Infrastructure

Based on the economic policies of the United States and United States Agency for International Development (USAID guidance for CRDA program activities in Serbia), since August 2001 three Western Serbia target regions with belonging municipalities are using resources from the American people through the (USAID) and local communities aiming to improve hard infrastructure which was identified to be a key issue to their economic recovery and further growth.

These improvements include provision of water, power supply, communication, and other hard infrastructure aiming to create business-friendly environment in support of local economic development as well as to provide conditions for further development of opportunity sectors.

CRDA Infrastructure Program (IP) interventions were identified through the participatory assessment process and implemented through the community committees/working groups (established in October 2003), planning teams, and clusters. During the planning phase, as well as afterward during the implementation and monitoring phases of CRDA projects, IRD’s partner organizations had an important role in providing necessary assistance and expertise.

It is also important to add that no CRDA infrastructure projects implemented in Western Serbia regions during the five year period have been found to have any substantial impacts that require environmental mitigation.

Summarizing CRDA IP activities in Western Serbia it can be seen that during the first two years decisions were made by community committee members. Meetings and discussions were held with local government officials about the status and needs of local infrastructure where local governments informally assisted with project development and often provided matching funds.  In the third year local government representatives were formally added to the Municipal Working Groups.  The Working Groups were encouraged to work together on larger “Community Cluster” projects. In years 4, 5 (and 6) strategic focus was strictly on Economic Growth and consequently the eligibility of IP i.e. infrastructure projects was fully adapted to cited program strategy