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Newsletter #2

September - December 2024

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the second edition of the ReSPA newsletter!

The past quarter has been incredibly intensive and productive for us. Highlights include organizing the High-Level Policy Dialogue, endorsing a Ministerial Declaration, and launching the Knowledge Management Platform to empower public servants to learn, connect, and innovate.

We celebrated excellence through the 2024 Western Balkans Public Administration Awards and advanced regional cooperation with the launch of the 2nd Cycle of the Mobility Programme, linking the Western Balkans and Italian administrations.

Through capacity-building initiatives, mobility projects, and tailored support, we continue to foster learning, collaboration, and innovation, bringing the region closer to European integration.

Explore our latest milestones and partnerships as we work together to shape resilient, inclusive societies.

Happy reading!

The ReSPA Team

 

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Highlights

Driving Reforms and Collaboration: Highlights from the 2024 High-Level Policy Dialogue in the Western Balkans

We brought together Ministers responsible for Public Administration from the Western Balkans, EU officials, and representatives from EU Member States and international organizations to explore transformative governance and foster innovation in public administration. The event showcased the region's achievements in digital transformation, regional cooperation, and public service innovation through keynote speeches, ministerial panels, and expert-led sessions. The Ministers also endorsed the 2024 Ministerial Declaration reaffirming the region's commitment to public administration reforms. The declaration emphasized improving governance, advancing digital solutions, and enhancing regional collaboration to strengthen public service delivery and align with EU standards.

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Celebrating Innovation in Public Administration: 2024 Western Balkans Public Administration Awards

ReSPA, in partnership with the SIGMA Programme, announced the 2024 Western Balkans Public Administration Awards winners during the High-Level Policy Dialogue in Skopje. The awards recognized initiatives that build better public administrations for and with users:

Office for IT and eGovernment, Serbia – "I Protect You"
A human-centric platform protecting children from violence, enabling abuse reporting and tracking by over 2,700 entities, including schools and social services.

Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Montenegro – e-Social
The Integrated Social Welfare Information System (ISWIS) streamlines social welfare services, improving transparency, accountability, and support for vulnerable populations.

Public Policy Secretariat, Serbia – Support the Renewable Energy Investments
This project introduced 32 digital services to simplify renewable energy investments, reduce costs, and align regulations with EU standards.

For the first time, the Office for IT and eGovernment, Serbia, received a Special Award for outstanding leadership in digital transformation and public service innovation.

The Special Recognition Awards were awarded to the City of Kragujevac, Serbia (for the initiative "Be Part of the Plan"), Public Procurement Commission, Albania (for simplified procurement processes), City of Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina (for Open Data Portal) and Central Register, North Macedonia (for Beneficial Ownership Register).

Congratulations to amazing teams and front runners in innovation, transparency, and improved public service delivery!

Watch here

Launch of the Knowledge Management Platform: A Gateway to Public Administration Excellence

Developed as a vital resource for public administration professionals in the Western Balkans, the KMP is envisaged as an efficient tool to foster the professional development of public administrators and enhance regional collaboration. Featuring educational resources, expert guidance, knowledge bites, and community-driven discussions, the KMP also promotes best practices and offers training on topics such as digital transformation, public policy, EU integration, and more.

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Endorsed ReSPA Strategic Orientation 2025–2030

Adopted at the 16th Meeting of the Governing Board at the Ministerial Level, this strategic document focuses on key areas such as policy coordination, human resource management and development, European integration, digital transformation, quality management, public finance management, and enhanced participation in the EU's public administration platforms, mechanisms, and tools—all aimed at fostering excellence within the European administrative space. It reflects the feedback and advice provided by the Regional Thematic Working Groups, Liaison Officers, the European Commission, and the ReSPA Advisory Board.

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ReSPA’s Pivotal Role Highlighted in the Brussels Declaration: “Advancing Public Administration in the Western Balkans”

The Brussels Declaration from the EU-Western Balkans Summit, held on 18 December 2024, acknowledged the importance of strengthening public administration capacities and highlighted ReSPA’s significant contributions. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to “continue to support the reforms and capacity-building of public administrations in the Western Balkans, notably through grants and twinning, and through the Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA).”

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Driving Transformation in the Western Balkans: Full-Scale Implementation of Programme of Work 

Our team has fully implemented the work programme envisaged for the last quarter, to advance governance and administrative excellence across the Western Balkans, which includes: 36 learning, networking, and capacity-building actions that empowered nearly 800 civil servants; 11 targeted reform projects under "on-demand support"; 1 mobility scheme facilitated cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange; 4 e-government pilot initiatives that drive digital transformation in public services and 27 awarded scholarships to foster professional growth of civil servants and innovation.

ReSPA’s Activities Score 4.7 out of 5 in the Annual Monitoring Cycle 

Based on Post-Event Questionnaires, the results reflect a growing trend of interest and appreciation among public servants and staff from regional administrations and institutions. International and regional networking and on-demand support are the most valued ReSPA outputs that contribute to achieving key outcomes.

