Description
The Municipality of Strumica’s methodology for allocating funds to support projects of civil society organizations (CSOs) does not reflect their needs and does not correspond to the amount of the grants. In 2018, the municipality changed the methodology for financial support to citizen associations and foundations and adopted the LOD methodology, within the Regional Program for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans (ReLOaD), financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP. Although this program ended in 2020, without prior consultation with stakeholders, the municipality continued to allocate funds to CSOs based on it. With this methodology, CSOs are excluded from the decision-making processes for the allocation of funds to support proposed projects and from monitoring the results of the supported projects.
Therefore, the project is aimed at developing an inclusive-participative process for creating a methodology that will reflect the needs and priorities of the stakeholders (CSOs, artists, cultural workers and decision-makers) in the Municipality of Strumica. Such a methodology will enable a more transparent and accountable process in the allocation of funds for financial support to CSOs.
Project goals
The goal is aimed at improving the practices of the Municipality of Srumica for the allocation of budget funds intended for CSOs support through the participation of stakeholders in the development of a transparent and accountable model.
Target groups
- CSOs, artists and cultural workers operating in the territory of the Strumica Municipality;
- Employees in municipal administration;
- Decision makers.
Main activities
- Informational meeting with NGOs, municipal officials, councilors, and cultural workers
- Organizing workshops for developing a methodology for financial support of CSOs
- Development of a methodology for allocating funds to CSOs
- Advocacy activities for the methodology (meetings with municipal authorities and advocacy letters).
