM

• Gender and Education

Support to the establishment of Women’s Studies

FOSI ROM intends to support the establishment of women’s studies as an alternative educational program aimed at achieving two main goals, i.e. building of the capacity of women’s NGOs and activists and the development of the critical mass of women capable of producing change in the status of women in Montenegro. The Women’s Studies program will therefore have interdisciplinary character, both academic and practical in nature.

The goal the foundation will strive for will be to link this initiative with the education reform currently taking place in Montenegro, in terms of the need for introducing the issue of gender in the process of curriculum development and textbook production. The first steps have already been undertaken and a letter sent to the president of the National Curriculum Council with a recommendation that the issue of developing gender-sensitive curricula should be dealt with at the principle level and defined as such in the main documents regarding the guidelines for curricular reform. The foundation has received a very positive feedback from the Council concerning this initiative.

Again, related to the above said, the foundation intends to initiate research and studies into the status of women in the existing textbooks and curricula, which could then serve as an indicator and a basis for future work on curricula development.

The foundation will also remain open to the initiatives aiming at delivering training/education to marginalized women groups and women in need – whether women in rural areas, disabled women, Roma women, etc. This is where Montenegro can rely to a great extent on the activities going on and experiences accumulated regionally.

Support to the development of Information – Documentation Centre

FOSI Representative Office – Montenegro intends to continue its support to the Information-Documentation Centre established within the NGO “Anima”, for the purpose of contributing to its sustainability after the closing of the WP in Montenegro.

Since it was established in May 2001, the Information Documentation Centre in Montenegro has undertaken many activities at developing its own capacities, both human and otherwise. Its representatives have taken part in the trainings in Zagreb, Amsterdam and Warsaw and are highly motivated to continue the info-doc. project in accordance with the best practices in the region.

The INDOC has so far published 4 information and 3 thematic magazines, established a library, organized lectures and trainings, and informed the public and WNGO on the developments on the women’s scene. It is also important to mention that the INDOC cooperates with other donor and international organizations, such as OECD, Kvinna Till Kvinna and Mama Cash.

In order to enable the INDOC to achieve its long-term goal, i.e. cooperation between the national and regional women’s info centres which will promote gender equity and influence the work of the media, women’s activists and policy makers at all levels, the foundation will continue its support to this initiative in the next year. The foundation also intends to help enlarge the group of activists from various walks of life gathered around INDOC for the purpose of contributing to both its quality and sustainability.

• Violence Against Women

In addition to the general lack of awareness and knowledge on this issue, in Montenegro there are still no structures at local levels that could treat this problem appropriately. A multi-party Working Group has been established in the Parliament in charge of the improvement of the status of women, but it still operates only occasionally. The goal of the foundation in the next year and the years to follow would be to activate the existing structures as well as to help establish similar mechanisms at municipal levels.

In Montenegro there is only one shelter for women and children victims of domestic violence, as well as one shelter for trafficked women. The former is, as a rule, full throughout the year, and, despite the professionalism and dedication of the persons running it, needs further support in terms of capacity and organizational building. Also, it is necessary to work on the strengthening of the existing SOS lines and their linking to state institutions.

The lack of awareness and mechanism treating women’s issues is further worsened by the lack of corresponding legislation. This does not refer only to the Family Law but the whole legal framework, starting from the Criminal Law to the Labour Law. UNHCHR has initiated activities at introducing changes within the whole range of laws and is open for cooperation regarding these issues. The foundation intends to provide support to this initiative in the belief that they stand a real chance to produce sustainable impact in a relatively short time period.

AREAS OF POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH OTHER DONORS:

UNHCHR

• Legislation change on domestic violence

UNICEF, Norwegian People’s Assistance

• Girls education

• Education on gender balance

Nansen Dialogue Center

• Education on domestic violence

• Gender integration

OSCE

• Gender machinery, networking

BUDGET

6.  DEBATE PROGRAM

• Organization of training seminars for teachers and coaches,

• Organization of regional and national tournaments, as well as participation at international competitions,

• Promotion of regional and international cooperation,

• Linking of the debate program teaching principles with the current activities at changing the educational system in Montenegro,

• Support to the work of local clubs,

• Organization of fundraising and project proposal writing seminars, etc.

BUDGET

7. EAST EAST PROGRAM

East East program, as implemented by FOSI ROM, has always been considered as an important support to the ongoing reform process in Montenegro. In the course of year 2002, due to reorganization matters, it has mainly served as a resource for experts and professionals from both, governmental and non-governmental sector in Montenegro, in exchange of knowledge, expertise and experiences from the region, while no events have been organized under its auspices. 

Following the political circumstances reflected in recent elections and creation of apparently stabile political climate that might stimulate current reform pace, it seems that some of the expected reform results (which haven't been tackled in the context of the mainstream reform) can finally be met by means of East East program. Strategic priorities of FOSI ROM, as identified in previous two years, assume Education and Legal reform program and East East, could, consequently follow this strategic orientation:

• Education Reform has been gaining impetus in Montenegro recently and a lot has been done meanwhile in terms of adopting a general strategy of the reform process, creating legislative framework and establishing structures that would deal with the conceptual revision of textbooks. In this regard, East East could be a precious tool in identifying positive regional practice, contacting resource persons and gathering information necessary for the implementation phase of the project. In the context of Education Reform efforts, several events dealing respectively with textbooks publishing practices, perspectives of curricular reform and, tentatively, matura reform are underway in the course of 2003 and FOSI ROM will try to meet their objectives through the East East program.

• As regards Legal Reform area (consisting in broader sense of judiciary, public administration and local government reform), current situation in this reform segment also allows for the use of East East as possible contributor, especially in regard to local government and public administration dimension. Initiatives aiming at regional exchange of comparative experiences in e.g. establishing/managing training centres for civil servants, study visits to the countries in the region offering best practices in managing economic development issues at the local government level as well as initiatives aiming at transfer of activities and services from public to private sector, will have priority in the course of 2003.

• East East will also dedicate due attention to other interesting initiatives offering differing and interesting views/perspectives of certain critical reform issues/developments.

¹ Evaluation and exit strategy are integral components of the three-year education reform strategy.  Evaluation and monitoring activities will be taking place throughout the 2003 – 2005 period and their results are intended to be part of the exit strategy. For the purposes of coherence, the Foundation’s education reform strategy for 2003 encompasses a summary of the evaluation concept and the exist plan. (back)