About MDP

The Municipal Development Project in the Doboj region (MDP) is based on a bilateral agreement between the Swiss Federal Council represented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) and the Council of Ministers of BiH, represented by the Ministry for Civil Affairs and Communication of BiH, the Ministry of Justice of the FBiH, as well as the Ministry of Local Self-Governance of the RS. The execution of the project is assigned to INTERCOOPERATION, a non-governmental Swiss Foundation for Development and International Cooperation. The project started in November 2001. After an external evaluation in February 2004, SDC decided to continue the project with a second phase (September 2004 - December 2007).

As long-term development goal of MDP, the municipalities in the Doboj Region shall become relevant examples for good local governance in BiH, providing validated experiences for other municipalities, as well as contributing to the policy development on key topics of good (local) governance and the functioning of decentralized state structures. Even if the main focus is on local governance, MDP aims at making a contribution to the overall democratisation process and the economic recovery (including social cohesion and poverty reduction) in BiH. Working in both entities and fostering inter-entity cooperation and partnerships, MDP also aims at contributing to the reconciliation process towards sustainable co-existence based on mutual tolerance.

The project goal formulated in phase 1 (2001-2004) remains relevant in phase 2 (2004-2007); it reads: Selected municipalities in BiH are functioning in an increasingly effective, efficient, transparent, accountable and participative way, in conformity with the rule of law. This definition of the goal refers to the main elements of “good local governance”, the leading thematic frame issue of MDP. Good local governance is understood in a broader sense, encompassing the political role of local government including the building of political accountability and the participation of all relevant stakeholders (especially the civil society) in the decision-making process.

The main partners of MDP are seven selected municipalities in the Doboj Region in both entities of BiH (Doboj, Doboj-Istok, Doboj-Jug, Gracanica, Maglaj, Petrovo and Usora). One new municipality shall be added as core partner, to be selected during 2006 after a more detailed assessment. The key stakeholders are municipal authorities, MZ and selected civil society groups (incl. selected representatives of the private sector), and for all operational matters at municipal level the Municipal Development Teams (MDTs), as driving forces and “agents for municipal change”. The IMAG (Inter-municipal Advisory Group) is the partner for participative project management as well as for issues at the inter-municipal level. The Open Society Fund (OSF) remains the strategic partner organisation of MDP in BiH.

MDP develops its co-operation within the following three activity lines, each one with its specific objective:
1. Policy instruments:
Strategic municipal policy instruments related to key issues of municipal management based on the principles of good governance are elaborated, validated and being implemented in the partner municipalities.
2. Participatory mechanisms:
Organisational innovations and mechanisms for improving participation in local governance are developed, successfully introduced and consolidated in the partner municipalities.
3. Intermunicipal Exchange and Policy Dialogue (Dissemination):
Validated experiences and good practices are compiled, exchanged and disseminated between the municipalities (horizontal dissemination) as well as introduced to processes of policy development on good local governance in BiH (vertical integration).

The main implementation strategies of MDP in phase 2 are:
• Facilitation of local governance processes, involving all relevant stakeholders;
• Capacity development; aiming at creating changes in attitudes and “behavioural” patterns of the partners, including activities of training, structural and organisational development;
• Advisory support in specific matters of local governance according to the needs and demands of the partners;
• Inter-municipal cooperation and regional approach (with the Doboj region as focus area) to support common learning processes and exchange of experiences to increase effectiveness;
• Co-financing for the implementation of selected municipal actions plans or projects that offer fields of trials in the view of validating interesting local governance practices.
• Youth as transversal theme with the objective to promote and integrate young people in local governance processes.
MDP works with a demand-driven and flexible aproach, which should strengthen the pro-active role and ownership of the partners in order to create an environment for sustainability. Another emphasis is placed on the exchange and dissemination of validated experiences and good practices, on horizontal and vertical level; thus extending the scope of MDP effects aiming to contribute to the policy development in BiH. This strategy shall be sustained with an extension of the partner and cooperation network. As long-term strategic orientation, MDP shall assess opportunities for fostering possible MDP counterpart structures, which could gradually take over the support role provided by MDP.