1. 1 CIVIL SOCIETY: PARTNERSHIP FOR SERVICE DELIVERY Danilo Vuković Social Innovation Fund - Programme Manager UNDP Serbia and Montenegro

2. 2 Context Two levels of reform – National: Social Protection Development Strategy – Local: Funding and implementation of local projects Twofold aim: – Increase quality of services – Introduce NGOs as service providers and monitors of quality of service providers The role of SIF: – Funding of local projects – Technical support & capacity building – Knowledge management – Policy input

3. 3 Background MoLESP & UNDP programme Provision of funding to local projects: – 88 local projects in 59 municipalities in 2003-2004 – 51 local project in 37 municipalities in 2005- ongoing

4. 4 NGOs in Serbia: Background New role of NGOs in ’90-ties Statutory role of public agencies ↓ The new partnership approach – National level partnership: MoLESP&UNDP – Local level partnership: NGO, CSW, RI, municipalities and other local stakeholders Public-public partnership and Regional partnership

5. 5 National Partnership - Why? Combine legal authority with knowledge Improve national and local administration Coordinate development investments Promote new values

6. 6 Local Partnerships – Why? Use of resources, knowledge and skills → coordinated investment Transfer of knowledge Better service delivery, higher quality Beneficiary centered

7. 7 Areas of Partnership Needs assessment Project proposal preparation Implementation Monitoring and evaluation (6 NGOs as MEU) Lobbying ↓ Local social policy planning

8. 8 Partnership in service provision – Initial findings Tool for: – The raising of the access to services – The improvement of the service quality – The improvement of the technical capacities in service provision – Participative planning and delivery – Advocacy and lobbying A tool, but not a purpose per se…

9. 9 Example1: Regional approach CSW from Priboj opened a shelter for victims of domestic violence. The shelter successfully operated as a part of the CSW. Over time a number of beneficiaries increased with victims of violence from neighbouring municipalities. This was a credit to the good work but it threatened the budget of the project. Therefore, CSW initiated a process of regionalisation of the shelter. In consultation with the MoLESP and SIF, a price list for services was devised and CSW started charging the services from the beneficiaries’ municipalities of origin. Today it operates as a regional shelter house. This service is more effective then the institutional placement of victims of violence and at the same time more economically viable for municipalities. This model of regionalization of services is now being promoted in other areas of Serbia.

10. 10 Example 2: Grassroots initiatives CSW Stara Pazova developed partnership with the local Pensioners’ Association, very active in the municipality for a long time but not utilized in the provision of social services. The Association is today engaged in the extensive programme that covers various activities (home care, clubs for elderly and counselling). The Association provides comprehensive and targeted services to elderly in need, covering their social life, health and education. Furthermore, involvement of the Pensioners’ Association stimulated the development of voluntarism amongst elderly population in Stara Pazova. After the initial SIF support, the local self-government took over the project implementation, and today this is a regularly budgeted social protection activity in this municipality.

11. 11 Example 3: Inter-sectorial partnership There is a lack of clear procedures ensuring smooth cooperation between various public service systems, such as police, judiciary, education, health and social care system at local level. CSW Sombor project covers the area of domestic violence and offers: – urgent care to victims – SOS phone line – follow-up work Urgent care is provided in cooperation with police, while follow-up activities are conducted in cooperation with judiciary. School-teachers and doctors are trained to recognize cases of domestic violence and encouraged to report the cases. The individual tasks of each sector staff and their mutual relations are formalized through detailed protocols. This is an example of integrated provision of social services at the local level.