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PROGRAM ACTIVITIES |
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ACTIVITIES IN 2009: |
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1. Development and Adoption of the Local Action Plan for the Inclusion of Roma, Egyptians and Ashkalia in Tivat and Kotor 2011-2015
(NGO Young Roma, Herceg Novi) EUR 1,085.00
The project should result in the adoption of the 2011-2015 Local Action Plan for Tivat and Kotor. The initial step within the project is a survey of Roma households and development of a situation analysis. Based on these findings, the expert team will make a draft LAP. The intersectoral team includes representatives of the two municipalities, local offices of the Ministry of Interior, Employment Office, social welfare centers, elementary schools, health care institutions and the NGO Young Roma. The project includes a round table discussion to present the LAP. Following the adoption, the LAP will be published. FOSI ROM supported a similar project in Herceg Novi. Adoption of Local Action Plans to improve the situation of RAE represents concrete implementation of the national policies concerning Roma.
[The project was allocated EUR 14,355.00 from the Roma Program, its total budget EUR 15,440]
1. Monitoring Minority Right to Employment in Public Institutions
(Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Podgorica) EUR 5,498
The project includes a survey intended to show the extent of the exercise of the minorities' right to employment in the public administration in Montenegro. Analysis of the existing legislative framework and local and international regulations will provide an overview of the situation that will generate recommendations for amending the legislation. In addition, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights will organize quantitative and qualitative analysis of members of minorities working in the public administration, both at the national (ministries, administrations, directorates, agencies) and local level (branch offices, bureaues, departments etc.). The survey should include around fifty institutions; four municipalitis where minorities constitute the majority of population will provide the monitoring sample at the local level (Ulcinj, Rožaje, Kotor and Pljevlja).
[The project was also allocated EUR 9,450 from the Law Program, its total budget EUR 14,948.]
2. Reporting on Montenegro’s European Integration IV
(Center for Euro-Atlantic Policies - CEAP) EUR 11,496
The Center for Euro-Atlantic Policies (CEAP) on a daily basis posts articles by Montenegrin journalists and translations of articles from the European media on European integration issues on the portal Evropski reporter. At this stage of the project, special attention will be paid to public administration and local government issues in the process of European integration of Montenegro and the region. The articles will analyze the situation in the public administration and specific local governments from the perspective of their capacity to implement the policies concerning EU accession and to use EU funds. They will also present comparative experiences of the countries that are already well on the road to the EU and the new EU member countries. The project is a continuation of the ones previously supported in 2008 and 2009.
[The project was also allocated EUR 2,564 from the European Program, its total budget EUR 14,060.]
3. School of Democratic Leadership, Generation VIII - Local Government: Challenges and Leadership
(Nansen Dialog Center Montenegro - NDC) EUR 11,094
School of Democratic Leadership belongs to the Network of Political Studies Schools under the auspices of the Council of Europe. It consists of six modules/seminars and is organized by the NDC in cooperation with the international organizations present in Montenegro. FOSI ROM supports the module on Local Government: Challenges and Leadership. The three-day panel will cover the following topics: Decentralization principles in line with the European practice and Strengthening leadership skills through capacity development criteria. This program will be attended by around thirty participants - local level representatives of all parliamentary parties, leaders from the non-governmental sector and trade union and journalists from the most influential media.
4. Improving the Efficiency of National and Local Institutions, Phase I: Publication on the Business Environment in Montenegro
(in-house project) EUR 8,353.02
The project covers the inital phase of developing a publication that will provide a critical review of the legislative framework from the perspective of free entrepreneurship and European standards and a survey on institutional and legislative practices concerning entrepreneurship initiatives at the national and local levels. The publication will include an overview of business environemnt in the municipalities Podgorica, Tivat and Žabljak, recommendations for improving business and an appendix for foreign investors.
5. EU Matrix - Monitoring NPI Implementation, Phase I
(European Movement in Montenegro) EUR 15,000
The project responds to the requirement faced by Montenegro in the process of European integration: stronger civil society involvement in monitoring the implementation of the National Program for Integration (NPI) and stronger participation in policy making and generation of recommendations for improved implementation. The European Movement in Montenegro is working on establishing and developing a system for continuous NPI monitoring, which implies that civil society organizations focus on certain areas failing to show the anticipated progress. The project envisages creation of an NGO network (coalition) Euroblok. Initially, it would bring together the European Movement, Monitoring Center and Alternative Institute; subsequently, they would be joined by a number of renowned NGOs. The project EU Matrix commenced in 2008 with FOSI ROM support.
