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A Community Development Associations Network was established in October 2006, attended by representatives from active CDAs that signed a memorandum/charter. The network with an initial membership of 1,500 citizens is assisted by a secretariat comprised of many of the professional personnel who gained expertise and experience formerly working for ADF CRDA. ADF provided support in setting up the CDA network.
Community Development Associations
ADF has established a strong network of community development organizations in Vojvodina and Eastern Serbia to promote economic development.
The Community Development Associations link community leaders together to carry out many types of activities as the following: identify local opportunities, mobilize resources, including investment; community development; promote local economic development through organizing entrepreneurs clubs, farmers clubs, and start-up business initiatives; participate in the development of municipal local economic development strategies and plans; and identify and implement local economic development-related advocacy campaigns and economic infrastructure and environmental projects.
ADF assistance has been provided to communities in organizing Open Citizens' Meetings (OCMs). A large number of citizens were mobilized to join community committees (ranging from Community Development Groups and local Citizen Advisory Groups to CDAs) to foster the development of democratic practices in communities. All groups were targeted: local community/municipal officials, private sector representatives, and groups of citizens and representatives of civil society. ADF has organized approximately 400 Open Citizens' Meetings in 100 communities with 37,000 citizens participating in decision-making processes.
A Community Development Associations Network was established in October 2006, attended by representatives from active CDAs that signed a memorandum/charter. The network with an initial membership of 1,500 citizens is assisted by a secretariat comprised of many of the professional personnel who gained expertise and experience formerly working for ADF CRDA. ADF provided support in setting up the CDA network.Impact
- Open citizens' meetings strengthened citizen input and provided a model mechanism for community involvement in decision-making. The open citizens' meetings ensured that local priorities were identified through an open voting process. These meetings also presented a forum for public education related to understanding democratic processes, and for initiating interest among citizens and local government authorities in strengthening dialogue and improving cooperation.
- The established citizens’ committees, with their principles and mechanisms, further assisted the development of democratic practices in communities. ADF CRDA assisted in the organization of 175 citizens community and cluster committees with 4,396 members.
- Taking part in municipal budget hearings in 13 municipalities, CDAs, NGOs, and other citizens worked together to push for the inclusion of budget line items relating to funding local NGOs and to initiate the process of defining criteria for the distribution of those funds.
- Forming CDAs as a formal new generation of NGOs that are community-based and membership-driven gave citizens the capacity and framework to identify and mobilize local and foreign donor resources; organize and support public advocacy campaigns; provide services in conjunction with the community development centers for local economic development; and participate in development of local development strategies and plans.