27 November 2024, Skopje, North Macedonia

During the Western Balkans Public Administration Awards Ceremony, held as part of the ReSPA High-Level Policy Dialogue in the Western Balkans, ReSPA and SIGMA awarded the winners and special recognitions of the third cycle of the Western Balkans Public Administration Awards.

The awards were presented by the Directors of ReSPA and SIGMA, alongside Ministers responsible for Public Administration Reform, to the distinguished representatives of the awarded institutions.

The Special Award of the Public Administration Awards 2024 in the Western Balkans

For the first time, a single institution received the Special Award. The Office for IT and eGovernment of the Republic of Serbia was honoured with the Special Award for Leading by Example in Digital Transformation and Innovation in Public Service Delivery. This recognition highlights the Office's exceptional achievements in developing transformative projects that significantly enhance service delivery, with notable advancements and high potential for replication across the region. Over the years, the Office's dedicated team has consistently improved public services across the Western Balkans.

Minister Goran Minchev presented the award to Biljana Marić, Assistant Director of the Office for IT and eGovernment.

The Winners of the Public Administration Awards 2024 in the Western Balkans:

The Office for IT and eGovernment of the Republic of Serbia won the award for the Initiative “I Protect You”  

cuvamte.gov.rs - Platform for Safeguarding Children from Violence – is awarded for a distinct human-centric approach to digital transformation.

To tackle violence involving children comprehensively, the Government of Serbia launched the Platform as a centralized hub that enables users to report child abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitation while also monitoring the response of relevant institutions. The platform enhances collaboration among over 2,700 entities, including schools, social services, police, and healthcare institutions, improving efficiency and response times. It also allows victims, witnesses, or concerned individuals to submit reports anonymously or with their names, tracking progress until resolution.

State Secretary Naim Gjokaj handed the award to Sanela Golijanin, coordinator of the Platform.

Find more about the initiative: HERE

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Montenegro won the award for the initiative Social Welfare Information System (SWIS) – e-Social

E-Socijalni karton – is awarded for dedicated inter-institutional governance. SWIS has become the backbone of Montenegro’s social protection system, revolutionizing social welfare services nationwide. Launched in partnership between the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and UNDP, this digital initiative is more than a technological upgrade—it enhances human resources, legislation, and institutional capacity.
Since 2015, the Integrated Social Welfare Information System (ISWIS) has improved transparency and accountability in social protection. By 2024, ISWIS will efficiently process cash transfers and payments while supporting services like guardianship and foster care. A key feature is its interoperability, with 26 web services connecting nine ministries and institutions, reducing administrative burdens and improving service delivery. E-Social streamlines processes and reinforces Montenegro’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations effectively.

Assistant Minister Nedžad Salman handed the award to Mersida Aljićević, Acting Director of the General Directorate for Social and Child Protection.

Find more about the initiative: HERE  

The Public Policy Secretariat of the Republic of Serbia won the award for the initiative Digital Transformation in Serbia - Contribution to Green Agenda.

“Digitalization of Administrative Procedures for Stimulation of Investments into Renewable Energy” simplified and streamlined the processes with a high potential for replicability. The global shift towards renewable energy prompted the Public Policy Secretariat (PPS) to launch the Project while addressing investor needs. Completed by July 2024, the initiative introduced 32 digital services to simplify administrative processes for renewable energy investments. In collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the project reduced costs and processing times, enhanced transparency, and amended regulations to align with EU standards, promoting efficient governance in the sector.

ReSPA Director Handjiska-Trendafilova handed the award to Bojana Tošić, the Director of the Public Policy Secretariat of Serbia.                                                   

Find more about the initiative: HERE  

The Special Recognitions of the Public Administration Awards 2024 in the Western Balkans:

The City of Kragujevac, Republic of Serbia, is recognised for the initiative “Be Part of the Plan”

https://budideoplana.rs/ is an innovative platform developed by the City of Kragujevac in collaboration with NALED and the Faculty of Geography, allows users to receive alerts via email, SMS, or Viber, ensuring their timely involvement in the planning process. Kragujevac has emerged as the first city in Serbia to improve transparency in local spatial and urban planning by enabling real-time notifications for citizens and businesses when planning document changes are initiated. By facilitating electronic participation, citizens can track changes, submit comments, and influence construction decisions that affect their community. The initiative aims to prevent scenarios where residents learn about developments only through the media, promoting accountability and a more inclusive approach to urban planning in the city.

