1. Government – Civil Society Interaction Montenegro Country Case Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector – MANS, October 2002.

2. Montenegro 658.000 inhabitants 658.000 inhabitants 13.812 km 2 13.812 km 2 21 municipalities 21 municipalities Over 1600 NGOs Over 1600 NGOs Capital : Podgorica Capital : Podgorica GDP per capita: 1,242.00 $ GDP per capita: 1,242.00 $ Government - Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

3. POVERTY Inadequate distribution of social welfare Increase of all forms of crimes Unemployment Bad conditions for investments Grey economy War environment and sanctions Reduction of overall economic activities and decrease of GDP Inadequate implementation of reforms Inadequate law regulations and poor implementation Politization Undeveloped institutional capacities Remnants of the previous system Poor government - civil society interaction Corruption & nepotism Causes of poverty in Montenegro Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

4. Causes and consequences Poor government civil society interaction Causes and consequences Poor government - civil society interaction Remnants of past systems Politization Not enough developed capacities of state bodies Undeveloped NGO capacities Prejudicies on NGOs Not enough transparent NGOs Not enough transparent state bodies Poverty Unsustainable NGO Sector Poor inter-sector and cross-sector Info-sharing Poor citizens participation Inadequate implementation of reforms Not enough possibilities to control the work of state bodies Lack of trust In institution Not enough accountable state bodies No citizens need-assesments Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

5. Project Background Montenegro Action Plan – Regional Seminar on citizen’s participation in government and empowering of poor communities held in Hungary 2001 organised by World Bank Institute Montenegro Action Plan – Regional Seminar on citizen’s participation in government and empowering of poor communities held in Hungary 2001 organised by World Bank Institute Research on local governments – NGOs interaction (on sample of 100 NGOs and 18/21 municipalities) Research on local governments – NGOs interaction (on sample of 100 NGOs and 18/21 municipalities) Pilot project implemented within Secretariat for labour, health and social welfare in Podgorica municipality (initiated and mostly funded by UNICEF) Pilot project implemented within Secretariat for labour, health and social welfare in Podgorica municipality (initiated and mostly funded by UNICEF) Established transparent criteria and procedures for NGO funding Developed capacities of Secretariat for project proposal rating and later, for their monitoring and evaluation Established mixed commission for allocation of funds, composed of equal representation of Secretariat and NGOs Experiences can be used in other institutions Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

6. Some results from the research… 78% of municipalities covered by research has allocated funds (480.606,48 €) for NGO projects 78% of municipalities covered by research has allocated funds (480.606,48 €) for NGO projects 38% of municipalities do not have established decision making procedures, 60% do not have criteria, 38% of municipalities do not have established decision making procedures, 60% do not have criteria, 44% of municipalities do not have procedures nor criteria for allocation of fund for NGOs (277.916,48 €) 44% of municipalities do not have procedures nor criteria for allocation of fund for NGOs (277.916,48 €) Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

7. 61% do not control use of funds which leads to inadequate spending of limited resources 61% do not control use of funds which leads to inadequate spending of limited resources Municipalities do not carry out researches of needs of their citizens in order to define priorities Municipalities do not carry out researches of needs of their citizens in order to define priorities Existing laws do not provide concrete guidelines for local institutions – NGOs interaction Existing laws do not provide concrete guidelines for local institutions – NGOs interaction Interaction is usually limited to providing space for NGO offices and covering their operation costs. Interaction is usually limited to providing space for NGO offices and covering their operation costs. Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002 Some results from the research…

8. NGOs’ opinion on quality of their projects media representation (republic level) Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

9. Podgorica municipality Over 50% NGOs registered in Podgorica Over 50% NGOs registered in Podgorica Podgorica – 167.000 inhabitants Podgorica – 167.000 inhabitants Municipality of Podgorica has identified “improvement of local government work” as one of priority areas for cooperation with NGO sector; Municipality of Podgorica has identified “improvement of local government work” as one of priority areas for cooperation with NGO sector; 200.000 € - 0.7% of municipal budget allocated for funding NGO projects (41,6% of total sum allocated for NGOs on local levels ) 200.000 € - 0.7% of municipal budget allocated for funding NGO projects (41,6% of total sum allocated for NGOs on local levels ) Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

10. Podgorica - Problem description No criteria nor procedures for allocation of funds for NGOs No criteria nor procedures for allocation of funds for NGOs No control over spending of allocated funds No control over spending of allocated funds Poor citizens participation in decision making (except on local elections) Poor citizens participation in decision making (except on local elections) NGOs’ opinion about process of allocation of funds from Municipality of Podgorica budget Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

11. NGOs’ opinion on cooperation with municipal governments (by region) Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

