Project for support of decentralization
The Project
“Support to decentralisation process in Macedonia”
Financed by the British Embassy
1st December 2007 to 31st May 2008.
The Project Objective is to support the decentralisation process in Macedonia by Introduction of user – friendly decentralisation legal manual. The Manual aims to simplify the complicated legal provisions of the 50 decentralisation laws into a single, simple format to ensure that everyone understand their rights and to ensure the improved delivery of community services, particularly in multi ethnic municipalities.
The Project impact is:
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Support to the democratisation of Macedonia and its peaceful transition from post conflict to EU candidate country by assisting the implementation of Ohrid Framework Agreement, as a key requirement of EU and NATO accession process.
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Clear communication of the decentralisation goals and the opportunities for practising participatory democracy at local level;
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Increased public awareness about public participation in all local processes: planning processes, education, local development, work of local administration and municipal budget.
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Proactive and well educated citizenship, aware of its rights and responsibilities
Project activities:
1. Preparation of user friendly manuals for each important municipal competency;
2. Production of web-based format and 300 “ready to print” CDs with the user-friendly manual on the municipal competencies and relevant UK’s best practices.
3. Dissemination of the “ready to print” CDs of the manual to 85+10municipalities, local NGO’s, Citizens information Centres, and government institutions;
4. Based on UK’s best practice already provided by LGA, preparation of the document “Statements of Community Involvement (SCI)” for 3 pilot municipalities.
5. Organizing thematic conference on the SCI and the participation of the citizens in the decision-making processes at local level.
6. Adoption of SCI in 3 pilot municipalities by establishing procedures for community involvement in the processes of planning and implementation of local initiatives;
7. Establishing of Committee Local Development (CLoD) in 3 municipalities, with representatives from local administration, civil society, and public administration.
8. Training and mentoring for the CloD members in applying pilot experiences in the following competencies: Education; Community involvement and communication (public participation); Local development (procedures and planning, public-private partnership, tourism and other)
9. Regular project updates on SCI at the targeted municipal web sites/portals.
This project aims to address these points by:
1.Provision of user-friendly legal manual that will assist citizens in understanding the complicated legal provisions under the 50 laws regulating the decentralisation.
2.Ensuring best practises (UK and local) for community participation, supported by piloting the Statement of Community Involvement practise.
3.Creating local pool of decentralisation champions that will support the municipalities through mentoring and on-the-job training.
4.Raising the profile of decentralisation best practises to illustrate success, creating pressure for change in passive municipalities and showing the central government that decentralisation means better quality of services leading to stable and functioning democracy.
5.Improving ability of municipalities to communicate with central government
