Objectives achieved during this year were presented at the meeting, as well as the overall results implemented during the third phase of the project. All project components have been completed by 31st December 2008, while there are two remaining activities that need to be monitored during the during the first half of 2009. These are linked to the overall monitoring of Local Action Group project implementation as assistance to strengthening the strategic partnership at the local level in the area of rural development and the completion of the implementation of the Social Housing Project in the municipality of Gorazde.
Representatives of the Project Steering Committee, shared their impressions about the project, with regards to lessons learned and best practices concluding that the SUTRA project managed to include progressive concepts in daily implementation such as the creating and registering Local Action Groups according to EU model, promotion of Public-Private Partnership while implementing return and reconstruction activities. ‘Added value of this project is in treatment of the system for selection of beneficiaries and de-politicization of the processes’ said one of the participants at the Steering Committee. ‘Efficiency and effectiveness of project implementation is visible and recognized especially in the context of innovative approach to inclusion of all government levels, but also equal representation of local civil society in decision making processes’ –said another project steering committee member and concluded that experiences gained in this project need to be recorded as good practice for future projects. Municipal participation in all phases of project implementation should also be emphasized and continued in future projects. Steering Committee members expressed their satisfaction with overall project implementation, project results and applied implementation methodology.
Samir Sosevic,
Local Governance Analyst, UNDP SUTRA