Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities SCTM - Serbia

1. Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities SCTM - Serbia

2. What is the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities? • Serbian local government association • Founded in 1953 • Today – full membership full membership – 167 members • www.skgo.org

4. SCTM Mission To create efficient, sustainable and democratic local government in Serbia by joint efforts with towns and municipalities, and through achieving high quality performance in serving the needs of our members.

5. SCTM Strategy From the SCTM Strategic Plan for 2005-2008: • Strengthen the process of decentralization through institutionalized dialogue with Central government • Strengthen local governance through capacity development programs and provide other services to the members according to their needs • Confirm that SCTM is widely recognized as a representative and credible organization

6. SCTM Structure • General Assembly – all members • Presidency – 21 member • Supervisory Board– 5 members • 10 Policy Committees • Ad hoc policy bodies – working groups... • General Secretariat

8. Supporting structure – the SCTM Secretariat • Secretary General– Presidency member • Deputy Secretary General • 5 teams and 36 employees Advocacy Team Team for Projects Information Team Team for Member Services Team for General Affairs

9. General Secretary Chief of Cabinet Deputy General Secretary Secretary Head of General Affairs Head of Representation Head of Projects Head of Services Head of Information Head of Accounting Head of Human Resources Head of General and Legal Affairs Board Secretaries Public Relations Manager Project Managers Manager of Education Manager of Consulting Center Manager of Project Develop. Editor of Publications Administrative and Technical Associates Expert Associates Project Associates Expert Assoc.-Instruct. Expert Associate Expert Assoc.- Consultant Associate for Plan and Revis. Expert Associate for Web Expert Associate for Data-Base System Administrator Treasurer General Affairs Team Representation Team Projects Team Services Team Information Team

10. Policy and advocacy work of the SCTM • The policy committees of the SCTM Committee on Local Self-Government and Local Finances Committee on International Co-operation Committee on Municipal Public Services and Housing Committee on Environmental Protection Committee on Urbanism Committee on Energy Efficiency Committee on Social Issues Committee on Economic Development Committee on Culture, Youth and Sport Committee on Services to Municipalities

11. Policy and advocacy work of the SCTM (cont.) • Advocacy team of the General Secretariat • Lobbying group (General Secretariat and representatives of member-municipalities) • Close cooperation with the Committees, ad hoc working groups…

12. SCTM communication with the members • Daily contacts • Letters of Secretary General • Web site • Data base • Monthly bulletin • Legal bulletin • Different info – brochures • The visibility of our actions in general public

14. Donors and partners of the SCTM Realising 16 projects with 14 donors Partners of the SCTM are:

15. Services to members - municipalities Institutionalized support • Municipal Training Centre • Municipal Advisory Centre (database of experts, advisory function) • Project development and assistance to municipalities • Info services (Magazine, Legal bulletin, web site, data base, Login project, brochures, manuals, books)

16. Services to members – municipalities (cont.) Ad hoc support (upon request) • Providing model documents and municipal by- laws • Providing ad-hoc legal advise • Providing contact with responsible ministries

17. Services to members – municipalities (cont.) Support through networking • Organizing exchange of experience in implementing laws • Stimulating creation of interest groups out of SC membership • Networking, exchange, assisting in international cooperation

18. Services to members – municipalities (cont.) Project support • Project with KS in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development • Exchange project • Code of conduct project • Citizen participation project • Support to municipal assemblies project • Best practices award project

19. Services to members – municipalities (cont.) Donor coordination and municipal support funds • Assistance to smallest municipalities • Municipal development funds

20. Identify priority needs and develop demand driven services Assessing needs of municipalities in service provision through: • Questionnaires, • Interviews, • Work of committees (Committee for Services), • Brainstorming meetings and • Encounters with donors

21. Develop and implement the plan to fulfill the priority needs • Assess the offer on the market and define priorities for the association • Develop service provision program • Assess skills and capacity of SCTM team for member services and tune to identified service program

22. Provide funds and resources for the implementation of the plan • Discuss the issue with potential donors • Charge for services • Provide services free of charge/ raise the membership fee to provide services