Afghanistan

"Local self-government has two choices: to order the strategy from a specialized institution, pay a lot of money for it, and get the material fast, or to choose a much slower, participatory process and develop a plan relying on local experts and assistance on outside consultants. We chose the participatory process, worked for 15 months, but now we have a strategy understood by all members of the community, who are now prepared to implement it, because they were the ones who participated in its development.” – says Atila Babi, president of Backa Topola municipality

ADF supported the founding of Fruit Marketing Federation “Apple Land” in North of Vojvodina - Agricultural sector development in Serbia has been severely impeded during the last 20 years by the economic fluctuations and political problems which followed the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. As a result, agricultural output has been far below its potential. These influences have also depleted the capital base of farmers and agro-processors, leading to inefficient production and public institutions that are ill-suited to a market economy. Recognizing the significant potential for the growth and development of fruit farming , USAID through its implementing partner ADF supported the “Vocko” cooperative from Tavankut, a community near Subotica, by providing it with basic equipment for handling and storing the apples. In addition, ADF negotiated preferential loan arrangements for the cooperative and facilitated capacity building trainings for its management. >>>Read More>>>

ADF supported Ethno-Network strives to make handicraft production profitable - Until recently, those looking for well-made, traditional handicrafts in Serbia had to look pretty hard. Good quality products were being made but only shoppers in-the-know could easily find them. Over the past year, ADF has been working on a project to help producers to more effectively market and sell their homemade and original crafts. Recognizing the quality and beauty of what can be made in Serbia, the “Ethno-network” project was designed to produce and promote products that are the result of the cultural wealth of centuries of tradition—in a way that they can be appreciated and sold in the modern world. USAID’s Community Revitalization through Democratic Action – Economy (CRDA-E) partner America’s Development Foundation (ADF) began this program by working with women’s groups from Vojvodina and Eastern Serbia. >>>Read More>>>

ADF mobilized citizens and local authorities to organize open budget hearings in eight municipalities - Serbia’s decision-making process at both the local and republic levels includes little, if any, citizen participation or involvement. Apart from historical experience which has shaped the process, the serious lack of information on ways to influence the decision-making process as well as low motivation among citizens to forward their suggestions the authorities comprise the main obstacles to citizen input in local governance. Open budget hearings that are precisely mandated by Serbian law, one of the few such channels for citizen input, are typically organized merely to satisfy formal obligation. In 2005, ADF/CRDA supported a set of activities to mobilize citizens to attend the hearings and actively participate in the process so as to obtain funding for civic initiatives from the municipal budget. The activities organized in order to mobilize citizens included the following: surveys on how well citizens are informed about the hearings, meetings of NGOs and local authorities, media promotion of the open budget hearings on local TV and radio stations, distribution of promotional leaflets, organization of round-table discussions and town-hall meetings. >>>Read More>>>