IA concluded agreements with Centre for Civic Education (CCE), Association of Youth with Disabilities (UMHCG) and Centre for Democratic Transition (CDT) from Podgorica, NGO Natura from Kolašin and NGO New Horizon from Ulcinj.
“The overall goal of WeBER and the grant scheme within it, is to increase the relevance, participation and capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and media in the Western Balkans (WB) to advocate for and influence the design and implementation of public administration reform (PAR)”, said Stevo Muk, President of the Managing Board of Institute alternative.
He explained that, in the long run, WeBER should help prepare and empower the civil society in the WB to continue pushing for EU membership compliant PARs in these countries once they accede the EU and external EU conditionality is no longer the driving force behind these reforms.
Ten Montenegrin CSOs applied for the grants, out of which, Selection Committee composed also of other WeBER member organisation, chose the best five applications.
“These five projects are aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability of local self-governments, particularly in terms of improving implementation of freedom of information mechanism, public participation in development and coordination of public policy and public finance management at the local level”, added Muk.
After the press conference, IA held workshop with the selected grantees from Montenegro. The aim of the workshop was to familiarise the grantees with the EU financial management procedures and administrative procedures during the grant implementation.