Initiative for Active NGO Participation in PRS Implementation

Centar za razvoj neprofitnog sektora

The Team for Implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) started a new initiative dedicated to better exchange of information and strengthened cooperation between the civil society and state institutions, as well as stronger participation of civil society in all stages of PRS implementation.

With the aim to identify better instruments of communication with non-governmental organizations, the Team conducted a comprehensive consultation process with NGO representatives in mid-2006. A document, the Recommendations for Inclusion of Civil Society in the Implementation of PRS resulted from the consultations. It contains an analysis of NGO participation and examples of good practices from Serbia and abroad, as well as the conclusions and recommendations made by the consulted NGOs.

Aiming at concrete actions based on that document, the Team started a new initiative that should support a number of NGOs and their quality projects, towards increased and more active participation of NGOs in the process of preparation of programming measures and activities, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of PRS implementation, as well as the impact of applied measures on some vulnerable groups. The selected NGOs will become �contact points� for the NGOs and the Team.

The initiative should contribute to improved exchange of information and strengthened cooperation between civil society and state institutions and strengthen civil society representatives� participation in all stages of Strategy implementation.

The first step for the Team under this initiative would be to secure part of the necessary funds, prepare job descriptions and possible activities for the NGO contact points and open a public competition for their selection. In the selection process, the Team will use criteria identified and agreed by the NGOs.

The primary activities of the selected contact organizations would be to establish a system of communication and information flow between the Team and other governmental institutions and CSOs. The organizations would also propose instruments for collection and distribution of data and information related to processes of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.