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Learning, Networking and Capacity Building
Across Thematic Areas

European Integration and Accession Negotiations

In this thematic area, we reinforced our commitment to building the capacities of civil servants in EU accession negotiations and EU affairs through a variety of activities:

Training Modules on Clusters: Cluster 4 - Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity

As part of the 2024 cluster training series, we gathered 20 participants from WB6 line ministries responsible for transport, energy, and environment in December in Zagreb. With the support of the Croatian NSPA, the Center for the Transfer of Knowledge of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the participation of representatives from the Energy Community and the Transport Community, the participants engaged in learning and exchanging knowledge on EU policies, accession requirements, and milestones in Chapters 14 (Transport), 15 (Energy), 21 (Trans-European Networks), and 27 (Environment).

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Workshop on Developing and Monitoring National Programs and Planning Documents for EU Accession

Held back-to-back with the European Integration Regional Thematic Group Meeting in Podgorica in December, the workshop was developed based on the proposals formulated by the EU Integration Thematic Group and designed as a moderated, peer-learning activity. 23 participants from the WB6 worked on the preparation and monitoring of EU accession/integration-related documents. The topics covered are the alignment with the EU acquis, the structure of the NPAAs, financial aspects of EU accession, and the alignment of the NPAAs with other national strategic documents.

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Translating Europe Forum and Side Workshop/Meeting with DG Translation 

In collaboration with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation, we facilitated the participation of Translation Coordination Units from the Western Balkans in the Translating Europe Forum 2024. This year’s theme explored the role of data, emerging technologies, and Generative AI in translation workflows. ReSPA contributed to the panel "Building Translation Capacity in Candidate Countries" emphasizing critical skills for translating EU law and integrating advanced tools like AI into workflows

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Executive Training on Building the Common Regional Market

In collaboration with RCC, we hosted a December training on advancing regional economic integration in the Western Balkans in Tirana. Public servants, policymakers, experts, and stakeholders participated in sessions delivered by high-level speakers, including the RCC Secretary General and Albania’s Deputy Foreign Minister. ReSPA experts led specialized sessions on key CRM components, highlighting CRM’s role in fostering resilience and supporting EU integration.

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Webinar "Sustainability Transition and the Role of Green Public Procurement"

In September, we virtually engaged over 60 public servants and practitioners from the Western Balkans in a webinar led by Prof. Matteo Mura from the University of Bologna. The session highlighted the role of public administrations in advancing sustainability through Green Public Procurement, promoting sustainable practices, and addressing environmental challenges such as resource scarcity and the circular economy

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Policy Development and Coordination

In the last quarter, our efforts focused on advancing evidence-informed policymaking, improving regulatory processes, and enhancing policy coordination.

4th Module of the Regional Academy on Evidence-Informed Policymaking: "Policy Making in a Digital World"
Held in September, this module concentrated on leveraging digital tools to improve policy development and coordination across the Western Balkans. Building on the success of previous modules, it brought together over 35 mid- and senior-level professionals involved in policy planning and coordination.

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Regional Conference on Parliaments and Evidence-Based Lawmaking in the WB

Co-organized with the Italian Chamber of Deputies and SIGMA, this conference convened representatives from Western Balkan parliamentary administrations, governments, and the EC in October in Rome. Participants discussed strengthening parliamentary scrutiny and evidence-based lawmaking, focusing on challenges in legislative planning, aligning national legislation with the EU acquis, and the role of RIA in improving legislative quality.

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Our team also contributed to the Training Programme for Strengthening Civil Society in Public Administration Reform. In October, as part of the WeBER Plus network, we supported enhancing CSO capacities to engage effectively in public administration reform. Additionally, organized in partnership with leading public administration faculties across the Western Balkans, the "Exploring Dimensions of Public Management, Policy, and Administration across Diverse Sectors," held at South East Europe University in Tetovo, fostered collaboration among regional academic institutions. Discussions addressed governance, sustainability, and the challenges of modern state administration

Human Resources Management and Professional Development

Our team achieved significant progress in advancing HRMPD across the Western Balkans, emphasizing leadership in dynamic environments, attracting top talent, and integrating insights from EU countries:

Conference on Innovative HRM for Public Administration of the Future & HRMPD Working Group Meeting

In October, in Ljubljana, we brought together around 50 public servants, policymakers, and HR professionals from the WB Administrations and Slovenia. The conference, hosted jointly with the Ministry of Public Administration of Slovenia, addressed the dynamic and evolving nature of public service leadership and explored the transformative role of HRM in shaping the future of public administration. The HRMPD Regional Thematic Group meeting followed the Conference and generated recommendations for future activities to foster collaboration among administrations and share best practices.

