ABOVE:
USAID supported discussions throughout the country to inform the public and political parties on the benefits and costs of direct election of mayors. The law on direct election of mayors was adopted in 2007.
Implementer: Urban Institute
Partners: Government Central Office for State Administration, Association of Cities and Municipalities, International City/County Management Association
Partner Local Governments: Barilović, Bebrina, Bjelovar, Brodski Stupnik, Cernik, Cetingrad, Crikvenica, Dežanovac, Donji Kukuruzari, Drniš, Dvor, Đulovac, Glina, Grubišno Polje, Gvozd, Hrvace, Hrvatska Dubica, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Jasenovac, Karlovac, Kistanje, Knin, Končanica, Koprivnica, Lipovljani, Majur, Nova Kapela, Novska, Okučani, Oriovac, Osijek, Pakrac, Polača, Rakovica, Rešetari, Rijeka, Sibinj, Sirač, Sisak, Slatina, Slavonski Brod, Split, Staro Petrovo Selo, Sunja, Šibenik,Topusko, Varaždin, Vinkovci, Vojnić.
Twinning Cities: Umag, Buzet, Labin, Pazin, Karlovac, Dubrovnik
Local Government Reform (LGRP)
Project completed September 2007
USAID and 49 Croatian cities, towns and municipalities joined forces to improve public finance, procurement and asset management.
The Local Government Reform Program (LGRP) provided assistance to strengthen local governments in Croatia to expand citizen participation and enable them to assume greater fiscal and administrative responsibilities through decentralization. The program had several elements. It introduced skills in managing assets that created greater revenue from the sale of management properties for local governments.
An e-government system was established in cities to foster transparency, improve efficiency, track the performance of elected officials and enable citizens to participate in local government affairs.
Professional development courses trained local government officials throughout the country to provide continuing education for local government officials.
The City Twinning activity partnered Croatian cities with cities in the U.S. These partnerships addressed specific issues faced by Croatian cities and means for improving the performance of local government.
To address the long-term needs of local governments and to support local democracy, USAID worked with the Government of Croatia, ministries, parliamentarians, local officials and NGOs to reform legislation with a direct impact on local governments.
Results
After implementing USAID's asset management model, the City of Split increased revenue by 13% (nearly $1 million) in 2005. Through this process, assets that were never included in public registers were identified. Over the past three years the City of Karlovac increased revenue by $750,000 and the City of Varazdin doubled revenue since it started using the asset management model in 2001.
Over 300 local government officials completed professional development courses with assistance from USAID, the University of Zagreb, University of Split, the University of Rijeka and the Zagreb School of Economics and Management. Course topics included e-government, asset management, performance management and other areas of public administration.
Download document: Local Government Reform (PDF 117 KB)
Download: E-Government Newsletter (PDF 1.21 MB)
Download: Asset Management Newsletter (PDF 1.78 MB)
