“REACT!” PROJECT 

REACT project, supported parallel by ISC and RBF, represents the first step of the National Coalition for Decentralization work as a part of a Coalition long term strategy.

REACT project is created around 5 key components:
Research that needs to provide good grounds for expertise on model of decentralization which is most applicable in Serbia. Research needs to show the capacities and potentials for decentralization on local and regional level
Education of local and regional stakeholders interested in advocating decentralization (NGOs, political parties youth, local authorities representatives, Standing Conference of Cities and Municipalities and other active advocates of decentralization) in 5 regional centers producing around 100 advocates with similar understanding of needs for decentralization and advocacy skills, as well as creation of www.decentralizacijasrbije.net website envisaged as a web resource centre for all decentralization advocates.
Advocacy actions on decentralization which targets the decision makers on the republic level (MPs, members of the Serbian government, leaders of political parties)
Community level actions organized in order to engage citizens and NGOs in 5 regional centers in direct action for decentralization and to create local and regional partnerships
Terrain coverage activities realized in order to cover wider territory in Serbia Proper with advocacy actions on decentralization.

Goals

The specific goals of this project are:

1. To determine priority areas for decentralization of Serbia (i.e. health system, fiscal system, education system or even parts of systems) and capacities of local communities to take over bigger prerogatives of power through a thorough research organized for the territory of Serbia Proper
2. To create 3 proposal models for new territorial division of authorities in Serbia that would allow true decentralization – these models (justified with research) would be offered to the national government and parliament, and could be utilized for future law, act and statute making in Republic Parliament.
3. To influence the authorities on republic level which needs to apply the principle of decentralization in all decision making.
4. To educate 100 decentralization advocates in more than 25 municipalities in Serbia Proper
5. To provide on line resource for decentralization advocates in order to empower them for future activities
6. To organize 10 actions in 10 municipalities (1 action each), using the educated network of advocates, that would tackle the topic of decentralization through the prism of locally specific and identified problem
7. To increase the public awareness on decentralization through creation and broadcast of 3 TV shows on decentralization on at least 10 local and regional TV stations in Serbia Proper, and through public appearances and actions, as well as printed materials and media appearances
8. To establish a monitoring mechanism that would monitor the media and decision making of national government and that would react to the disrespect and negligence of the decentralization principles
9. To bring Serbian Parliament members and citizens together to discuss the needs of decentralization and possibility to overcome local problems that resulted from centralization of decision making.

Consequently, these results/products should influence 4 different target groups by the end of the project (please compare with National Coalition for Decentralization Strategy):

1. decision makers on all level – that need to take decentralization as an non avoidable principle in decision making on the republic level and that need to adopt new Law on Local Self government and other key laws for decentralization issue in next 12 months.
2. public opinion – that need to increase their expectations from elected politicians to apply principles of decentralization in decision making – also citizens will be provided with information on what is decentralization and why is it a positive process for democracy and their participation in reforms,
3. experts community – that will be directly involved in future planning and creation of the most cost efficient, effective and realistic model of decentralization in Serbia,
4. other key stakeholders of social action – foreign embassies, media and political parties in particular will receive much more information on what decentralization is and how it could support the process of democratization in Serbia.

Geographic Coverage

The geographical focus of our activities will be located in Coalition Regional Centers: Nis, Uzice, Novi Pazar, Vranje and Negotin. From these cities we plan to cover the wider regions in their vicinity with the aim to cover the whole territory of Serbia Proper as much as possible. In order to do that our activities will favorite the participants interested in decentralization that come from other cities than these 5. With the idea to support ideas coming from additional 5 cities, apart from 5 regional centers, priority would be given to other natural cities of regional, such as Kragujevac, Valjevo, Čačak, Kruševac Pirot, Pozarevac etc...

