Through the implementation of the Belgrade Open School “ReForce” project, civil society organizations and the public administration have been empowered for utilizing a partnership approach in creating local policies by introducing a new service of the SCTM Advisory Center for Sustainable CSO and Public Administration Cooperation by developing an online platform to support the process of local policy making, thus promoting the role of CSOs in the development of the local community. The project lasted from November 2013 to January 2015.

The project improved the procedures for awarding CSO grants and the transparency and accountability of public administration in managing local funds through:

• Establishing an effective framework for the disposal of funds from local CSO funds;
• Launching and implementing local CSO initiatives in cooperation with public administration, in accordance with local needs;
• Making recommendations for improving the procedures for allocating funds to CSOs.

The overall objective of the project is to support the cooperation between civil society organizations and the public administration in order to create a systemic, sustainable and efficient partnership in the process policy and decision-making at the local level.

The specific objectives of the project are:

• Developing an institutionalized, effective dialogue to strengthen the role of civil society organizations in the development of the local community;
• Improving procedures for awarding grants to civil society organizations in accordance with the needs and strategic priorities of local communities;
• Strengthening the role of civil society organizations in improving the transparency and accountability of public administration in the efficient management of local funds intended for civil society organizations.

Project activities:

1. Developing a policy study;
2. Training for strengthening the capacities of associations and local government officials entitled "Partnership Between the Public and Civil Sector in Creating Local Development Policies";
3. Creating the "Local Development Support Package" web platform;
4. The public advocacy initiative "Support for the Institutional Dialogue between Civil Society and Public Administration", which consists of three sub-activities:

4.1. Consultative dialogue;
4.2. Public advocacy campaign in 5 local self-governments;
4.3.  A support program for local associations through awarding small grants to 5 local self-governments.

The partner on the project is the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities – The Association of Cities and Municipalities of Serbia. Project partners are the Agency for European Integration and Cooperation with the Associations of the City of Belgrade and the Regional Development Agency "Zlatibor".

The project was implemented with the support of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia and the Office for Cooperation with Civil Society of the Government of the Republic of Serbia from November 28, 2013, to January 28, 2015.