12. Project includes establishing mixed task force composed of representatives of Local Parliament and NGO sector that will submit proposals on following issues to Local Parliament: Ways and forms of funding NGOs from municipal budget – establishing clear criteria and procedures for NGO funding; establishing priorities based on real needs of citizens and transparency of decision making process that will contribute to strong and sustainable NGO sector; Ways and forms of funding NGOs from municipal budget – establishing clear criteria and procedures for NGO funding; establishing priorities based on real needs of citizens and transparency of decision making process that will contribute to strong and sustainable NGO sector; Treatment of NGOs in media founded by Local Parliament; Treatment of NGOs in media founded by Local Parliament; Cooperation between NGOs and local institutions – efficiency of existing and establishing new services for citizens; better transparency and accountability of municipal institutions; Cooperation between NGOs and local institutions – efficiency of existing and establishing new services for citizens; better transparency and accountability of municipal institutions; Establishing “Chair” for NGOs within Local Parliament that will enable citizens participation in work of Parliament, ensure better transparency of work of Local Parliament and comprehensive overview of the related issues through including all stakeholders. Establishing “Chair” for NGOs within Local Parliament that will enable citizens participation in work of Parliament, ensure better transparency of work of Local Parliament and comprehensive overview of the related issues through including all stakeholders. Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

13. Project Goals… Improvement of work and capacity building of municipal authorities within following areas: Transparency Transparency Accountability Accountability Citizens participation Citizens participation Improvement of NGO work through: Increasing transparency; Increasing transparency; Capacity building Capacity building Ensuring long-term sustainability of NGO sector Ensuring long-term sustainability of NGO sector Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

14. Activities… MANS has conducted media campaign; MANS has conducted media campaign; Raising public awareness on results from the research Creating friendly environment for future initiatives Established advocacy team composed of organisation working in different areas of civil society, have good image in community and have some previous experience in lobbying: Established advocacy team composed of organisation working in different areas of civil society, have good image in community and have some previous experience in lobbying: Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector – MANS (civil society) Center for Development of NGOs – CRNVO (civil society) Nansen Dialogue Center (Human rights and non-violent communication) SOS Hotline for women and children victims of violence (women and children rights) Association of Paraplegics (rights of persons with disabilities) Ecological organisation “Green Home” (ecology) Youth Parliament of Montenegro (youth) Lobbying at caucuses of political parties that participated at last Local Assembly; Lobbying at caucuses of political parties that participated at last Local Assembly; Lobbying at international organisations/agencies that are acting in field of democracy building and civil society development in Montenegro. Lobbying at international organisations/agencies that are acting in field of democracy building and civil society development in Montenegro. Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

15. Results of the lobbying… Obtained letters of support from 4 political parties: DPS – Democratic Party of Socialist DPS – Democratic Party of Socialist SDP – Social Democratic Party SDP – Social Democratic Party SNP – Social People Party SNP – Social People Party LSCG – Liberal Alliance of Montenegro LSCG – Liberal Alliance of Montenegro Obtained letters of support from: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme UNDP – United Nations Development Programme UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund OSCE – Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE – Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe ICMA – International City/County Management Association ICMA – International City/County Management Association Handicap International (particularly interested in protection of rights of organisations dealing with persons with disabilities) Handicap International (particularly interested in protection of rights of organisations dealing with persons with disabilities) Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

16. Next steps… Establishment of mixed task force; Establishment of mixed task force; Participation in the task force; Participation in the task force; Lobbying in Local Parliament for accepting task force propositions; Lobbying in Local Parliament for accepting task force propositions; Initiating similar projects in other municipalities; Initiating similar projects in other municipalities; Lobbying for implementation of good examples on republic level. Lobbying for implementation of good examples on republic level. Fundraising for regional project (Serbia & Bosnia) in order to set base for future monitoring of PRSP implementation Fundraising for regional project (Serbia & Bosnia) in order to set base for future monitoring of PRSP implementation Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

17. Conclusions and Recommendations… Government – civil society interaction leads to simultaneous capacity building of both structures; Government – civil society interaction leads to simultaneous capacity building of both structures; In order to increase transparency and accountability of local authorities, it is necessary to ensure effective framework for citizens participation which leads to greater credibility of local authorities and increasing trust in institutions; In order to increase transparency and accountability of local authorities, it is necessary to ensure effective framework for citizens participation which leads to greater credibility of local authorities and increasing trust in institutions; Formalizing cooperation between NGOs and institutions, enables establishing of new services for citizens; Formalizing cooperation between NGOs and institutions, enables establishing of new services for citizens; Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

18. Consensus of majority of political parties contributes finding sustainable solutions; Consensus of majority of political parties contributes finding sustainable solutions; Joint NGO initiative has shown as successful approach in lobbying process; Joint NGO initiative has shown as successful approach in lobbying process; In developing countries, support of international community is important for these initiatives. In developing countries, support of international community is important for these initiatives. Government Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002 Conclusions and Recommendations…