Working Together for More Accessible Services: C4D Training on Inter-Municipal Cooperation Held

A two-day training held on 12–13 June in Belgrade brought together representatives of local self-governments to strengthen their knowledge and skills in Communication for Development (C4D), with a focus on promoting and monitoring the results of inter-municipal social protection services (MOS).

The training, titled “Building the Capacity of Local Governments to Apply Communication for Development (C4D) in Monitoring the Effects and Good Practices of Inter-Municipal Social Protection Services”, was organised within the framework of the programme “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature,” jointly implemented by UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNEP in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with financial support from the Government of Switzerland.

Through interactive sessions, group work, and experience-sharing, participants explored how well citizens are informed about existing services, the role of local media in tracking the impact of social policies, and how cooperation between municipalities, institutions, and civil society organisations can be improved.

Special attention was given to planning joint promotional activities – from identifying target groups and communication channels to creating visual identities and crafting campaign messages. The training also featured examples of good practice and ways to make better use of local resources to promote and develop MOS.

On the second day, focus shifted to measuring the impact of MOS initiatives – both quantitatively and qualitatively – and equipping participants to monitor and report on the results of social services in their communities.

The training concluded with a strong message about the importance of continuous communication with citizens, transparent results tracking, and the need to consistently adapt local services to the actual needs of communities. Participants agreed that inter-municipal cooperation offers greater scope, efficiency, and sustainability in delivering social protection.

The PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature programme will continue to provide technical and programmatic support to local self-governments to advance good governance, social inclusion, and environmental protection, for the benefit of all people in Serbia.