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

Government – Civil SocietyGovernment – Civil SocietyInteractionInteraction

Montenegro Montenegro Country CaseCountry Case

Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector – MANS, October 2002.

MontenegroMontenegro

• 658.000 inhabitants658.000 inhabitants

• 13.812 km13.812 km22

• 21 municipalities21 municipalities

• Over 1600 NGOsOver 1600 NGOs

• Capital : PodgoricaCapital : Podgorica

• GDP per capita: 1,242.00 $GDP per capita: 1,242.00 $

Government - Civil Society Interaction – Montenegro Country Case MANS, October 2002

POVERTY

Inadequate distribution

of social welfare

Increase of all formsof crimes

Unemployment

Bad conditions forinvestments

Grey economy

War environment and sanctions

Reduction of overalleconomic activities and

decrease of GDP

Inadequateimplementation

of reforms

Inadequate lawregulations and poor

implementation

Politization

Undevelopedinstitutionalcapacities

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

Poor government civil society interaction Causes and consequences Causes and consequences

Poor government- civil society

interaction

Remnants ofpast systems

Politization

Not enough developedcapacities of state

bodies

UndevelopedNGO capacities

Prejudicieson NGOs

Not enoughtransparent

NGOsNot enough transparent

state bodies

Poverty

UnsustainableNGO Sector

Poor inter-sector andcross-sectorInfo-sharing

Poor citizensparticipation

Inadequate implementation ofreforms

Not enough possibilities to

control the work of state bodies

Lack of trust In institution

Not enoughaccountablestate bodies

No citizens need-assesments


Project BackgroundProject Background• Montenegro Action Plan – Montenegro Action Plan – Regional Seminar on citizen’s Regional Seminar on citizen’s

participation in government and empowering of poor communities participation in government and empowering of poor communities held in Hungary 2001 organised by World Bank Instituteheld in Hungary 2001 organised by World Bank Institute

• Research on local governments – NGOs interaction (on sample of Research on local governments – NGOs interaction (on sample of

100 NGOs and 18/21 municipalities)100 NGOs and 18/21 municipalities)

• Pilot project implemented within Secretariat for labour, health and Pilot project implemented within Secretariat for labour, health and social welfare in Podgorica municipality (initiated and mostly social welfare in Podgorica municipality (initiated and mostly funded by UNICEF)funded by UNICEF)

Established transparent criteria and procedures for NGO Established transparent criteria and procedures for NGO funding funding Developed capacities of Secretariat for project proposal rating Developed capacities of Secretariat for project proposal rating and later, for their monitoring and evaluationand later, for their monitoring and evaluationEstablished mixed commission for allocation of funds, Established mixed commission for allocation of funds, composed of equal representation of Secretariat and NGOscomposed of equal representation of Secretariat and NGOsExperiences can be used in other institutionsExperiences can be used in other institutions


Some results from the Some results from the research…research…• 78% 78% of municipalities covered by of municipalities covered by

research has allocated funds research has allocated funds (480.606,48 €)(480.606,48 €) for NGO projects for NGO projects

• 38% 38% of municipalities do not have of municipalities do not have established decision making established decision making procedures, procedures, 60% 60% do not have criteria,do not have criteria,

• 44% 44% of municipalities of municipalities do not havedo not have procedures nor criteria for allocation procedures nor criteria for allocation of fund for NGOs of fund for NGOs (277.916,48 €)(277.916,48 €)


• 61% 61% do not control use of funds which do not control use of funds which leads to inadequate spending of limited leads to inadequate spending of limited resources resources

• Municipalities do Municipalities do not carry outnot carry out researches of needs of their citizens in researches of needs of their citizens in order to define priorities order to define priorities

• Existing laws do not provide Existing laws do not provide concrete concrete guidelinesguidelines for local institutions – NGOs for local institutions – NGOs interaction interaction

• Interaction is usually Interaction is usually limitedlimited to to providing space for NGO offices and providing space for NGO offices and covering their operation costs.covering their operation costs.


Some results from the Some results from the research…research…

NGOs’ opinion on quality of their NGOs’ opinion on quality of their projects media representation projects media representation

(republic level)(republic level)

40%

13% 10%

37%

GoodAverageBadNot informed


Podgorica municipalityPodgorica municipality

• Over 50% NGOs registered in PodgoricaOver 50% NGOs registered in Podgorica

• Podgorica – 167.000 inhabitants Podgorica – 167.000 inhabitants

• Municipality of Podgorica has identified Municipality of Podgorica has identified “improvement of local government work” as “improvement of local government work” as one of priority areas for cooperation with NGO one of priority areas for cooperation with NGO sector;sector;

• 200.000 € 200.000 € - 0.7% of municipal budget allocated - 0.7% of municipal budget allocated for funding NGO projects (41,6% of total sum for funding NGO projects (41,6% of total sum allocated for NGOs on local levels )allocated for NGOs on local levels )


Podgorica - Problem Podgorica - Problem descriptiondescription

• No criteria nor No criteria nor procedures for procedures for allocation of funds allocation of funds for NGOsfor NGOs

• No control over No control over spending of spending of allocated fundsallocated funds

• Poor citizens Poor citizens participation in participation in decision making decision making (except on local (except on local elections) elections)

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

GoodAverageBadNot informed

NGOs’ opinion about process of allocation of funds from Municipality of

Podgorica budget


NGOs’ opinion on cooperation with NGOs’ opinion on cooperation with municipal governments (by region)municipal governments (by region)

