Practices of citizens participation in 9 local communities in WB6

We present to you the 9 Case Studies that were created within the project “CSOs networking for better local democracy in the Balkans. The Case Studies were made by 9 local researchers from Vlora, Knjaževac, Zavidovići, Niksic, Centar, Mostar, Subotica, Prijedor and Peja with the help of the local LDAs: LDA Subotica-Serbia, LDA Central and South Serbia, LDA Zavidovici, LDA Prijedor,LDA Mostar- Bosnia and Herzegovina, LDA Kosovo* - Kosovo*, ALDA Skopje-North Macedonia, LDA Albania, LDA Montenegro. The case studies are translated in the communities respective languages and they aim to present the best practices of active citizenship and participation in policy/decision making.

In the municipalities Vlora, Knjaževac, Zavidovići and Niksic the Case Studies are about Youth oriented activities. The informal group ‘Youth for Change’ was established in 2020 in Vlora municipality when a group of young people expressed their need to influence local decision-making in improving the living conditions of the residents in their urban neighborhood community. In 2013, a group of young people and representatives of the student parliament of secondary and primary schools with the help from the local CSO "Center for Creative Development - Knjaževac", expressed their need for a space where everyone could gather. There used to be a space for young people in the city called House of Youth, but this "institution" ceased to exist a long time ago, and the facility was rented for different purposes. The Youth Policy Strategy contributes to the empowerment of young people in the municipality of Zavidovići. A working group of 10 people was established to draft the document Strategy for Youth, where each member was responsible for a specific priority. In Municipality of Niksic, the Secretariat for Culture, Sports, Youth and Welfare initiated the process of designing the new Local Action Plan (LAP) in 2019. It also followed the change of the Law on Youth that took place in May of 2019. “The aim of Local Action Plan for Youth 2020-2021 is to make the local youth policies closer to the international standards and objectives.”

In the City of Mostar as well as the Centar municipality in Skopje there is a budgetary procedure that involves citizens in the process of drafting local budget. The Municipality of Centar has been implementing budget forums for the past seven years. This form of open meetings leave space for the citizens to participate directly in the creation and adoption of the yearly budget. 

Pejas Case Study is about education for active citizenship in order to increase participation. Since 2011, Syri i Vizionit with the support of Olof Palme International Center is implementing the “Active Citizenship” project. This project aims to activate citizens at the local level that will impact on capacity building of the community to get organised for improving their lives and become integral part of decision-making at the municipal level.

Prijedor is environmentally oriented. The Sanus Association is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1996 in Prijedor. and since has been engaged in environmental issues, promoting the principles of tolerance, understanding and cooperation, supporting the active involvement of citizens in local policy and decision making.

Subotica works on inclusiveness by creating the Action plan for Roma inclusion (2017-2021). It was developed in co-operation with a wide range of local stakeholders and adopted by the City Council. Its implementation is periodically evaluated with measures updated and preparatory activities for creation of the new strategy.

"This document is prepared within the Project "Protecting Civic Space – Regional Civil Society Development Hub" financed by Sida and implemented by BCSDN. The content of this document, and the information and views presented do not represent the official positions and opinions of Sida and BCSDN. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in this document lies entirely with the author(s)".
 

Download the Case Studies here or on the Resource Hub on our web page.