With the training conducted for the municipal councilors from the municipalities of Ohrid and Cair on financial control and audit in the local self-government units, the first phase of the Municipal Councilors Capacity Development Program was completed last weekend.
Through trainings conducted by a team of experts in the past three months, a total of 80 councilors from the municipalities of Veles, Sveti Nikole, Valandovo, Strumica, Chair and Ohrid have improved their knowledge on topics of public financial management in the municipalities, while gaining new skills to strengthen the role of Councils on good governance at the local level.
The second phase of the Municipal Councils Capacity Development Program continues in September, and the councilors from these six municipalities will receive trainings on topics related to innovation in governance, inter-municipal cooperation, spatial and urban planning, human resource management, inter-ethnic cooperation and gender equality at the local level.
The trainings are part of the “Empowering Municipal Councils” Project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation with a total value of CHF 3.4 million implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with national and local partners.
In the next two years, this project will include additional 18 municipalities that will be selected through public calls.
In addition to the training for counsellors, a total of CHF 1.2 million is reserved for small grants intended for the realization of priority initiatives in all 24 municipalities that will participate in the project.