Consequently, these results should influence 4 different target groups by the end of the project:
decision makers on all level – that need to take decentralization as an non avoidable principle in decision making on the republic level and that need to adopt new Law on Local Self government and other key laws for decentralization issue in next 12 months.
public opinion – that need to increase their expectations from elected politicians to apply principles of decentralization in decision making – also citizens will be provided with information on what is decentralization and why is it a positive process for democracy and their participation in reforms,
experts community – that will be directly involved in future planning and creation of the most cost efficient, effective and realistic model of decentralization in Serbia,
other key stakeholders of social action – foreign embassies, media and political parties in particular will receive much more information on what decentralization is and how it could support the process of democratization in Serbia.

DECENTRALIZATION OF SERBIA

National Coalition for Decentralization is on the point of finishing the first phase of its work. We would like to use this opportunity to invite you once again to take active participation in our work, but also to inform you of previous implemented projects.
So far 30 NGOs from 11 cities joined the Coalition. Due to the formation of regional centres of Coalition in Negotin, Uzice, Novi Pazar, Vranje and Nis, the necessary prerequisites for the decentralization of the work of Coalition itself were established. Our regional centres are:

• Human Rights Committee Negotin
• Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Uzice
• PROTECTA Vranje
• Urban in Novi Pazar
• PROTECTA Niš, Human Rights Committee Niš and Media Centre Niš.

In the course of previous months representatives of Nis Coalition visited cities in which regional centres were formed. On that occasion the meetings with local organizations of the civil society were held; these organizations openly expressed their support for our initiative and confirmed their willingness to take active participation in the work of the Coalition. Also, public in these cities were informed of these activities via local and regional media which regularly broadcasted reports on our activities. Although the work of the Coalition was reported by 7 local and regional televisions (including 4 one-hour TV shows on regional televisions), 4 radio stations, 6 press media, none of the national media, except for daily paper “Danas”, informed the citizens of Serbia of the existence of the Coalition and its activities. This fact adds to the belief in absolute necessity of decentralization of Serbia.
In all regional centres a research of target groups was conducted, aiming at discovering decentralization related themes that might engage the attention of citizens not going to the polls. The research showed that people regard decentralization as necessary, but also believe in the need to talk about what decentralization is, what it can offer to an ordinary citizen and which steps should be taken in the recognition of positive and negative decentralization related actions of the government. The researchers themselves were surprised at positive examinees’ reaction at the offered explanations.
It is planned that the realization of street actions tackling the topic of what the citizens can report to politicians regarding decentralization be held in February. The action in Negotin, supported by great number of citizens was held on December 10th. The same action will be organized in other cities where regional centres were formed, but also in all cities where local NGOs cooperating with the Coalition offer themselves to suuport our initiative. By the end of December, more than 1.500 messages from citizens from somewhat 10 cities in Serbia will have been collected. These messages will be broadcasted during the preelectoral campaign, to be delivered to future members of parliament on the first working day of newly appointed Republican Parliament.
Thanks to the support from Nis academic public, we are in the position to announce the publication of printed and electronic guide on decentralization entitled “Decentralization as the starting point of further development of Serbia”. From Monday 18.12., this guide can be taken in Regioanl centres or downloaded from websites of the members of the Coalition. In the course of a few days, a special mail will be sent concerning the possibilities of taking the guide.
Further plans regarding the work of the Coalition include:

1. active media campaign which will coincide with the preelectoral campaign during the forthcoming elections (the Coalition will use this occasion to appeal at the citizens to get out and vote for the option offering the best program solutions for the decentralization of Serbia),
2. organization of the Conference on Decentralization in February 2007,
3. series of researches tackling the topic of the capacity of local authorities and local and regional communities for taking over decentralized government offices,
4. work with experts on the topic of looking for most efficient and most effective models of decentralization applicable in Serbia,,
5. influence on decision makers to create a suitable legal framework that would enable decentralization of Serbia.

The Coalition wants to indicate clearly that this action is not directed against Belgrade, but that it represents efforts to bring the level of decision making closer to the citizens, as well as to create equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their place of residence. This phase of work of the National Coalition for Decentralization was supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) from the United States of America.
For all further questions, information and comments, you can contact us by electronic mail: decentralizacija@protecta.org.yu .

Coordinating team
National Coalition for Decentralization