Total support in the amount of over 260,000 EUR will enable citizens to gain easier and faster access to their rights and services provided by the local administration. In addition to the funds to purchase equipment, the Programme will provide technical assistance for the development and establishment of internal processes, regulations  and management structures to improve eGovernment and provide eServices to citizens and businesses.

The following local self-governments were provided support to improve eGovernment and/or eServices: Aleksandrovac, Babušnica, Bela Palanka, Bojnik, Bor, Čačak, Ćuprija, Dimitrovgrad, Golubac, Ivanjica, Jagodina, Kosjerić, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krupanj, Loznica, Mali Zvornik, Medveđa, Nova Varoš, Novi Pazar, Osečina, Rača, Ražanj, Rekovac, Šabac, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Tutin, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrnjačka Banja, Žagubica and Zaječar.

Through their approved projects, these local self-governments will be working on developing eServices, such as electronic submission of kindergarten applications or agricultural subsidises, tax returns, issuance of certificates, access to information of public importance and legal aid, reports of utility issues and complaints submitted by citizens. Activities focusing on establishing or improving eRegistries, introducing eArchives, acting pursuant to the Law on Administrative Procedure are also being supported, with the aim to improve the efficiency of the local self-government and save citizens’ time and money. Also, optional technical assistance was approved for 20 projects, which will provide assistive technologies to persons with disabilities, as well as establish or improve systems for citizen participation through eParticipation and eHearing.

“Swiss Government and Serbian Government, through the Swiss PRO Programme, have been trying support local self-governments with the aim to increase accountability, transparency and efficiency in providing better access to services and rights for all citizens. In cooperation with relevant national institutions, we will continue to support the implementation of projects developing eGovernment and eServices, and it is crucial that towns and municipalities have true ownership over the processes that we implement together, so that the results achieved are also sustainable in the long term,” pointed out Ana Nedeljković Belja, Swiss PRO National Programme Manager.

The approved projects were part of the "Let’s Click Together" public call, which was open between 5 July and 26 August 2019 to 96 towns and municipalities in the regions of Šumadija and West Serbia and South and East Serbia.

More details about the approved projects are available at Programme results section on Swiss PRO website.