Ministry of Labor and Social PolicyMinistry of Labor and Social Policy

SOCIAL POLICY COUNCILSSOCIAL POLICY COUNCILS

Dragica Vlaović-VasiljevićDragica Vlaović-Vasiljević SophiaSophia, , 2-6th July 20072-6th July 2007

Assistant MinisterAssistant Minister

Coordination bodies in local self-Coordination bodies in local self-governments governments

Coordination bodies formed in the 90-ies dealt Coordination bodies formed in the 90-ies dealt particularly with the issues of juvenile delinquency particularly with the issues of juvenile delinquency

and prevention of drug abuse and prevention of drug abuse Since 2001 the formation of coordination bodies Since 2001 the formation of coordination bodies has been supported through projects or adopted has been supported through projects or adopted

strategies and developmental plans on the strategies and developmental plans on the national levelnational level

Projects supporting the formation of Projects supporting the formation of coordination bodies in the local coordination bodies in the local

communitycommunity ““Development of the integral social welfare model in the Development of the integral social welfare model in the local community” local community” (MSP and NMFA 2001 -2003) (MSP and NMFA 2001 -2003)

““Social Policy Reform in Serbia” (Social Policy Reform in Serbia” (DIFID 2002-2005)DIFID 2002-2005)

““Support to Implementation of the Social Welfare Support to Implementation of the Social Welfare Development Strategy” (DIFID and NMFA ongoing)Development Strategy” (DIFID and NMFA ongoing)

Strategies and National Plans Strategies and National Plans

Poverty Reduction Strategy Poverty Reduction Strategy

Social Welfare Development Strategy Social Welfare Development Strategy

National Action Plan for Children National Action Plan for Children

Coordination bodies in local self-Coordination bodies in local self-governments – the essence governments – the essence

The principle of partnership or creation of The principle of partnership or creation of coalitions for purposes of easier solving of coalitions for purposes of easier solving of specific problems, meeting planning needs specific problems, meeting planning needs or service provision or service provision

Brief overview of names of Brief overview of names of coordination bodies coordination bodies

INTEGRAL SOCIAL WELFARE COUNCIL INTEGRAL SOCIAL WELFARE COUNCIL (Development of integral social welfare model in (Development of integral social welfare model in the local community)the local community)

MUNICIPAL CIVIL-SOCIETY COORDINATION MUNICIPAL CIVIL-SOCIETY COORDINATION TEAM (Social Policy Reform in Serbia (DFID)TEAM (Social Policy Reform in Serbia (DFID)

POVERTY REDUCTION COMMITTEE (PRSP)POVERTY REDUCTION COMMITTEE (PRSP)

SOCIO-ECONOMIC COUNCIL SOCIO-ECONOMIC COUNCIL

FORUMS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FORUMS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Names and substance Names and substance

Although named differently, all these Although named differently, all these models basically address the same issues: models basically address the same issues: planning, implementation and monitoring planning, implementation and monitoring (depending on the available capacities) of (depending on the available capacities) of different initiatives/activities different initiatives/activities

Similarities and differences between Similarities and differences between the two currently relevant coordination the two currently relevant coordination

bodiesbodies

Integral Social Welfare Council (ISWC)Integral Social Welfare Council (ISWC)

Municipal Civil-Society Coordination Team Municipal Civil-Society Coordination Team (MCSCT)(MCSCT)

RolesRoles

ISWC:ISWC:

preparing initiatives, proposals and documents preparing initiatives, proposals and documents on creation and implementation of integral social on creation and implementation of integral social welfare policy in the local communitywelfare policy in the local community

MCSCT: creating new models for solving social MCSCT: creating new models for solving social problems in the fields of health, employment, problems in the fields of health, employment, education and social welfare, based on education and social welfare, based on partnership between institutions and NGOspartnership between institutions and NGOs

Members Members

MCSCT:MCSCT:Representatives of:Representatives of:

– Municipality Municipality – National employment agency National employment agency – Centre for social welfare Centre for social welfare – Health sector (health centre and hospital)Health sector (health centre and hospital)– Education Education – Civil society (NGOs and associations)Civil society (NGOs and associations)

Key partner – municipality Key partner – municipality

Members Members ISWCISWCRepresentatives of:Representatives of:

Social welfare system Social welfare system Health care system Health care system Education system, including pre-school education Education system, including pre-school education Labour market and employment systemLabour market and employment systemJudiciary systemJudiciary systemInterior affairs system Interior affairs system Culture and information system Culture and information system Non-governmental sector Non-governmental sector Local self-governments Local self-governments Service users Service users

Key partner: CSWKey partner: CSW

Activities Activities

MCSCTMCSCTWorking on sustainable social policy development Working on sustainable social policy development strategy; strategy; Development of municipal action plans based on the Development of municipal action plans based on the analysis of needs of most vulnerable population groups;analysis of needs of most vulnerable population groups;Encouraging partnership on municipal-level; Encouraging partnership on municipal-level; Collecting data on poverty and social exclusion (geo-Collecting data on poverty and social exclusion (geo-mapping and analyses);mapping and analyses);Development of strategic social policy plans;Development of strategic social policy plans;Collecting funds for solving social problems.Collecting funds for solving social problems.

