Swiss Cooperation Office Serbia Embassy of Switzerland Швајцарска канцеларија за сарадњу за Србију Амбасада Швајцарске European Support to South and Southwest Serbia (PROGRES) Governance Project duration: 2010 – 2014 Project budget: 18’900’000 EUR Swiss contribution: 2’900’000 EUR (4’300’000 CHF) Funding source: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Project partners: EU Delegation, Government of Serbia, UNOPS and municipalities in: . Southwest Serbia: Ivanjica, Nova Varoš, Novi Pazar, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raška, Sjenica and Tutin . Toplički district: Blace, Žitorađa, Kuršumlija and Prokuplje . South Serbia: Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Leskovac, Medveđa, Crna Trava, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladičin Han, Vranje, Preševo, Surdulica and Trgovište Links: www.euprogres.org Contacts: UNOPS: Graeme Tyndall [email protected], (+381) 20 337 300 Swiss Cooperation Office Serbia: Petar Vasilev . [email protected], (+381) 11 728 7022 Project Description South and Southwest Serbia regions are facing high poverty and unemployment rates, insufficient infrastructure and poor delivery of social services. They are ethnic melting-pots with latent factors for destabilization. The European Partnership with Municipalities – PROGRES is a joint programme of the European Union, the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Serbia, aiming to assist development of local self- governments. The next phase of the PROGRES programme will extend its support to Southwest and South Serbia (covering 34 municipalities in total), with an aim to enhance the governance of local administrations, improve the concrete service delivery to citizens, identify and fund needed infrastructure, and better develop the image of the area. Activities Strengthening citizens’ demands for better governance; providing elected officials with tools to better manage resources and institutions, and improving information flows, hence mutual understanding, between citizens and elected officials. Providing assistance to municipalities in establishing Citizens Assistance Centres (CACs) and one-stop shops to serve citizens and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as in improving fiscal (tax collection) and financial (budget, audit, etc.) management. Supporting the establishing of documentation for essential municipal and inter-municipal infrastructure projects and in providing financing (direct and indirect) for them. Organizing public awareness campaigns that communicate necessity and effects of changes. Branding areas to improve their image as unique regions in Europe. Expected Results Local administrations are better able to answer demands by citizens and measure their own effectiveness Public affairs management is more participatory, accountable and transparent (improved governance) Project/ technical documents are prepared for key economic, environmental and social projects Project financing is facilitated through enabling contacts with ministries, donors and other projects Plans to develop the areas’ image and self-image as unique areas of Europe are established The project is planned for continuation .