Transcript Ministry of Labor and Social Policy SOCIAL POLICY COUNCILS Dragica Vlaović-Vasiljević Assistant Minister Sophia, 2-6th July 2007

Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
SOCIAL POLICY COUNCILS
Dragica Vlaović-Vasiljević
Assistant Minister
Sophia, 2-6th July 2007
Coordination bodies in local selfgovernments
Coordination bodies formed in the 90-ies dealt
particularly with the issues of juvenile delinquency
and prevention of drug abuse
Since 2001 the formation of coordination bodies
has been supported through projects or adopted
strategies and developmental plans on the
national level
Projects supporting the formation of
coordination bodies in the local
community
“Development of the integral social welfare model in the
local community” (MSP and NMFA 2001 -2003)
“Social Policy Reform in Serbia” (DIFID 2002-2005)
“Support to Implementation of the Social Welfare
Development Strategy” (DIFID and NMFA ongoing)
Strategies and National Plans
Poverty Reduction Strategy
Social Welfare Development Strategy
National Action Plan for Children
Coordination bodies in local selfgovernments – the essence
The principle of partnership or creation of
coalitions for purposes of easier solving of
specific problems, meeting planning needs
or service provision
Brief overview of names of
coordination bodies
INTEGRAL SOCIAL WELFARE COUNCIL
(Development of integral social welfare model in
the local community)
MUNICIPAL CIVIL-SOCIETY COORDINATION
TEAM (Social Policy Reform in Serbia (DFID)
POVERTY REDUCTION COMMITTEE (PRSP)
SOCIO-ECONOMIC COUNCIL
FORUMS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Names and substance
Although named differently, all these
models basically address the same issues:
planning, implementation and monitoring
(depending on the available capacities) of
different initiatives/activities
Similarities and differences between
the two currently relevant coordination
bodies
Integral Social Welfare Council (ISWC)
Municipal Civil-Society Coordination Team
(MCSCT)
Roles
ISWC:
preparing initiatives, proposals and documents
on creation and implementation of integral social
welfare policy in the local community
MCSCT: creating new models for solving social
problems in the fields of health, employment,
education and social welfare, based on
partnership between institutions and NGOs
Members
MCSCT:
Representatives of:
– Municipality
– National employment agency
– Centre for social welfare
– Health sector (health centre and hospital)
– Education
– Civil society (NGOs and associations)
Key partner – municipality
Members
ISWC
Representatives of:
Social welfare system
Health care system
Education system, including pre-school education
Labour market and employment system
Judiciary system
Interior affairs system
Culture and information system
Non-governmental sector
Local self-governments
Service users
Key partner: CSW
Activities
MCSCT
Working on sustainable social policy development
strategy;
Development of municipal action plans based on the
analysis of needs of most vulnerable population groups;
Encouraging partnership on municipal-level;
Collecting data on poverty and social exclusion (geomapping and analyses);
Development of strategic social policy plans;
Collecting funds for solving social problems.
Activities
ISWC
Analysing citizens’ needs, current system of services
and coverage of needs by services;
Appraising the quality and efficiency of the current
service system;
Identifying «uncovered areas»;
Analyzing local potentials for establishment of integral
service system;
Defining short-term and long-term priorities;
Preparing and adopting strategic plan for the area;
Giving concrete proposals for introducing new
services;
Monitoring the implementation of planned activities.
Activities: similarities and
differences
Great overlapping of activities
ISWC activities are usually specific and
lead to the introduction of specific integral
social welfare service in the local
community
MCSCT activities aimed at municipal
action plans
Additional means at ISWC disposal
Specially designed instrument for assessment of
the situation and projection of needs - MAPS for:
Appraisal of coverage of needs by services
within the current activities and programs of
state institutions, non-governmental and private
sector;
Appraisal of the quality of existing services;
Appraisal of local potentials (material and staff
resources) for establishing new services;
Setting priorities in introduction of new services
and reorganization of existing ones.
ISWC uses the following as an instrument
for system networking
Protocol on cooperation
as a mechanism for development and
establishment of coordinated, harmonized
multi-sectoral approach in planning and
implementation of most adequate services
in view of the available capacities.
Key conclusions
Coordination bodies on the level of local
communities proved to be a good practice
Although the analyzed coordination bodies
are focused on social welfare or social
policy, their work has contributed to more
systematic program implementation in all
similar areas in municipalities where they
have been established
Key conclusions
-challenges on municipal levelLarge number of coordination mechanisms in Serbian
municipalities, even within a single sector (e.g. social
welfare)
Unclear role of CSW – whether it is the initiator and
leader or the main “advisor” to the local self-government
Duplication of bodies in municipality – which leads to
exhaustion of already weak capacities
Different modalities – legal, program, functional, financial
The sustainability of bodies is problematic
Local self-governments and other stakeholders do not
get clear messages from the central level and donors
Key conclusions
-challenges on the central levelLack of coordination on the central level
(including donors) has adverse
consequences on local level coordination
Unclear messages “sent” to local selfgovernments from the central level
(MCSCT, integral social welfare councils,
socio-economic councils, forums for
sustainable development etc.)
Recommendations
Better coordination between different
strategies and bodies on the national and
local level
Clarify legal framework for local level
coordination and establishment of
coordination bodies
RECOMMENDATIONS
Within the ongoing project in social welfare
area “Support to Implementation of Social
Welfare Development Strategy”(DFID and
NMFA), advance coordination mechanisms
on the local level using all previously
acquired experiences from similar projects
and initiatives