6 March 2026, Podgorica, Montenegro

ReSPA took part in the CAF Info Day in Montenegro, held under the theme “CAF for Citizen-Oriented Public Administration and Efficient Governance,” bringing together representatives of public institutions and partners to promote quality management and continuous performance improvement in public administration.

The event was opened by Marash Dukaj, Minister of Public Administration of Montenegro, and marked by the ceremonial signing of an agreement between the Ministry and the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, reaffirming a shared commitment to stronger inter-institutional cooperation and more citizen-focused service delivery.

Speaking at the event, Slaven Bukarica, ReSPA Quality Management Officer, highlighted the key role of the Regional Quality Management Centre (RQMC) in supporting the introduction of the CAF in Montenegro. Thanks to this support, the Ministry became the first ministry in the country to be certified as an Effective CAF User, marking an important step forward in strengthening quality management practices in public administration.

Bukarica underlined that, since its establishment in 2021, the RQMC has grown into a regional driver of excellence, supporting institutions across the Western Balkans in improving internal processes, strengthening teamwork, and delivering better services to citizens.

“What began as a vision with the establishment of the RQMC in 2021 has today become a regional force for improving processes and public services. To date, CAF has been introduced in more than 20 institutions at both central and local levels across the region, while over 35 External Feedback Actors have been trained to further support CAF implementation in their respective administrations. In addition, more than 15 institutions have been awarded the Effective CAF User label. These results clearly show that CAF has become a practical tool for excellence in public administration. Through CAF, we are not only raising quality management standards across the region, but also fostering a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement within public administration teams — the true path toward excellence in their work and better services for citizens,” said Bukarica.

Looking ahead, ReSPA will soon launch online CAF implementation tools, making CAF implementation faster, more accessible, and more cost-effective for institutions across the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood.

By digitalising this process, ReSPA aims to further accelerate the uptake of quality management tools and bring public administrations in the region closer to the highest standards of excellence, efficiency, and citizen-centred governance.