ActivitiesActivitiesISWCISWC

Analysing citizens’ needs, current system of services Analysing citizens’ needs, current system of services and coverage of needs by services; and coverage of needs by services; Appraising the quality and efficiency of the current Appraising the quality and efficiency of the current service system; service system; Identifying «uncovered areas»; Identifying «uncovered areas»; Analyzing local potentials for establishment of integral Analyzing local potentials for establishment of integral service system; service system; Defining short-term and long-term priorities;Defining short-term and long-term priorities;Preparing and adopting strategic plan for the area; Preparing and adopting strategic plan for the area; Giving concrete proposals for introducing new Giving concrete proposals for introducing new services;services;Monitoring the implementation of planned activities.Monitoring the implementation of planned activities.

Activities: similarities and Activities: similarities and differencesdifferences

Great overlapping of activities Great overlapping of activities ISWC activities are usually ISWC activities are usually specificspecific and and lead to the introduction of slead to the introduction of specific pecific integral integral social welfare service in the local social welfare service in the local community community

MCSCT activities aimed at MCSCT activities aimed at municipal municipal action plans action plans

Additional means at ISWC disposal Additional means at ISWC disposal

Specially designed instrument for assessment of Specially designed instrument for assessment of the situation and projection of needs - MAPS for:the situation and projection of needs - MAPS for:Appraisal of coverage of needs by services Appraisal of coverage of needs by services within the current activities and programs of within the current activities and programs of state institutions, non-governmental and private state institutions, non-governmental and private sector; sector; Appraisal of the quality of existing services; Appraisal of the quality of existing services; Appraisal of local potentials (material and staff Appraisal of local potentials (material and staff resources) for establishing new services; resources) for establishing new services; Setting priorities in introduction of new services Setting priorities in introduction of new services and reorganization of existing ones.and reorganization of existing ones.

ISWC uses the following as an instrument ISWC uses the following as an instrument for system networking for system networking

Protocol on cooperation Protocol on cooperation

as a mechanism for development and as a mechanism for development and establishment of coordinated, harmonized establishment of coordinated, harmonized multi-sectoral approach in planning and multi-sectoral approach in planning and implementation of most adequate services implementation of most adequate services in view of the available capacities. in view of the available capacities.

Key conclusions Key conclusions

Coordination bodies on the level of local Coordination bodies on the level of local communities proved to be a good practice communities proved to be a good practice

Although the analyzed coordination bodies Although the analyzed coordination bodies are focused on social welfare or social are focused on social welfare or social policy, their work has contributed to more policy, their work has contributed to more systematic program implementation in all systematic program implementation in all similar areas in municipalities where they similar areas in municipalities where they have been established have been established

Key conclusions Key conclusions - -challenges on municipal level-challenges on municipal level-

Large number of coordination mechanisms in Serbian Large number of coordination mechanisms in Serbian municipalities, even within a single sector (e.g. social municipalities, even within a single sector (e.g. social welfare) welfare) Unclear role of CSW – whether it is the initiator and Unclear role of CSW – whether it is the initiator and leader or the main “advisor” to the local self-government leader or the main “advisor” to the local self-government Duplication of bodies in municipality – which leads to Duplication of bodies in municipality – which leads to exhaustion of already weak capacities exhaustion of already weak capacities Different modalities – legal, program, functional, financial Different modalities – legal, program, functional, financial The sustainability of bodies is problematic The sustainability of bodies is problematic Local self-governments and other stakeholders do not Local self-governments and other stakeholders do not get clear messages from the central level and donorsget clear messages from the central level and donors

Key conclusions Key conclusions - -challenges on the central level-challenges on the central level-

Lack of coordination on the central level Lack of coordination on the central level (including donors) has adverse (including donors) has adverse consequences on local level coordination consequences on local level coordination Unclear messages “sent” to local self-Unclear messages “sent” to local self-governments from the central level governments from the central level (MCSCT, integral social welfare councils, (MCSCT, integral social welfare councils, socio-economic councils, forums for socio-economic councils, forums for sustainable development etc.)sustainable development etc.)

Recommendations Recommendations

Better coordination between different Better coordination between different strategies and bodies on the national and strategies and bodies on the national and local levellocal level

Clarify legal framework for local level Clarify legal framework for local level coordination and establishment of coordination and establishment of coordination bodies coordination bodies

RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

Within the ongoing project in social welfare Within the ongoing project in social welfare area “Support to Implementation of Social area “Support to Implementation of Social Welfare Development Strategy”(DFID and Welfare Development Strategy”(DFID and NMFA), advance coordination mechanisms NMFA), advance coordination mechanisms on the local level using all previously on the local level using all previously acquired experiences from similar projects acquired experiences from similar projects and initiativesand initiatives