Social services

Through Community Mobilization program IRD assisted 60 communities within 13 municipalities in Western Serbia. CRDA communities had population between 8,000 to 15,000 people and were represented by “community committees”, bodies selected by community members to represent their interests and plan CRDA projects. Community committees consisted of 8 to 12 members with significant participation of youth, women and minorities. First three years program focused on development community capacities, whereas, after 2004, the program had more integrated planning and implementation of projects.

Community Mobilization teams worked together with citizens on development of their communities, democratization, and broader citizen participation. They trained and assisted community representatives and provided them with organizational support. Through community meetings citizens identify priority projects in the areas of infrastructure, economy and social transformation. Once project priorities are agreed upon, the community prepares project proposals.

The activities further addressed the issues of sustainable citizen initiatives. Social planning working groups had been modified so as to respond to the needs of the designated target groups: disabled persons, youth and women. They facilitated and promoted cooperation between citizens’ groups and local government through joint assessment and planning and provided support to community social service projects in the areas of protection, domestic violence, culture, human rights, youth mobility and exchange, social interaction, social inclusion, etc.

IRD helped building on existing networks, fostering opportunities for planning and collaboration and engaging citizens and local governments in advocating for the change.