1. Buidling the Capacity of Town Districts of Tuzi and Golubovci
The project aims to introduce local assembly members from the town districts of Tuzi and Golubovci - most of whom have taken up this function for the first time - with the key principles of decentralization resulting from the Law on Local Governance and the Law on Administrative Capital, as well as with the methods of local government, that is town district, finance. Two two-day seminars will be organized for the 43 local assembly members from Tuzi and Golubovci. Lecturers and trainers will be experts in the field of local governance. Special attention will be devoted to the relations between a town district and the capital, active citizen participation and cooperation of all relevant agents in the decision-making process at the local level.
2. Strengthening the Capacity Aiming at Good Governance - School of Good Local Governance
The project includes training of town managers, public administrators, heads of local government bodies, civil servants deciding on the rights and responsibilities of citizens and advisors to mayors in the field of local government system from Pljevlja, Berane and Bijelo Polje (ten representatives from each municipality). The participants will be introduced to the new reform laws from the field of local governance and their implementation, aiming to improve the provision of services to the citizens, the cooperation between local government bodies and citizens, NGOs, educational insitutions and other local agents. The training will be conducted by the Faculty for State and European Studies, in cooperation with the Agency for Local Democracy and Partnership of Montenegro, the Institute for Public Administration from Slovenia, the municipalities, the expert team for local governance reform in Montenegro and the Citizen Information - Education Centers from the given municipalities.
1. Strengthening the Capacity of the Human Resources Management Authority - Seminar on Organization and Communication
Human Resources Management Authority, a new authority in Montenegro’s public administration system that was established in 2004, has the task to upgrade and improve the human resource management system in public authorities and to develop the existing human resource potential. The project encompasses organization of two events for the Human Resources Management Authority staff members. The topics of the seminars are: organization and performance of activities; time management and activity planning within the defined timelines; external and internal communication. 2. Seminar on the European Integration Process for the Newly Appointed Members of Government Commissions
Changes in the Government of Montenegro, following the September 2006 elections, imply also a restructuring of Government commissions concerned with the issues of European integrations in Montenegro, as well as introduction of new members in the Commission for Coordination of the EU Accession Process and the Commission for Coordination of Assistance Programs. The aim of the project is to introduce new members, during a two-day seminar, to the activities implemented in this field so far, organization models, procedures, contents of key European and strategic Montenegrin documents, and the planned forthcoming activities. The material to be delivered to participants includes CDs containing these key documents and presentations. Seminar presenters will be representatives of the former Ministry for International Relations and European Integrations.
1. Scholarships for M.A. Students of State and European Studies at the School of State and European Studies, Podgorica
The Foundation will grant funds to the School of State and European Studies, Podgorica for one scholarship for the respective fields of State and European Studies, for the academic year 2006/2007. This represents the Foundation’s contribution to the creation of educated and functionally trained quality staff to serve as the agent of the reform processes and European integration processes in Montenegro in the future.
1. Civic Dialogue to Local Governance
The project involves training for NGO activists in Bijelo Polje and Herceg Novi aimed to develop their skills for dialogue with local authorities. The trainees will be informed about the rights and responsibilities of citizens and local authorities and develop techniques for establishing dialogue, and as a follow up to the seminar they will agree mechanisms of future cooperation with the representatives of local authorities. The project should increase awareness of the citizens regarding their role in the development of democratic processes, and make the authorities take into account the needs of men and women equally when developing plans.
2. Sharing good practices in the exercise of administrative duties
For the officers in charge of administrative tasks in local governments, the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro will organize four thematic workshops. Each will be dedicated to one field: issuance of construction permits, entrepreneurship, establishing inspection control and collection of local public revenues, as well as the exercise of administrative control. The trainees will be local officers from all municipalities in Montenegro in charge of administrative tasks, and the workshop facilitators will be experts from ministries, certain municipal bodies and the Union of Municipalities. The project refers to training of local administrative staff in such a manner to identify the existing problems, compare own experiences and give concrete proposals for overcoming the problems.
3. Professional literature for the students of the Faculty for State and European Studies in Podgorica
The project involves acquiring literature for the Faculty for State and European Studies established in 2005 as the first of the kind in Montenegro. The Faculty offers two types of study programmes: undergraduate and postgraduate (state and European). It has been planned, with the support provided by the Foundation, to purchase 91 issues of international and domestic professional literature, particularly in the field of European studies to provide relevant contents for the FSES. By this donation, the Foundation supports the creation of educated and functionally competent and skilled staff to be the pillar of reforms and European integrations in Montenegro.
1. Political Public Opinion in Montenegro in 2006
By the end of 2006, CEDEM is to conduct two public opinion polls in Montenegro in three-month intervals, providing detailed analysis of the results and tendencies and presenting them to the public. The surveys are to cover judiciary, education and local government reforms. The Foundation is using the results of on-going monitoring of the public opinion in order to get a clearer insight into the current situation in these fields, being its strategic priorities, and set the path for its actions in supporting these vital reforms. The results of each poll are published by CEDEM at their website, and the abridged version in 300 copies each of the newsletter in the local language and in English. At the end of the project, a bilingual publication is to be made to contain the results and detailed analysis of both surveys in the circulation of 500 copies each. The Foundation supported the public opinion polls in 2004 and in 2005 (see Publications»»).