[The project was also allocated EUR 14,644 from the European Program, with EUR 226 left from preparatory phase of the project, its total budget EUR 29,644.]
1. Better Management of IPA Fund in Western Balkan Countries
(in-house project) EUR 8,828.55
The project aims to facilitate utilization of IPA funds (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assístance) intended for EU candidates and potential candidates. The activities envisaged within the project focus on the European Commission, which manages the funds, and the potential beneficiaries in Montenegro .
Research project using a common methodology will be conducted in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro concerning the difficulties related to effective utilization of IPA funds. Based on the findings, LGI (Local Government & Public Service Reform Initiative) and Open Society Institute-Brussels will develop a document that will be presented to the European Commission.
The second part of the project includes publication of a manual on EU pre-accession assistance that should present this topic to the relevant parties in a userfriendly format. A special annex to the manual will contain analysis of the need for training in public administration, local government and civil sector.
2. Adoption of Local Action Plan for Roma Inclusion in the Municipality of Herceg Novi 2010-2015
(NGO Young Roma, Herceg Novi) EUR 1,000
The project should lead to adoption of a Local Action Plan for Roma Inclusion in Herceg Novi. The first step is a survey among Roma households and development of a situation assessment. Based on the findings, the expert team will draft the document, helped by activists of NGO Početak and Social Welfare Center from Nikšić, already experienced in developing a local plan adopted by their municipality. The project includes a round table to present and finalize the Local Plan; by the end of 2009, the document should be included in the procedure for adoption by the Town Council. Project activities will be coordinated by the NGO Young Roma.
[The project was allocated EUR 9,566 from FOSI ROM’s Roma Program, its total budget EUR 10,566]
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MEDIA COVERAGE:
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"The news and views of Southeast Europe" - 17.08.2009.
By Brian Salmi for Southeast European Times in Podgorica - ROMA NOT A 'DIRTY' WORD
3. Promotion of the Local Action Plan for RAE 2008-2015 for the Municipality of Nikšić – Examples of Good Practice
(NGO Coalition Roma Circle, Podgorica) EUR 890
The Municipality of Nikšić was the first local government that adopted (in cooperation with NGO Početak) and started implementing the Local Action Plan for Roma for 2008-2015.
By promoting the Local Action Plan, the Roma Circle Coalition wishes to motivate the donors to support the envisaged activities and at the same time encourage Roma NGOs to launch similar initiatives in their respective municipalities.
To this end., the round table in Nikšić will gather representatives of other local governments, donors (international organizations and embassies) and Roma NGOs.
The meeting is expected to generate conclusions and recommendations regarding further implementation of local and national policies on RAE. These will be delivered to all relevant institutions, while the media will be briefed at the media conference. The project also includes translation and printing of the Local Action Plan.
[The project was allocated EUR 3,000 from the Roma Program, its total budget EUR 3,890]
4. Free Access to Information on Local Government Performance in 2009
(NGO MANS, Podgorica) EUR 1,000
MANS has designed a follow-up to the project Free Access to Information on the Work of Local Government for the purpose of further work on structuring the existing databases on the work of local authorities.
Citizens in Bar, Tivat, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Nikšić, Pljevlja, Berane, Žabljak, Rožaje, Kolašin, Mojkovac, Plav, Plužine and Šavnik will have a more detailed overview of main information concerning the organization, performance and operation of local authorities. In the municipalities of Budva, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Ulcinj, Bijelo Polje and Podgorica such information, already collected and organized, will be regularly updated and completed, within the follow-up project, based on additional requests for access to information and responses to such requests.
The project should encourage local authorities to post all information of importance for the general public on their internet pages, so as to enable concerned citizens to access information without having to file a request.
