Cooperation Strategy Serbia 2010 - 2013 - Deza - admin.ch

SWISS COOPERATION
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benefit the poor. To reduce regional imbalances,
the focus of activities is to be in the southern and
south-western regions, where five markets are to
be developed. Cooperation with SDC and SECO
activities in these regions – related to decentralization
and local governance, as well as sub-national
competitiveness – will be actively sought.
This new SDC programme thus complements the
SECO programme.
The expected outcome is that systematic
approaches to market growth will be introduced,
with local facilitators in five markets in southern
and south-western Serbia. This will, in turn, result
in substantial growth in terms of job creation,
SME turnover, and fiscal revenue generation.
3.4 Rule of Law and
Democracy (SDC)
National priorities
From the many priorities of central and local
governments, SDC will selectively align itself with
the following: the introduction of social inclusion
policies, local-level institutional capacitybuilding,
regional development, decentralization
(including fiscal decentralization and municipal
property divestment), municipal advocacy and
lobbying capacities at the central government
level, institutional capacity-building in the judiciary.
Domain objectives (SDC)
SDC’s domain portfolio contributes to (i) fostering
vertical integration between municipal and
central state levels and promoting popular rights,
as well as municipal support programmes,
increasing the absorption capacity for decentralized
responsibilities and competencies while
respecting good governance principles and ii)
drafting and implementing the social inclusion
agenda and judicial reform.
Sub-domain: decentralization and local
governance
Municipal development remains the focus of the
programme, which will support the implementation
of the recently-passed laws on municipalities,
local self-government and regional development.
Strategically, the programme will concentrate on
(i) vertical integration and advocacy for municipalities’
interests in central government and, (ii)
strengthening management capacities and good
governance practices of municipalities in line
with their increasing tasks and responsibilities in
the course of the current progressive decentralization
in Serbia.
SDC will provide an institutional support to the
Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities
(SCTM), the association of Serbian municipalities,
with a view to contribute to improving
interactions between the local and central levels