In the period from 9 to 11 September 2021, the first activity within the project “Citizens and local self-governments together towards achieving the Sustainable Development goals” was carried out in Požega by the Sombor Educational Center in partnership with the City of Sombor, the Municipality of Požega and the Civic Alliance for Social inclusion GASI from Požega.

The project is financed through the Fund for Sustainable Local Development, which is supported by the Swiss and German Development Cooperation and implemented by the GIZ, within the project “Public Finance Reform – 2030 Agenda”.

Through the Fund for Sustainable Local Development, the “Public Finance Reform – 2030 Agenda” project manages initiatives that aim to support innovative solutions in the health and environmental sector, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The first activity within the project was an initial meeting and a two-day training for representatives of partner CSOs and local self-governments on the topic of developing local policies in alignment with the SDGs.

During the training, representatives of partner associations and local self-government units exchanged experiences and were empowered to develop local policies in accordance with the SDGs, prevailing trends and examples of good practice.

Besides the representatives of the Sombor Educational Center and the Civic Alliance for Social Inclusion from Požega, the event was attended by the Assistant Mayor of Sombor for Environmental Protection – Siniša Borota, Nevena Rosić and Marija Jerković on behalf of the Department of Social Affairs of the City Administration of Sombor, Ivana Inđić and Slavica Petrović from the Municipal Administration of Požega, Vesna Čumić, member of the Health Council of the Municipality of Požega, as well as Ivan Novaković, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Požega.

As part of the project, it is planned to develop a Public Health Plan for the Municipality of Požega, as well as a Local Action Plan for Environmental Protection for the City of Sombor. The development of these documents will be based on comprehensive research activities in the partner municipalities.