0

20

40

60

80

North Niksic Podgorica Bar i Ulcinj Bay of Boka

Pozitive Negative Not informed


Project Project includes establishing mixed task force includes establishing mixed task force composed of representatives of Local composed of representatives of Local Parliament and NGO sector that will submit Parliament and NGO sector that will submit proposals on following issues to Local proposals on following issues to Local Parliament:Parliament:• Ways and forms of funding Ways and forms of funding NGOs from municipal budget – NGOs from municipal budget –

establishing clear criteria and procedures for NGO funding; establishing clear criteria and procedures for NGO funding; establishing priorities based on real needs of citizens and establishing priorities based on real needs of citizens and transparency of decision making process that will transparency of decision making process that will contribute to strong and sustainable NGO sector;contribute to strong and sustainable NGO sector;

• Treatment of NGOs in media Treatment of NGOs in media founded by Local Parliament;founded by Local Parliament;

• Cooperation between NGOs and local institutions – Cooperation between NGOs and local institutions – efficiency of existing and establishing efficiency of existing and establishing new services for new services for citizenscitizens; better transparency and accountability of ; better transparency and accountability of municipal institutions; municipal institutions;

• Establishing Establishing “Chair”“Chair” for NGOs within Local Parliament that for NGOs within Local Parliament that will enable citizens participation in work of Parliament, will enable citizens participation in work of Parliament, ensure better transparency of work of Local Parliament and ensure better transparency of work of Local Parliament and comprehensive overview of the related issues through comprehensive overview of the related issues through including all stakeholders.including all stakeholders.


Project Goals…Project Goals…

Improvement of work and capacity building of Improvement of work and capacity building of municipal authorities within following areas: municipal authorities within following areas:

• TransparencyTransparency• Accountability Accountability • Citizens participationCitizens participation

Improvement of NGO work through:Improvement of NGO work through:• Increasing transparency;Increasing transparency;• Capacity buildingCapacity building• Ensuring long-term sustainability of NGO sectorEnsuring long-term sustainability of NGO sector


Activities…Activities…• MANS has conducted MANS has conducted media campaignmedia campaign;;

Raising public awareness on results from the research Raising public awareness on results from the research Creating friendly environment for future initiativesCreating friendly environment for future initiatives

• Established Established advocacy team advocacy team composed of organisation working in composed of organisation working in different areas of civil society, have good image in community and have different areas of civil society, have good image in community and have some previous experience in lobbying:some previous experience in lobbying:

Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector – MANS (civil society)Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector – MANS (civil society)Center for Development of NGOs – CRNVO (civil society)Center for Development of NGOs – CRNVO (civil society)Nansen Dialogue Center (Human rights and non-violent Nansen Dialogue Center (Human rights and non-violent communication)communication)SOS Hotline for women and children victims of violence (women SOS Hotline for women and children victims of violence (women and children rights)and children rights)Association of Paraplegics (rights of persons with disabilities)Association of Paraplegics (rights of persons with disabilities)Ecological organisation “Green Home” (ecology)Ecological organisation “Green Home” (ecology)Youth Parliament of Montenegro (youth)Youth Parliament of Montenegro (youth)

• Lobbying at caucuses of political parties that participated at last Local Lobbying at caucuses of political parties that participated at last Local Assembly; Assembly;

• Lobbying at international organisations/agencies that are acting in field Lobbying at international organisations/agencies that are acting in field of democracy building and civil society development in Montenegro.of democracy building and civil society development in Montenegro.


Results of the lobbying…Results of the lobbying…

Obtained letters of support from 4 political parties: Obtained letters of support from 4 political parties: • DPS – Democratic Party of Socialist DPS – Democratic Party of Socialist • SDP – Social Democratic PartySDP – Social Democratic Party• SNP – Social People PartySNP – Social People Party• LSCG – Liberal Alliance of MontenegroLSCG – Liberal Alliance of Montenegro

Obtained letters of support from:Obtained letters of support from:• UNDPUNDP – United Nations Development Programme – United Nations Development Programme• UNICEFUNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund – United Nations Children’s Fund• OSCEOSCE – Organisation for Security and Co-operation in – Organisation for Security and Co-operation in

EuropeEurope• ICMAICMA – International City/County Management – International City/County Management

AssociationAssociation• Handicap InternationalHandicap International (particularly interested in (particularly interested in

protection of rights of organisations dealing with protection of rights of organisations dealing with persons with disabilities)persons with disabilities)


Next steps…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 Lobbying in Local Parliament for accepting task force propositions;force propositions;

• Initiating similar projects in other municipalities;Initiating similar projects in other municipalities;

• Lobbying for implementation of good examples Lobbying for implementation of good examples on republic level. on republic level.

• Fundraising for regional project (Serbia & Fundraising for regional project (Serbia & Bosnia) in order to set base for future Bosnia) in order to set base for future monitoring of PRSP implementationmonitoring of PRSP implementation


Conclusions and Conclusions and Recommendations…Recommendations…

• Government – civil society interaction Government – civil society interaction leads to leads to simultaneoussimultaneous capacity building capacity building of both structures; of both structures;

• In order to increase transparency and In order to increase transparency and accountability of local authorities, it is accountability of local authorities, it is necessary to ensure effective framework necessary to ensure effective framework for for citizens participationcitizens participation which leads to which leads to greater credibility of local authorities and greater credibility of local authorities and increasing trust in institutions;increasing trust in institutions;

• Formalizing cooperation between NGOs Formalizing cooperation between NGOs and institutions, enables establishing of and institutions, enables establishing of new servicesnew services for citizens; for citizens;


• Consensus Consensus of majority of political parties of majority of political parties contributes finding sustainable solutions;contributes finding sustainable solutions;

• Joint NGO initiative Joint NGO initiative has shown as has shown as successful approach in lobbying successful approach in lobbying process;process;

• In developing countries, support of In developing countries, support of international communityinternational community is important is important for these initiatives.for these initiatives.


Conclusions and Conclusions and Recommendations…Recommendations…

Documents

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