[The project was also allocated EUR 12,840 from the Law Program, its total budget EUR 13,840]
1. Presentation of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest for the Public Officials from Northern Municipalities
(NGO Bonum, Pljevlja) EUR 8,183
The project aims to inform the public officials from northern Montenegrin municipalities about the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest, adopted in December 2008.
Between June and August 2009, NGO Bonum will organize seminars for the public officials from Pljevlja, Žabljak, Berane, Andrijevica, Bijelo Polje, Rožaje and Plav. The topics will include: the new Law, restrictions in the exercise of public function, receiving and reporting gifts, public procurement and conflict of interest and conducting the procedure before the Commission for Prevention of Conflict of Interest.
The project will also include a program titled “What is the Law on Conflict of Interest and How is it Applied“, to be broadcast on Pljevlja TV in June 2009.
2. School of Democratic Leadership, VII Generation: Concluding Panel on the Perspectives of Montenegrin Political Scene
(Nansen Dialog Center - Montenegro) EUR 4,104.42
(Funds remained from the School of Democratic Leadership, VII generation: Panel on Decentralization, European Integration and Gender Equality)
School of Democratic Leadership belongs to the Network of Schools of Political Studies under the auspices of the Council of Europe (www.coe.int/Schools-Politics). The seventh generation of participants will be composed of around thirty representatives of the parties represented in the Parliament working on the local level. The School, which consists of four modules/seminars, is organized by the Nansen Dialog Center in cooperation with the international organizations present in Montenegro (OSCE, NDI, Council of Europe etc). FOSI-ROM granted support for the module on Decentralization, European Integrations and Gender Equality.
The project includes the one-day concluding panel, program evaluation and closing ceremony. The lecture at the panel will be delivered by Srđan Darmanović, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences.
1. Cooperation to Protect the Cijevna Basin
(NGO Green Home) EUR 13,963
The project includes activities that strengthen the cooperation of local governments, citizens and NGOs in protecting ecological and biological resources of the Cijevna Canyon, and initiatives for development of sustainable tourism.
The activities serve to support the initiative of the Institute for Nature Protection to proclaim the Cijevna Canyon a protected area (natural monument).
The project relies on the recommendations from the study Sustainable Development of the Cijevna Basin. The study identified the potentials of this border region and recommendations for sustainable development and sustainable tourism that would improve the economic situation and keep the rural population.
2. Purchase of PCs for the New Employees of the NTS Unit of UMM Extension Services
(Union of Montenegrin Municipalities) EUR 1,361.20
The Government of Montenegro and the UMM Convention adopted the National Training Strategy for Local Government in Montenegro (NTS) and the Action Plan for its implementation in 2008. These documents envisage establishment of a NTS Unit within the UMM Extension Services.
The Unit will consist of four employees (one manager and three HR advisers). At the moment, UMM has the capacity to hire only two people; UMM also lacked the necessary tools for their work, which are secured through this grant.
(Funds remained from the project Communal Police in My Municipality 2007)
1. Establihsment of Citizen Bureau in Andrijevica
(in-house project) EUR 16,140.65
The Municipality of Andrijevica secured the premises for the Citizen Bureau. The project will provide a one-stop shop for all certificates requested.
The project included IT equipment and network, purchase and installation of document tracking software and staff training for operating the software. Bureau staff will attend training on communication and will be assisted by their colleagues from Pljevlja already experienced in running a Citizen Bureau.
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Tivat 13-15 March, 2009 – Seminar on communication
2. Monitoring the Implementation of the Right of Minority Groups to Information in their Mother Tongue
(Youth Initiative for Human Rights) EUR 7,381.13
The project aims to assess the implementation of international standards and local regulations concerning the minority right to information in their mother tongue.
The Youth Initiative for Human Rights will carry out the project in 2009, covering five municipalities that have a significant share of minority population. Their activists will monitor the information in minority languages and the share of programs presenting their life, culture and tradition at all levels of the public media service, local to national.
The findings will be published and will provide the basis for future activites in this field.
[The project was also allocated EUR 7,358.87 from the Law Program, its total budget EUR 14,740]
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MEDIA COVERAGE:
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"OneWorld Patform for South East Europe" - 19.03.2009.
IMPLEMENTATION OF MINORITIES' RIGHT TO INFORMATION IN MOTHER TONGUE