What do the civic associations expect from the process of decentralization?

"Better local democracy"

This time the Forum presents an opportunity to see the expectations of two civic organizations from the present process of decentralization in Macedonia - the Centre for Civic Initiative from Prilep and the Women Organization Kumanovka from Kumanovo. You can also take part in it on the address www.graganskisvet.org.mk or www.civicworld.org.mk You can enter the Forum by stating you name and surname and the name of your organization, if member of any.  

"...The new way of functioning of the local government will be a new challenge for the NGO as well. Namely, the NGOs as representatives of the citizens will have to explain to the citizens and bring closer the new way of organizing the local government and its competences. On the other hand, the NGOs will have to use the new opportunity that the decentralization offers, which is wider and more concrete acting in spheres and environments that have so far been coordinated only by the central government. The NGOs will have to be a mechanism that will initiate the citizens to stop the LG from the possible abuse of the entrusted power. In simple words, the decentralization is a challenge for the civil society and the local government. We, as NGO will have to be persistent in our efforts not to give the local authorities a chance to repeat the mistakes from the past, making excuses that this is a process and it takes time..." - pointed out Goce Todorovski, Executive Director of the Centre for Civic Initiative from Prilep 

"...We are convinced that the decentralization is indeed a necessity in Macedonia and that there is a need of democratisation of the political system so that it functions for the benefit of the citizens and make them, that is us, believe that it is us who make the decisions and not the central or the local politicians. In order to open the local government the citizens should put pressure and make themselves active subjects. That key role should be given to the civic organizations. The development of the civil society in Kumanovo will be accomplished by determining and locating the citizens' needs and their direct participation in the creation of the local policy. We also expect improvement of the accountability, transparency and cooperation of the local government regarding the initiation, making and implementing the decisions of vital interest to the community. WO "Kumanovka" will ask to correct, at the same time offering constructive solutions for overcoming the local problems; access to information and administrative papers; existing of a certain level of cooperation of the local government with the NGO; methods for providing the citizens' rights and their participation; participation in the creation of the municipality budget with their own suggestions and initiatives, as well as inspection into it; increase of the budget for the NGO sector; educated staff from NGO to enter additional bodies (commissions) as external members and establishing a commission for working with the NGO...", says Violeta Petrovska, president of WO "Kumanovka" from Kumanovo. 
 

K.B.