Head of SIGMA, Mr Gregor Virant handed the Special Recognition to Dejan Ružić, Deputy Mayor City of Kragujevac 

The Public Procurement Commission of the Republic of Albania is recognised for the initiative “Reducing Administrative Burden and Promoting Simplification and Efficiency in Administrative Procedures”.

From 2021 to 2024, Albania's Public Procurement Commission (PPC) underwent a transformative process to enhance transparency and efficiency in public procurement. The PPC significantly reduced administrative burdens and fostered greater openness by prioritising digitization and simplifying procedures. Notably, the PPC became the first procurement review body in the region and the EU to adopt the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS). This initiative expanded publicly accessible data from four fields in 2020 to 21 fields today. Additionally, introducing the "Register of Complaints" and "Register of Decisions," both available for download in JSON format, has further enhanced transparency in procurement processes.

Deputy Minister Bardhyl Dobra presented the Special Recognition to Jonaid Myzyri, Chairman of PPC Albania and Ndue Lleshaj, Head of the Sector of Information Technology and Publication of PPC.

The City of Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is recognized for the initiative “The Open Data Portal”

Prijedor is making a significant leap towards modernization by launching an open data portal to enhance urban development through increased transparency and citizen engagement.

opendataprijedor.ba provides citizens, businesses, and public institutions with access to essential datasets, enabling better decision-making and fostering a culture of innovation. By collecting and categorizing data from city-owned institutions, the portal seeks to streamline public services and improve overall efficiency. Users can explore data in various formats, including interactive maps and graphs, making information accessible to everyone—from developers to everyday residents. With 17 categories of data sourced from numerous meetings and organizations, the open data portal positions Prijedor as a leader  in utilizing digitization for community growth and empowerment. The portal also offers API access for direct and automated retrieval of published datasets, further enhancing transparency and enabling data reuse. By sharing this data, the city boosts the efficiency of public services and stimulates economic growth, ultimately placing citizens at the center of initiatives designed to improve their quality of life and access to information.

ReSPA Director Handjiska-Trendafilova handed the Special Recognition to Mr Nebojša Savanović, Head of economy department in City of Prijedor.

Central Register of the Republic of North Macedonia is awarded for the initiative “Transparency Triumph: Empowering AML with the Beneficial Ownership Register”

Central Register of North Macedonia launched the Beneficial Ownership Register (BOR) to enhance transparency and accountability in combating money laundering and financial terrorism (AML/CFT).
Despite pandemic challenges, the BOR achieved a 94% compliance rate within weeks, supporting both the public and investigative bodies like the Financial Investigative Unit (FIU). The initiative promotes trust in the financial sector and aligns with EU AML directives. They also noted the launch of a regional BOR program to standardize AML/CFT efforts across the Western Balkans, positioning the initiative as a model for other regions globally.

Minister Jelena Žarić-Kovačević presented the Special Recognition to Director Anita Stamova.

After the Award Ceremony, the winning teams took part in a fireside session where they presented their projects to their colleagues and engaged in a very fruitful discussion on service delivery project development and the expectations from the reward journey that is to follow in 2025, together with Gregor Virant, Nick Thijs and Jelisaveta Tasev. During a two hour exchange the teams identified many common challenges and needs for their future growth. In addition, they talked about what motivates them to stay dedicated to innovation in public service delivery and the importance of having the results of their dedication recognized and rewarded.

Photo Gallery

Recorded Livestream: LINK

Find more about the Western Balkans Public Administration Awards HERE