Sustainable Local Development Project: Semi-Annual Progress Report for FY2012

The project, awarded in December 2010, has a budget of $21.7 million and is implemented by Chemonics International Inc. The project's main objective is to support local government efforts to create sustainable inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) areas in partnership with the private sector and civil society. The project has five integrated components: Inter-Municipal Cooperation, Local Government Administration, Public Participation, Youth Development, and Business Enabling Environment. Component 1, Inter-Municipal Cooperation, focuses on establishing, institutionalizing, and sustaining IMC structures as a vehicle for sustainable local development. This component enables local governments to collaborate and partner with the private sector and civil society to optimize available municipal resources and services. During the reporting period from October 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012, the project established four new IMC areas, bringing the total to eight project-supported IMC areas throughout Serbia. These IMC areas comprise 32 cities and municipalities and 25 private and 85 civic sector partners, planning and managing 47 IMC development initiatives. The project has also instituted 52 IMC coordination mechanisms to ensure functioning and sustainable IMC area structures. The project provided technical assistance and grant support to advance six IMC initiatives, which successfully leveraged EU, GoS, and other donor funds for implementation. The project helped IMC areas attract over $26 million in planned or potential funding for IMC initiatives by leveraging public, private, and donor resources. Project activities received extensive media coverage during the reporting period, amounting to a total of 154 print, TV/Radio, and internet news reports. The project also identified and carefully selected 15 IMC champions to promote and lobby for IMC and IMC initiatives. The project had substantial input in improving the policy and legal framework for local governance and IMC by contributing to relevant laws and regulations, including the Law on Utility Services and the Law on Concessions and Public-Private Partnership. The project supported a total of six advocacy initiatives to advance the legal/regulatory framework in the areas of public utility services, PPP, local government labor relations, and municipal property management. The project strengthened IMC core competencies and services delivery by completing five toolkits for IMC areas, which provide guidance on key areas such as project planning, budgeting, and monitoring and evaluation. The project also conducted training sessions for IMC area partners on topics such as public participation, youth development, and business enabling environment. The project's progress during the reporting period has been significant, with notable achievements in establishing new IMC areas, providing technical assistance and grant support, and improving the policy and legal framework for local governance and IMC. The project's continued efforts will focus on sustaining IMC area structures, advancing IMC initiatives, and promoting the project's objectives through advocacy and media outreach.