The Social Pillar of the “SDGs for ALL” Platform organized a panel for inter-municipal learning on September 30, 2024, in Užice, titled “Inter-Municipal Exchange in Local Development Planning.” The goal was to enable the connection and exchange of local knowledge and experiences and to enhance cooperation among local self-government units.

The event topics included planning for sustainable and inclusive economic growth and developing resilient communities, as well as integrating a gender perspective and the fundamental principle of the 2030 Agenda, “Leave No One Behind,” into local economic and social development planning.

The gathering was opened by: Nataša Vučković, Foundation Center for Democracy; Ivona Gvozdenović, Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation and Miodrag Petković, member of the City Council of Užice.

The panel “Planning for Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth and Developing Resilient Communities” featured participants such as: Avram Ilić, Assistant Mayor for Rural Development, City of Užice; Branislav Mitrović, President of the Assembly, City of Užice; Slavko Lukić, Zlatibor Regional Development Agency; Jelena Mihajlović-Tanasijević, Head of the Local Economic Development Department (SCTM); Marijana Đokić, Head of the Department for Economy and Local Economic Development of the Municipality of Nova Varoš; Marija Cvetić, Assistant to the Mayor of Arilje; Edin Bašić, UNOPS; Lana Hadži-Niković, Center for Advanced Economic Studies; and Radovan Milenković, UGS Nezavisnost.

In the panel discussion “Integrating a Gender Perspective into Local Economic and Social Development Planning” speakers included: Slobodan Grbić, member of the City Council for Social Policy, City of Užice; Tijana Kostić, responsible for gender equality issues, City of Užice; Jelena Leković, Chair of the Gender Equality Commission, Municipality of Nova Varoš; Marina Tucović, Women’s Center Užice; Jelena Prokić, Užice Center for Human Rights and Democracy; Sarita Bradaš, Foundation Center for Democracy; and Jelena Žunić-Cicvarić, Užice Center for Child Rights.

The gathering emphasized the need to work on collecting data at the local level to create public policies, from the local to the central level. It is essential to gather examples of best practices from other countries facing similar issues. Coordination among donors is also extremely important.

It was concluded that there are opportunities for inter-municipal cooperation, especially in planning social services. There is a need to enhance the knowledge and understanding of local self-government representatives regarding gender-responsive budgeting. In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, inter-sectoral collaboration is also important.

Based on meetings with representatives of local self-governments facilitated by the “SDGs for All” Platform, a framework for cooperation will be developed in the form of guidelines on available resources for collaboration and exchange.