Decentralisation and Municipal Support (DEMOS)

Environmentalists, engineers, firefighters, teachers, businessmen and retirees from Malisheva were involved in the Social Audit. The team was responsible for overseeing the project from planning and tendering to on-the-ground implementation.📋🚧 To see their findings and recommendations, watch the video below which was co-funded by the European Union, Switzerland and Sweden, and implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Kosovo.

📽️We invite you to watch the documentary below dedicated to Social Audit process conducted during 2024, which captures the journey of citizens actively engaged, training sessions, data collection and analysis, field visits to monitor investments, meetings with mayors and other officials, and 11 interviews with several team members. This activity is co-financed by the European Union, Switzerland and Sweden, and implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Kosovo.

💡 Social Audit teams have encouraged active citizen participation by ensuring transparency and accountability regarding public investments in municipalities. The infographic below highlights the main achievements and some facts from the impact thus far. Meanwhile, on our website you can read 6 reports on the projects monitored in Peja, Obiliq, Malisheva, Lipjan, Klina and Gjakova. Social Audit reports uncovered gaps in project planning, accessibility, and transparency, emphasizing the need for stronger community involvement. Key findings include poor infrastructure quality, lack of disability access, and insufficient public information on project implementation, urging municipalities to take action. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dKWvGnT7 DEMOS is co-funded by the European Union, Switzerland and Sweden, and implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Kosovo.

🌍A study visit was recently organized in collaboration with Helvetas Nepal, bringing together a delegation from the Ministry of Local Government Administration, civil society, activists and municipal officials to share best practices in 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 🔍The visit focused on strengthening capacities, empowering marginalized communities, and fostering sustainable, inclusive decision-making. This exchange was co-funded by the EU, Switzerland, and Sweden, and implemented by #Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.

Drilon Shala from #Helvetas, the DEMOS project, was the guest of today's TV show "Sytë Katër"📺 at Syri Vision to explain more about the active citizen engagement in monitoring the implementation of capital projects within the framework of 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭 and the impact on increasing accountability. 🔍This activity was co-funded by the European Union, Switzerland and Sweden and implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.

🎥Through the ceremony “𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭 - 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞”, we celebrated the active involvement of citizens, professionals, civil society and marginalized groups in monitoring the implementation of capital projects financed by the Municipal Performance Grant. 🔍Social Audits have proven to be effective tools through which transparency and active participation in the oversight of public investments has been ensured. This activity was co-financed by the European Union, Switzerland and Sweden, and implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭?📊👥 Citizens from Peja, Gjakova, Shtime and Ranillug have contributed to their community by monitoring the implementation of capital projects. To learn more about the successful results of these teams and their efforts to create transparent local governance, watch the video below. 👇 #DEMOS Project is co-financed by the European Union, Switzerland and Sweden, and implemented by #Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.

📢 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐧 “𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭 – 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞” Yesterday we have rewarded the citizens who were part of the Social Audit and celebrated the extraordinary results of their active work and contribution to the community, an innovative and successful approach that enabled empowered citizen participation in decision-making processes. This resulted in increased transparency and accountability, where over 230 citizens have been involved and contributed to monitoring the implementation of 20 capital projects during 2024, as well as to improve public investments and adapt them to their needs. 🌟These teams were established by the Ministry of Local Government Administration, and DEMOS project, co-funded by EU, Switzerland and Sweden, and implemented by #Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation

The #COP29 side event, "Transition in the Western Balkans: Empowering SMEs for a Net-Zero Economy," organized by Helvetas and the Government of Montenegro, highlighted the vital role of small and medium-sized enterprises in driving the #greentransition. The event also showcased innovative approaches to hashtag #sustainabledevelopment. We're proud to see this important event featured by International Institute for Sustainable Development 📢 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gaEPZhYH 📸Photo by ENB/IISD I Angeles Estrada Vigil Matthias Herr, Elene Tkhlashidze, Anastasia Bekish, Sabin Selimi, RECONOMY, Nenad Vitomirović, Milena Rmus, Dragana Radulovic, Teodora Obradovikj Grncharovska, Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström, Christina Aebischer, Md. Abul Basar, Lollo Darin

📹 Check out the highlights from the side event we co-hosted at hashtag #COP29 in Baku: "𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬: 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭-𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲." As a trusted partner for change, #Helvetas proudly joined forces with the Government of Montenegro to spotlight the vital role of #SMEs in driving sustainable growth and innovation in the region 🌱