1. Danilo Vukovic Belgrade University
Institutional Capacities, Social and Human Capital and The Application of Law: Reforms of the Local Social Welfare Services in Serbia
Danilo Vukovic
Belgrade University

2. Overview Introduction: social welfare system and current reforms
Community based services
Overview of the current situation
Application of the law in the local context
Conclusions

3. Social welfare under reform
Key local actors:
Centers for social work – CSW
Residential institutions – RI
Civil society organizations – CSO
Local self-government - LSG
Local welfare service - opened, managed and financed by local actors
Key reform processes – transformation of residential institutions and setting up community based services (CBS), local coordination and financing

4. Community based services
Programs and project that supported CBS
Joint logic: setting up a service → building capacity → failed in securing sustainability
Then, shift to local self governments:
In depth assistance
Co-financing, plus
New institutional infrastructure – coordination, political pressure, wide participation (service providers and beneficiaries)
Coordination bodies
Strategies

5. Local social services Service Coverage 2010
One time material assistance
98%
Home care for elderly
71%
Day care center for children with disabilities
42%
Home care for PWD
39%
Support to young offenders
28%
Club for elderly
25%
SOS telephone line
23%
Shelter house
19%
Day care centers for PWD
Supported housing for youth
16%
Day care center for elderly
12%
Personal assistance for PWD
11%
Youth club 9%
Supported living for PWD 2%

6. Local social services

7. Coordination bodies
Municipal body in charge of planning and monitoring of social welfare/policy is established
77%
Municipal body had at least 3 meeting during 2010
47%
Municipal body has assessed social welfare situation in the municipality in 2010
39%

8. Strategies
Local self-government has adopted municipal social welfare strategy
83%
Action plan for 2010 was adopted
75%
The municipality is financing the action plan for 2010
64%
Local self government has procedures for purchasing of welfare services
45%
Financial resources were disbursed through public procurement procedures in 2010
40%

9. Shift to qualitative analysis
Issues with the application of the law
Preliminary qalitative analysis in 4 municipalities
Interviews: LSG, CSW, RI
Five questions:
What does law really require?
Roles of local institutions
How to apply a law?
How to initiate a service?
How to sustain a service?

10. The content of law Question 1: What does law really require?
All services or some or those that can be afforded
Cash benefits vs. social services
Pressure from beneficiaries: cash benefits more than services
Reliance on benefits – institutional culture or reflection of actual division of responsibilities?

11. Roles Question 2: Roles of institutions
CSW is the central local institution, not LSG
CSW has expertise and statutory powers
CSW active, LSG passive

12. Application of law Question 3: How to apply a law?
Culture of noncompliance
Additional effort, not automatism. Lobbying, informal networks, pressure.

13. Establishing services
Question 4: How to initiate a service?
Reliance on informal networks
Weak institutions, strong individuals
Question 4: How to sustain a service?
Informal networks again
Strategies, coordination bodies, and even the law are not taken seriously

14. Conclusion Imprecise regulation Social environment:
disbelief in the importance of law, strategies and new institutions;
non-application of law;
reliance on informal procedures;
dominated by powerful and influential individuals
Issues with human capital and institutional capacities: low pressure
Contradiction between law and social and institutional practices