During the past two days, the Third Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) Regional Conference was a platform to share experiences and promote critical conversations to improve collaboration between local governments and civil society throughout the Western Balkans region. The conference, held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, brought together participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo1 Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia in engaged debates about existing practices, difficulties, and the influence of socio-political events regarding civil society on local levels.

The conference was a key step toward regional development and strengthening local democracy. The event intended to assess the current state of affairs and support building an enabling climate that encourages robust cooperation between Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and municipal/city governments.

Ms. Elmedina Bajgora, who is the representative of the Ministry of Finance, Labour, and Transfers from Kosovo and a member of the BoP, imparts valuable insight concerning the regulation endorsed in 2017 regarding the criteria, standards, and procedures for public funding of CSOs. She acknowledges that it is essential to conduct capacity building at both the central and local levels before introducing the regulation. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of providing a practical manual, stating that it is indispensable for the successful adoption of such regulations in various regional countries and territories.

The panel discussion aimed to establish the groundwork for a more powerful and flourishing community, unified in their commitment to change, with the primary goal of empowering communities and fostering innovation and inclusivity.

“Civil society organisations act as a bridge between citizens and authorities. The stronger the cooperation between civil society and government, the better the results. This is a symbiotic relationship that needs to be fully embraced – and understood as beneficial to both sides even where civil society asks difficult questions, challenges decisions of governments, or advocates for policy

change. To support better cooperation between civil society and local governments, the EU has allocated over 21 million euros for the ReLOaD Programme in the Western Balkans. The EU will continue to stand by local communities to improve local services and the quality of life for citizens”, said Deputy Head of EU Delegation to BiH Adebayo Babajide.

Around 110 participants - representatives of ministries, European Union, local governments, CSOs and board forum members have focused on boosting cooperation and trust, presenting a complete overview of the ReLOaD2 programme's achievements, actions, and expected outcomes in the Western Balkans. Furthermore, thematic discussions allowed direct interaction that focused on recognizing the challenges within the legislative framework for funding CSOs, which are common to all. Although attempts are made to overcome these issues, there is still a need to improve transparent funding for civil society that will ensure proper implementation of the existing regulations. Recommendations are oriented to improving accountability and efficiency on local and regional level, emphasizing the significance of improved communication, knowledge exchange, and capacity building.

Mr. Rexhep Zeka, the representative of CSO SDK (Sundimi i Demokracisë në Kosovë) in Podujevë/o, acknowledged that the success of a project is attributed to the positive collaboration between the CSO and the local government since this collaboration is driven by their shared commitment to addressing the needs of the community.

The Third ReLOaD2 Regional Conference proved to be an incentive for stakeholders to continue collaborating and accelerating the change in the Western Balkans, marking a critical step toward improved local democracies. ReLOaD2, an initiative implemented in 62 partner local governments in the Western Balkans, is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). So far, it has supported 277 CSO projects, benefiting 31162 residents in the region. With a budget of USD 15.06 million, ReLOaD2 will continue to contribute to the mentioned processes by the end of 2024.

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