MSP objective Phase I:

The Municipal support programme is strategically oriented to promote 'transformation objectives' in the area of municipal management, including institutional decentralisation, organisational development and human resource development. The Municipal support programme also supports local efforts to improve communal services and social development while expanding the active participation of citizens in the governance process.

Achievements from the Municipal Support Programme Phase I:

• Big effort was put on activities which serve as entry point for transformational changes in all partner municipalities (“Kick off” Workshops; Syntegration, thematic seminars/workshops; planning and institutional modernisation projects; institutional learning component)
• Development processes have been entered with the implementation of model projects and activities stipulated either by the Law on Planning and Construction (Spatial Plan in Pozega, IMWG), or by relevant seminars / workshops (Planning and Construction, MDP project management)
• Adequate and innovative projects (Remote Control of Water Supply in Cacak and Uzice, ICT projects in Kursumlija and Kraljevo) and pilot projects (Info Kiosk in Kraljevo and Uzice) and other activities (seminars / workshops, courses of Informatics and languages and study tour to Switzerland) raised e-government awareness and supported modernisation of institutions.
• Exchange, interacting and dissemination of information, know-how and knowledge have become regular mechanisms
• Central level cooperation (ministries, central agencies, SCTM) has been supported and improved especially regarding the implementation of new laws (the Law on Local Self-Governments, the Law on Planning and Construction, the Law on VAT)
• There were approximately 2,000 participants from municipal administrations, PUC's, PC's, private sector and Civil Society increasing in 55 different trainings/seminars/workshops their capacity and general know-how for municipal management
• 43 projects, mainly municipal infrastructure but also some planning projects with pilot character were implemented with the co-funding of municipalities up to 50%. SDC co-funding level in these projects was app. 1,740,000 EUR, while co-funding by municipalities was app. 1,000,000 EUR. They relieved the municipalities from the immediate pressure for basic service delivery and planning needs and demonstrated the need for better strategic planning
• Partnership among the Municipal Support Programme and municipalities has been developed in continuity with their needs and implementation of MSP projects and activities. Mutual support and trust as main characteristics of the partnership contributed strongly to a high perception of ownership of Municipal support programme by its partner municipalities and the positive results in the achievement of Municipal Support Programme objectives.

Programme Organisation Structure of MSP
An adequate programme organisation structure contributes itself to capacity building and sustainability through continuous mutual learning.

Programme coordination between the Partner municipalities and the Programme Support Unit continues to be secured in the Coordination Committee…

In addition sustainability will be increased by initiating long-term change management processes with Change Management Teams in each municipal administration and with the establishment of permanent inter-municipal cooperation.

The Municipal Support Programme presently supports three Inter-Municipal Working Groups - for financial management/fiscal decentralization, legal issues and spatial planning.

The strategic orientation is defined by the Steering Committee with members of central government, SCTM, SDC, three municipalities in a rotating mode and the Executing Agency.

Four 'Core Programme' areas

The Municipal Support Programme supports in Phase II mainly activities in four key areas, which have been identified in a participatory planning process with a broad range of stakeholders:

i) Modernisation of Administration/Institutional Development
ii) Financial Management/Fiscal Decentralisation
iii) Municipal Development Programme / Strategic Planning
iv) Participation of Civil Society and Citizens in Municipal Governance.

Change Agenda and Municipal Work Package

Municipal support programme develops with the Change Management Teams - CMT and other relevant stakeholders of the municipalities a brief policy paper, the Change Agenda defining the main direction and general terms of reference for the CMT.

Based on the Change Agenda a Municipal Work Package identifies Core Programme and Demand-Driven projects given priority by the Municipalities to implement and interlinked to the Yearly municipal planning.

Programme activities
There is a clear difference between MSP-PSU led activities, including priority and Core Programme areas on one side and projects led by municipalities within demand-driven areas defined as priorities by the municipalities in the Change Agenda on the other side.