Development Programs
|
|
BCIF :: Development Programs :: Decentralization
Decentralization
By working on the development of local communities, and raising citizen’s participation in decision making process, we have realized that a high level of centralization in Serbia is one of the key problems in the development and improvement of societies. By that we mean not only general improvement and democratization of the country, but also very practical life questions citizens encounter on daily basis. Those questions are concerned with education, health, culture, environment protection, waste disposal and many others. That is the reason why we launched a program whose aim it is to raise public consciousness on the importance of decentralization, but also to encourage the opening of a dialogue on this subject between citizens and relevant actors. As we think that civil societies have an important part in that process, one of our goals is to strengthen the capacities of civil society’s organizations in order to advocate decentralization process more efficiently.
During 2009 and 2010, in partnership with Center for Civil Society Development Protecta from Niš, we have conducted a project financed by European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and OEBS’ mission in Serbia, which included a range of activities: seminars and workshops for civil societies which have otherwise been turning to BCIF and/or Protecta for help related to the initiatives related to the decentralization; manual on decentralization; organizing dialogues between citizens and local institutions; organizing dialogues between citizens and regional and national actors respectively; meeting of all organizations which are members of National coalition for decentralization; and, finally, organization of a national conference which assembled both civil society’s organizations and relevant representatives of the public sector on both local and national levels. The project included six local communities in six regions of Serbia (Kikinda, Valjevo, Sjenica, Kragujevac, Leskovac and Pirot). Through their projects the organizations have introduced questions important for the decentralization such as: the transformation of state surgery in Sjenica into a medical center; obtaining a city status for the city of Kikinda; adjustment of educational profiles on local level to the needs of the local market in Pirot; initiative for granting the status of Cultural Institution of the national importance to the Knjaževac – srpski theater in Kragujevac: territorial reorganization of the city of Leskovac; the making of a regional landfill for the district of Kolubara.
By work on the decentralization we have learned a lot from local groups and citizens throughout Serbia. Every community in Serbia has its own specific problem which cannot be solved in the centralized political system, in which all decisions are made from one power center. Besides, one of the main problems of centralized countries is their inability to see and respond to essential local problems and needs, but also to recognize resources which may be used locally for the improvement of the quality of life.
By the decentralization process of Serbia conditions are being created that citizens really become active, and to finally start to make an influence on the quality of their lives on the local level, not wanting that those questions depend on the people who are not familiar with their city or municipality at all. Once again it has been confirmed that citizens know best what they need in their own surroundings. That simple idea is in the core of the idea of the decentralization, and civil society organizations have realized that idea long time ago.
The manual in front of you has started as one of the activities within the scope of the mutual project Promotion of decentralization with the goal of raising citizen’s participation in the decision making process, which is realized in partnership with Center for Civil Society Development Protecta from Niš and Balkan Community Initiatives Fund (BCIF). It is financed by European Union through program European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
Manual on decentralization may be viewed and downloaded here:
|
|
