From Tech Support to Anti-Corruption

In the first two years of its work, MANS existed as a sort of resource centre for the other NGOs in Montenegro. During that period, MANS offered technical support in writing and implementation of projects, logistic services in terms of organization of round-table discussions and seminars, internet access and free-of-charge photo-copying services. In addition, two annual surveys of non-governmental organizations� needs were conducted and recommendations were adopted in terms of further capacity building of NGOs.

In 2003, MANS activities turned their focus to two specific fields: fighting poverty and citizens� participation in local decision-making processes and accountable local self-government.

Poverty Reduction
(For more detailed information, please visit the website www.mans.cg.yu/PRSP/siromastvo2004.htm)

Under the auspices of its programme of fight against poverty, MANS took active participation in the creation of Montenegro Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), through four of its projects:

MANS cooperated in the �Civil Society Involvement in the preparation of PRSP in Montenegro� project, financed by UNDP in cooperation with the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), with the followiggn NGOs: Centre for NGO Development CRNVO, Podgorica; and its regional partners: �Humanitarac� NGO from Niksic, �Gradjanska Kuca� NGO Club from Cetinje; �Modus Aquirendi� NGO from Bijelo Polje. This project aimed to support and institutionalize the process of participative development through consultations on local, regiona and national levels, and to secure that the voices of the poor be heard and included in the final draft of the PRSP.

The second project initiated by MANS aimed to achieve the inclusion of views and positions of persons with special needs into the final version of the PRSP. MANS intention was to secure that the voice of one of the most marginalized groups in Montenegrin society is heard and taken into account in the creation of social policies. The project was supported by ORT/USAID and included consultations with national associations of persons with special needs, to develop a questionnaire that was later distributed to the local offices of the national organizations in all municipalities of Montenegro. The final outcome of the project were recommendations that were submitted for adoption to the Government of Montenegro and to the local administration.

Under the auspices of the �Citizens� Inclusion in the Comments on the First-Draft of PRSP� project, financed by Podgorica Office of UNDP and the Government of Montenegro, MANS held five meetings in Bar, Pljevlje, Bijelo Polje, Berane and Podgorica. The meetings gathered representatives of the marginalized social groups, business enterprises, educational institutions, local administrations, social work centres, trade unions, media, NGOs and unemployed. The meetings were used by the citizens to comment on the individual sections of the Poverty Reduction Strategy in Montenegro. On the basis of the collected comments, MANS completed a report that was presented to the Governmental Team charged with the development of the Strategy.

In a partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Care and three broadcasters: RTCG, NTV �Montena� and RTV �Elmag�, MANS implemented the project for promotion of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Montenegro and public awareness raising on the importance of achievement of MDGs. In addition, the project included collection of comments of local NGOs on the draft PRSP, from the viewpoint of Millennium Development Goals. Under the auspices of this project, MANS produced eight half-hour TV programmes that presented the perceptions of the MDG from the viewpoint of the people that have to leave with them, as well as the views and positions of NGOs and government institutions. The project is a unique example of cooperation between state institutions, NGO sector and the media, both the public broadcasting service and private commercial broadcasters, which was the first of its kind in Montenegro. Also, in terms of the MDGs, this was the sole presentation of this kind in the whole world.

Citizens Participation in Local Decision-Making Processes and Good Local Governance

This programme is the biggest field of MANS operations. So far, the following projects were implemented:

Strengthening of status and role of Information and Education Centres in the Local Community.. The Project was started in December 2003, with the goal to provide support to the Information and Education Centres in terms of their sustainability, organization capacities and strengthened impact on the life of the local community. Representatives of five centres in five different municipalities passed through the training programme in project-proposal writing, strategic planning and fundraising. During the trainings, the participants went through theory and practical application segments which provided them with an opportunity for practical implementation of newly-acquired knowledge and skills. The Project resulted in a model of strategic plan that the centres could develop further and adapt them to their respective situation, as well as four project-proposals ready to be submitted to potential donors.

Building Local Authorities� Capacity to Scan the Citizens� Needs. In September 2003, MANS started a three-month initiative with the goal to improve local-level democracy, through strengthening of local authorities� capacity to register and recognize the needs of the citizens, which should enable the authorities to design their long-term activities in accordance with the actual priorities defined by the citizens, more rational use of available resources and improve their public image.

MANS organized three training cycles on Participatory Approach, methodology used in the world as the best technique for community mobilisation around mutual priorities, with participative approach to the definition of solutions and responsibility for their completion. The training included two officials from each local administration in Montenegro. The training was organized in three cycles, and included 19 to 21 municipalities. The training included theoretical and practical segments, with the task to prepare a report on the needs of citizens in the Municipalities (Tivat, Cetinje, Ulcinj) in which the training took place. The report was then presented to the local NGOs and the media, with the goal to provide the public with information on the problems and priorities defined by the citizens, to increase the public interest in the implementation of similar projects in the other municipalities and responsibility of municipal authorities for definition of policies based on real needs of the citizens. The project was supported by the Foundation Open Society Institute � FOSI, Podgorica.

Watchdog Innitiative � Year One. In cooperation with Expeditio from Kotor and NATURA from Kolasin, its local partners, MANS implemented a project of monitoring of the implementation of the Law on Local Self-Government in three municipalities: Podgorica, Kotor and Kolasin.

MANS and its partners focused on the monitoring of the adoption and implementation of Statute and Decision for Citizens� Participation in Public Affairs. The careful monitoring of the implementation of said regulations, including an assessment of quality of implementation, showed the level to which the local governments in pilot-municipalities were willing to include the citizens in the decision making processes on local level. For additional information on this project, visith www.mans.cg.yu/watchdog.htm.

Watchdog Initiative � Year Two which is still in progress, covers only the Municipality of Podgorica, in which MANS monitors the implementation of the Decision on Citizens� Participation in Public Affairs, with the focus on urban planning. For more information, visit the website www.mans.cg.yu/watchdog2.htm.

Corruption and Conflict of Interests slowly turns into the main field of interest for MANS activities.

Over the course of 2005, MANS started and completed a project for increased public awareness about the problem of corruption and development of local anti-corruption action plans in two pilot-municipalities, Podgorica and Budva. The project was sponsored by the Balkan Trust Fund.

At this moment, MANS works on the development of a database of offices held by public officials in Montenegro and their property and assets. This should facilitate the identification of conflict of interests with the officials and point out at possible corruptive behaviour.

Another database, on the system of public procurements in Montenegro is being prepared at the moment. It should provide for easier identification of violations of the Law on Public Procurement, corruption and abuse of office by public officials.

MANS implements a major part of its survey of corruption and conflict of interests on volunteer bases, in order to prevent outside influence on information and positions it presents.

On principle of MANS operations is to never seek funds/grants on local and municipal level, i.e. from budgets filled with tax-payers money.