Government Accountability Initiative Quarterly Report (October 1 - December 31, 2018)

GAI consists of three components: Local Government Accountability, Independent Oversight Institutions (IOIs), and Adjudication of Corruption Cases. GAI counterparts include the State Audit Institution (SAI), the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), local self-governments (LSGs), specialized anti-corruption courts, and civil society organizations. The Activity is structured around three components: Component 1, Local Government Accountability, aims to support local governments' efforts to increase inclusiveness of the public in government decision-making regarding public resource allocations and to encourage and incentivize local governments to operate in a more transparent and responsive manner. Component 2, Independent Oversight Institutions, focuses on strengthening the capacities of independent oversight institutions to effectively monitor and report on government activities, with a particular emphasis on anti-corruption efforts. Component 3, Adjudication of Corruption Cases, aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial system in handling corruption cases, including the establishment of an electronic register of corruption cases (ERCC). In the fourth quarter of 2018, notable achievements were made in the implementation of the GAI Activity. On November 16, 2018, USAID Mission Director Mr. Mike De La Rosa and mayors of seven local self-governments signed Memoranda of Cooperation to implement policy and operational reforms to increase transparency and public participation in government functions accountability in public service delivery. The local self-governments of Šabac, Vranje, Dimitrovgrad, Vrnjačka Banja, Raška, Sjenica, and Sombor were chosen through a nationwide Open Call for Expressions of Interest. The 2018 survey of Citizens' Perceptions of Anticorruption Efforts in Serbia was presented on December 11 to representatives of government, the independent state institutions, the anticorruption court units, civil society organizations, the media, and the international community. The survey revealed that citizens believe whistleblower protection is one of the top 3 policies required to combat corruption, alongside changes in penalties for corruption and strengthening independent institution oversight. GAI trained 64 representatives from 31 local governments and 6 local public companies on whistleblower protection legal and procedural frameworks. To enhance and standardize data collection and exchange, GAI, with the Ministry of Justice and Republic Public Prosecutor's Office, implemented training in three of the four appellate regions for 185 public prosecutor's deputies and staff members on the Judicial Information System. GAI's team of legal and technical experts began an in-depth analysis of the legal framework and technical requirements as preparatory work for the establishment of an electronic register of corruption cases (ERCC) that will provide timely information on the status of corruption cases, enhance business processes in counterpart institutions, and improve the collection of statistics and reporting on corruption cases. The State Audit Institution (SAI) Council adopted their 2019-2023 Strategic Plan, representing the first plan focused on actionable strategies to audit high-value programs and functions of government such as health care access and cost, procurement, and infrastructure investments. The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) draft strategic plan similarly focuses on prevention and detection of corruption. The GAI Activity has made significant progress in strengthening the capacities and connections of key Serbian government institutions and stakeholders, resulting in increased government accountability at the national and local levels.