PROMOTION OF DECENTRALIZATION

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Promoting decentralization in favor of increased citizens' participation in decision making

The goal of  this project, implemented by PROTECTA in partnership with BCIF (Balkan Communities Initiative Fund and supported by EIDHR (European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights), is to contribute to establishing  a consensus on decentralization as a necessary step in democratic reforms and consolidating political participation and representation in Serbia. The specific objective is to strengthen the role of civil society in promoting decentralization and increasing political representation and participation of citizens in Serbia through capacity building and creating the conditions for establishing a dialogue between relevant stakeholders and citizens.
Direct target groups are: 18 CSOs (Civil Society Organization) in 6 municipalities, additional 64 NGOs from 24 municipalities – members of National Coalition for Decentralization, representatives of local authorities and institutions in 6 municipalities and national political representatives. Around 180.000 inhabitants of the catchment area belonging to the 6 targeted municipalities will address their problems in dialogue with national authorities. In long term, all citizens of Serbia could  have benefit from the process of decentralization .
The project envisages the following activities:

1. Preparation and printing of Advocacy for Decentralization handbook (the manual that will guide readers through the challenges of advocacy and decentralization promotion in a "step by step" approach);
   
2. Advocacy training on decentralization (organized for 18 CSOs from the 6 targeted municipalities in Serbia); 
3. Dialogue actions – (developed in a manner to create communication between citizens, their local and republic authorities and institutions representatives);
4. National Coalition for Decentralization meeting (two day event created for CSOs members of NCD and all those who are interested in decentralization advocacy);
5. National Conference on Decentralization (one day event that will gather representatives of CSOs, local authorities and institutions, as well as republic authorities);

Promotional activities (imply printed and TV material that will be delivered to the region with a potential of 180,000 recipients)
Through all these actions, we want to build coherent and more systematic approach in the work of civil society organizations for  decentralization advocacy, to establish basis for a constant dialogue between citizens, CSOs, local and republic government, to initiate national public debate on the National Strategy for Decentralization (NSD), to increase the level of support for decentralization among the general public through media coverage and website.