Mayor of Gradiška: For the MZ to become a generator of ideas and needs of citizens

December 9, 2021

Zoran Adžić, Mayor of Gradiška

Gradiška has started Phase Two of the project “Strengthening Role of MZs in BiH”. What do you think are the biggest benefits for the local community from Phase One?

The Project came to life on the territory of the city of Gradiška in 2016, when the Municipality, now the City of Gradiška, became a partner in the Project itself with six selected MZs. Through the first four-year phase of the Project, the City of Gradiška achieved numerous benefits. The work of MZs as a fundamental element and the first step in connecting with the City Administration as well as with other social and economic stakeholders in the city of Gradiška has been significantly improved, all through the adoption of a new, institutionalisation of methodology of MZ performance, as foreseen under the Project.

There are many benefits achieved, but above all, the improvement of the work of MZ should be singled out, which is reflected in educational, work arrangements as well as in infrastructural engagement and implementation. The results are very visible in the change of the way of work of MZ councils and civil society organisations, as well as in certain infrastructure segments where we were partners with the MZ Project. The adoption of a new vision of MZs, which is reflected in the provision of services to citizens, advocacy and access to the Administration through transparency in work and access, created additional space for citizen participation in the work of the City Administration, meaning, execution of ideas and initiatives of individuals or civil society organisations.

On behalf of the City of Gradiška and my personal behalf, allow me to express my satisfaction that we have joined the

Phase Two of the project “Strengthening the Role of MZs in Bosnia and Herzegovina” where the extremely high level of professional engagement of officials involved in this Project must be highlighted. I would also like to express my gratitude to all those who recognised the potential in Gradiška for the development of democratic processes aimed at citizens, based on mutual trust and networking, and thus ensured our participation in Phase Two of the Project. Our goal is for the local community to be a generator of ideas and needs of citizens and entrepreneurs.

Which specific activities would you single out?

Together with the MZ Project, a community hub for all citizens was opened and equipped, and I will say more on this later. Also, a number of documents adopted were developed and improved through the Project, such as Rules of Procedure on the work of MZ councils, Action plan of MZ councils, citizens’ forum introduced and the provision of services by MZs, which is mostly reflected and implemented through some segments of administrative and utility activities.

We are not fully satisfied with IT equipment of MZs, except in six MZs from Phase One of the Project, which are really well equipped. For the remaining 50 MZs, we try to apply with projects to international and national donors so as to provide adequate computer equipment, in the hope that in the near future we will achieve our ultimate goal, meaning, full IT equipment for all MZs.

You said that the goal of the project is to have “MZs as a generator of ideas and needs of citizens and entrepreneurs”. To what extent has this goal been met so far?

Through Project and the City Administration’s activities, significant progress has been made in improving the work of MZs, in participation in the city government, in terms of presenting new ideas and needs of their citizens and entrepreneurs. There is always room for further improvements but the work done so far proves that we are on the right track.

Along these lines, a number of measures and decisions were adopted that more closely regulate this area, and an Operational Team for Improving the Functioning of MZs was formed, comprising officials in charge of MZs and our local Development Agency, where their primary goal is education of all stakeholders in MZs in terms of institutionalisation and application of work methodology through the use of good practices from the new vision of MZs in BiH. The Development Agency of the City of Gradiška is at the service to all citizens and businesses regarding assistance in planning and writing projects.

The practice of holding citizens’ forum was introduced, as well as semi-annual meetings of heads of City Administration departments with citizens of all MZs, where current topics and problems faced by citizens are presented and reviewed, and noted in terms of finding a solution.

The opening of the research and development centre in the wood processing industry created additional space for not only employment of young people, but also realising their business ideas on creation, modelling and design of new products in the field of wood processing.

While respecting the Project’s suggestions in terms of improving communication between citizens and local government, we are committed to marking the next period of the City Administration’s work by improving existing and introducing new mechanisms for participation of MZs in the city government.

How did it come to the idea for Gradiška to mark the Day of MZs and what is the goal of such a celebration?

The initiative to mark the Day of MZs came from the work on the Project. Considering that the City of Gradiška strives to adopt and translate all good ideas into practice, we found it very useful and included this event in the annual calendar of city events. The event aims to exchange experiences and good practices in the work of MZs, including a summary overview of implemented projects and the needs of citizens. This all-day event includes work, educational and entertainment content, including awards to deserving individuals or organisations who have contributed to the development of MZs and raising awareness of the importance of their role in the daily creation of activities in our city.

"Strengthening the Role of Local Communities – MZ in BiH" is a 14 million BAM worth joint project of the Government of Switzerland and Sweden, implemented by UNDP in BiH. The project is aiming to increase democratic and direct participation of BiH citizens in the local community government, to strengthen accountability of local governance and to improve local infrastructure and services.

199 local communities and 41 municipalities and cities country-wide will participate in the activities within the second phase of the project, which will contribute to improving the quality of life of 400,000 people.