[The Foundation supported this project also through its European Program with EUR 14,889, or the total of EUR 19,160]
2. IV generation of the School of Democratic Management - seminar "Gender Equality in the Process of European Integrations"
The fourth generation of the School of Democratic Management includes the representatives of all political parties in Montenegro acting at the local level. The three-day seminar "Gender Equality in the Process of EU integrations" serves to familiarise the participants with gender aspects of EU integrations and with EU requirements and guidelines in provision of equal opportunities for men and women. The participants will also be informed about the activities of multi-disciplinary teams for fight against domestic violence and the OSI Network project SEE ONET. The Foundation previously supported the Nansen Dialogue Centre's project for organising two seminars within the IV generation of the School of Democratic Management. The funds that remained after the implementation of this project will be used for the new seminar.
1. Study of the Functioning of Local Government
The development and consideration of the Study of the Functioning of Local Government is a part of the Work Program for Better Local Government, adopted by the Government of Montenegro. The program was developed by the Ministry of Justice, the Union of Municipalities and the Council of Europe in order to continue with the democratization and increased professionalism of the local governments. The Study should determine how the Law on Local Governments is being applied, to what extent and how are the activities from the original scope of competences and the devolved responsibilities being conducted, how local bodies operate, how much and in what manner the citizens take part in decision-making, what are the relations and cooperation among the local authorities, the citizens, the non-governmental organizations, state bodies etc. Alongside the assessment of the current state of affairs in certain administrative areas, the Study will also contain proposed measures for better achievement of the principles of local governance leading to a better environment for the exercise of citizen’s rights, as well as the right of local bodies to regulate and manage certain public and other activities, as envisaged by the Law. The Foundation covers for the organizational and publication costs of the Study.
2. Study of the Responsibilities of Local Government
The development and consideration of the Study of the Responsibilities of Local Government is a part of the Work Program for Better Local Government, adopted by the Government of Montenegro. The program was developed by the Ministry of Justice, the Union of Municipalities and the Council of Europe in order to continue with the democratization and increased professionalism of the local governments. Based on the detailed analysis of the legislative framework of the local government, this project should point out to possible internal inconsistencies and the need for further decentralization and legislative changes. The Study should provide an overview of the current state and propose the measures for decentralization, i.e. devolving competences from the state to the local level, to enable clear definition of the scope of competences and set clear standards for service provision, in accordance with the resources available. The Foundation covers the organizational and publication costs of the Study, as well as the costs of the joint conference to present the results of both the Study of the Functioning of Local Government and Study of the Responsibilities of Local Government.
3. Communication Skills seminar for the staff of the Citizen Bureau Kotor
Upon the establishment of the Citizen Bureau in the Municipality of Kotor in February 2006, the need arose for the training of staff in communication skills. The Foundation organizes a two-day seminar to be facilitated by the NGO activists and the representatives of the municipality of Pljevlja, where the Citizen Bureau has been in successful operation as of 2004. The training of staff of Kotor’s Citizen Bureau in communication skills and exchange of experiences with the colleagues form Pljevlja will improve the quality of services the local government provides to citizens and will facilitate the exercise of rights and fulfillment of the obligations of citizens within local authorities. The Foundation supported the establishment of civil bureaus in Pljevlja and in Kotor, but also in Niksic, Cetinje and Ulcinj.
1. Professional discussions: Montenegro and EU
The project stemmed from the endeavours to inform the public, thoroughly and in a timely manner, on European integrations and their impact on diverse aspects of life in Montenegro. Through five same-day seminars/workshops, the editors and journalists of the public and commercial media in Montenegro will have the opportunity consider the impact of EU accession process on the Montenegrin economy, agriculture, social policy, environment, and protection of human rights. The lecturers will be national experts in the field and experienced journalists from the region (Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia) The Montenegro and EU project envisages the seminars on following topics: - Local echo of European economic stories - Montenegrin agriculture in the light of EU accession - Employment policy and social security in the light of EU accession - Protection of human rights in the light of EU accession - Environmental protection in the light of EU accession
[The Foundation has also supported this project through the European Program with EUR 7,093.60 and Law program with EUR 2,181,20, which comes to the total of EUR 11,651]
1. Capacity Strengthening of the Local Government of the Niksic Municipality
After the local election in September 2005, a new local government was formed in Niksic and the local administration has been organized in accordance with the provisions of the new Law on Local Self-Government and other laws. The main objective of this project is to raise the level and strengthen the capacities of the local government in Niksic. At the first stage, local top officials, leaders, civil servants and employees in the local government will enact regulations regarding their salaries and formal titles, and will receive training in the understanding, follow-up and guidance of local government reform process. The second stage of the project will include their training (four seminars) in the implementation of the laws that are critical for the local government. By strengthening the local government capacities, the Niksic Municipality will raise the level and quality of its services provided to citizens and will improve the enforcement of their rights.
2. The 4th generation of the School of Democratic Management - Seminars: "Decentralization" and "European Integrations in Montenegrin Context"
In the School of Democratic Management 30 representatives of all parliamentary political parties from all over Montenegro improve their knowledge and skills on political organization and reforms. The Foundation provides financial support to the two seminars for the 4th generation of the School: - "The Seminar on Principles of Decentralization in Accordance with European Practice" will introduce the participants to the main principles of decentralization deriving from the new local government laws. Special attention will be given to the relations between the central and local authorities, active participation of citizens and cooperation among all decision-makers at the local level. The participants will also be informed about the EU recommendations and directives in the domain of local self-government. - "The Seminar on the Process of European Integrations" will offer the understanding of the EU structures and methods of work and information about the process of Montenegro's association with the EU.
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