The second phase of the project on human resources management in the local self-government

The Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and the Council of Europe signed today in Belgrade an agreement on the implementation of the project "Human Resources Management in Local Self-Government - Phase II", funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the SCTM and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government (MPALSG).

Branko Ružić, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, emphasized the importance of the project that promotes professional development and training programmes in local self-government units.

"The second phase of the project is a significant step in providing the necessary support to municipalities and towns in further improvement of human resources, and I believe that the activities planned by the project will significantly contribute to raising the capacities of local self-governments to provide quality services to citizens", said Ružić.

Tobias Flesenkemper, Head of the Council of Europe's Mission in Belgrade, said the meeting was an indicator of the way the Council of Europe works, providing support to local partners. "Today we are in the premises of SCTM, a place that represents local self-governments, which indicates our desire to directly support municipalities and towns in Serbia, to strengthen the capacities of towns and municipalities and leave the legacy to the SCTM, which will continue to work with them well after completion of the project", said is Flesenkemper.

"Cooperation with MPALSG shows the Government of Serbia's desire to apply the standards of the Council of Europe. Dialogue with all involved parties has been improved in order to improve standards in local self-governments", said the Head of the Council of Europe Mission in Belgrade.

Dušanka Golubović, President of the SCTM and Mayor of Sombor, said that the majority of the beneficiaries in the previous phase of the project were pilot local self-governments that were users of the support package in the field of human resources management, and thanks to the success of the first part, we are now moving to the second phase of the project.

"Project activities will significantly contribute to the building and improvement of the human resources management process and the establishment of a system for professional development of employees in towns and municipalities, thus increasing the capacity of local self-government to provide quality services to citizens, all in accordance with the Public Administration Reform Strategy in Serbia", said Golubovic.

Towns and municipalities in Serbia, through the first phase of the project "Human Resources Management in Local Self-Government", received significant support in establishing the function of human resources management and professional development of local officers. The first phase of the project provided support to all local self-governments in Serbia in building capacities for human resource management and building a system for professional development.

The second phase of the project envisages a series of activities aimed at supporting towns and municipalities, as well as the National Academy of Public Administration as a central institution for professional development, then the Council for the Professional Development of Employees in LSG, as well as the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government.

The project will last for three years and the total value is four million euros.