From Good Governance to Good Decisions

A new generation of trainers held the first in a series of trainings for local decision-makers in Čačak, as part of the “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” Programme. The main focus of the training was to introduce core principles of good governance and their application in practice.

The training was organized by two trainers, representatives of local governments, who completed a training cycle on applying good governance principles in practice, as well as a training of trainers program.

This initiative not only gave trainers the opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge in practice, but also encouraged peer-to-peer learning and supported the exchange of information to strengthen their colleagues’ understanding of how to implement good governance principles.

When asked about the process of designing the training, Marija Gavrilović, a member of the trainer team and advisor at the City Administration for Economic Development in Čačak, noted that the principles of good governance are still not fully implemented in practice — particularly when it comes to involving citizens in decision-making. That is why, she explained, they identified as their target group colleagues from the City Administration in Čačak who are directly engaged in decision-making processes — from elected decision-makers, to municipal administration staff and other relevant stakeholders.

During the training, core principles of good governance and ways of applying them were explored through practical examples and peer learning, with a focus on fostering responsible, transparent, and inclusive decision-making.

At the same time, the program supports local governments whose representatives participated in both training programs. The goal is to establish local expert centers or working bodies that will provide continuous support to their municipalities in applying these principles when developing local public policies, project proposals, and other activities that contribute to improving local governance.

After the successful completion of the training, Slaviša Paunović, Head of the Municipal Administration of Vrnjačka Banja and one of the trainers, emphasized the importance of further spreading the knowledge gained through the training among colleagues. He pointed out that although individual expertise of participants is not the focus, one of the main tasks of trainers is to highlight the importance and content of the processes that must exist behind every public work. He also stressed that it is especially important for these processes to be clearly presented, as they are a prerequisite for making better and more transparent decisions.

The training helped local government representatives acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to further contribute to institutionalizing and spreading knowledge of good governance in their municipalities.

The key role of trainers in upcoming trainings will primarily be to transfer knowledge and strengthen capacities at the local level to apply the principles of good governance in all areas of municipal work, with the goal of creating more sustainable and efficient services and facilitating access to rights for all citizens.

The Programme "PRO - Local Government for People and Nature" is jointly implemented by the United Nations agencies in Serbia - UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP, in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland.