Capacity Development Programme
The programme contributes to the development of institutional and administrative capacities of the Government of Montenegro in support of its attempt to become a member of the European Union and has been successfully operating since September 2003 as a partnership between the Government of Montenegro, the Foundation Open Society Institute and UNDP, which manages the programme at the operational level.
The second phase of the programme started in February 2007, following a formal request from the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration. During the second phase priority is being given to strengthening administrative capacities for implementing the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), that was reached between the government and the EU in October 2007.
More than 20 new state institutions have been established since Montenegro became a sovereign state in 2006. The programme is working to align those institutions that are directly involved in fulfilling the SAA both vertically and horizontally, with special attention being given to the offices of the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration (DPM) and the Secretariat for European Integration (SEI).
The SAA is a complex contract and its implementation requires expert advice, so a database of national expert consultants specializing in public administration was built. Because the database is comprised of professionals regardless of their political affiliations it represents a big step in the effort to take politics out of public administration.
In 2008 the programme developed and implemented six projects that are particularly noteworthy in the effort to fulfill the SAA:
- Project “Enhancing the capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to better respond to Montenegro's national priorities for European integrations”
- the objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to develop and implement a foreign policy of the Government of Montenegro, through establishment of the adequate (1) institutional, (2) human resource, (3) technological and (4) knowledge platforms for the comprehensive, thoughtful and timely provision of foreign policy response in line with Montenegro's national priorities for European integration.
- Project “Enhancing the capacity of the Parliamentary Committees for International Cooperation and European Integration and for Constitutional Issues”
- the goal of the Project is to strengthen the capacity of the Parliamentary Committees for International Cooperation and European Integration and for Constitutional issues and Legislation in the process of implementation of Stabilization and Association Agreement, allowing Parliament to have an effective role in harmonizing Montenegrin legislation with Acquis and scrutiny of governmental work
- Project “Strengthening capacities of EI Secretariat and DPM Office for European Integration”
- the goal of the project is to provide assistance to help establish and implement the functions of the newly established permanent governmental institutions: Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration (DPM) and Secretariat for European Integration (SEI) as well as new coordination structures: Commission for European Integration and Groups for European Integration. The assistance focuses on organizational and human resource development, relationship building, provision of training and IT support.
- Project “Assessing and Monitoring the State of Governance in the Context of European Integration in Montenegro”
- the project is focused on establishing an appropriate system of governance indicators regarding the political criteria for European Integration through facilitating cooperation of the government and civil society and designing and piloting of nationally owned methodology
- Project “Strengthening Capacities for Programming and Project Fiche Preparation”
- the objective of the project is twofold: preparation of project fiches for Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) National Programme 2009, together with all necessary supporting documentation as per IPA regulation; and strengthening capacities in the state administration in order to increase ownership over IPA programming and project identification/preparation process
- Strengthening capacities of Public Relations Bureau of the Government of Montenegro to communicate reforms and European Integration to the media and the public
- the project will focus on strengthening capacities of the government PR bureau by improving both internal and external communication methods and systems regarding European Integration. The project aims to provide adequate training to bureau staff and purchase technical equipment to help them communicate with the general public and media in a more efficient and transparent manner. The project is intended to have two components: education and training; and technical assistance and infrastructure development
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