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Meeting of the Directors of Training Institutions from the Western Balkans

Held in October alongside the DISPA meeting, this gathering reaffirmed our dedication to enhancing networking and collaboration between Western Balkan institutions and their EU counterparts. Participants discussed progress since their last meeting in 2023, focusing on leadership, digital skills, knowledge management, training preparation, and the use of AI in developing training programs. The event also featured valuable insights from the National School of Public Administration of Croatia's State School of Public Administration

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Conference on Empowering Leaders: Advancing Leadership Excellence in the Western Balkans
In December, in collaboration with Croatia’s NSPA and France’s INSP, we hosted a conference in Zagreb that brought together leaders and experts to address challenges in leadership training within public administration. Practical insights were drawn from the Leadership Project implemented by NSPA and INSP, with contributions from other institutions like EKKDA and the CEF. The discussions at the World Café underscored the critical need for a comprehensive and context-sensitive approach to leadership training in the Western Balkans.

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Service Delivery

Activities within this thematic area have advanced digital transformation and quality management to improve public services, focused on strategies to enhance open government principles, emphasized citizen-centred approaches, and introduced innovative solutions in the public sector, including interoperability, trust services, and open data.

OGP Western Balkans Regional Meeting

Co-organised with the OGP Support Unit in Tirana in November, as an annual gathering of the Western Balkans OGP Community, the Meeting brought together Ministers, key government officials, civil society leaders, and experts from the Western Balkan administrations, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania to discuss critical issues around open government reforms, digital governance, and political integrity.

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The Interoperability Academy in North Macedonia

Held in December in Veles, this event was the third in a series of ReSPA Interoperability Academies across the Western Balkans. It gathered public officials, policymakers, technologists, and lecturers to address pressing interoperability challenges. Representatives from various ministries and institutions participated in discussions and sessions on establishing effective data exchange and improving public administration capabilities. The academy highlighted practical solutions, policy alignment, and the importance of stakeholder collaboration in advancing interoperability and digital transformation in North Macedonia.

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Data Protection Week for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership

In September, in collaboration with GIZ, SIGMA, and RCC, we supported the participation of Western Balkan Data Protection Authorities in this event held in Brussels and co-organized by DG JUST. The program included the Data Protection Academy and visits to the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) and European Data Protection Board (EDPB). Topics covered included GDPR implementation, cybersecurity in the context of personal data protection, and more. The event also featured DPAs from EU Member States, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.

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ReSPA team also supported the Regional INFOFEST 2024 Conference in Budva (where experts from government institutions and the private sector discussed key challenges such as technological barriers, organizational obstacles, and cybersecurity risks), IT Spot Conference in Podgorica (with the panel “Government Service Bus - The State and Awareness of the Need for a Fully Functional Data Exchange System”) and the Conference “Open Data in Montenegro – What does the new portal bring us?” (participating at the panel discussion “Which data do we need”).

The Regional Quality Management Centre (RQMC) team finalised PEF procedures in the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes of Serbia, the Civil Service Agency of Republika Srpska, the Office for Combatting Drugs of the Government of Serbia, and the Ministry of Information Society and Administration of North Macedonia (later on divided into the Ministry of Public Administration and Ministry of Digital Transformation). In parallel, our colleagues finalised the CAF implementation in the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro and started the implementation in the Municipality of Zeta, Montenegro, 2nd cycle in the Bureau of Metrology and Secretariat for Legislation of North Macedonia. 

The RQMC team also continued participating in revising the PEF Guidelines (an EUPAN document led by the EIPA CAF Resource Centre) which was presented at the Europe CAF Working Group meeting in Budapest in October. Finally, they participated in the regional meeting organised by the Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) presenting CAF as an institutional QM technique.  

4th Annual  RQMC Meeting 

Held in December, the event gathered virtually nominated ReSPA Quality Management Working Sub-group members, including the CAF and PEF Network. The RQMC team presented program activities implemented in 2024 under BACIDIII, along with anticipated directions for 2025. A representative from each administration briefly updated on their respective administration's state of play, followed by a discussion and formulation of proposals for future activities

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Mechanisms of Direct Support

On-demand instruments addressed the current needs of our Members. With 11 projects ongoing at various stages of implementation, we support 

In Bosnia and Herzegovina: development of strategic documents for HR Development at all administrative levels; development of a computer program to assist associations, and NPOs to registry in the register of the MoJ of BiH; the EIDAS and eIDAS 2.0 regulation, and boosting horizontal capacities in FBiH EU Integration process.

In Montenegro: development of the Strategy for the Development of Digital Health; improvement of administrative capacities in QM; training in the framework of Digital Academy ("Management of Open Data" and "Use, Processing and Protection of Data”). 

In North Macedonia: preparation of the Law for Archive Material and related bylaws and development of the National Electronic Archival and Records Management System. 

In Serbia: improvement of the Government's transparency.

Under currenteGov Pilotsinstruments, our team supports the Members in various areas: the Portal Open Data (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and further digitalisation of training management services of the National Academy for Public Administration (Serbia).

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Horizontal Facility

Horizontal Facility supports ad-hoc participation of public servants from the region in different regional and international conferences, training or other learning events organised by Institutes of Public Administration of the EU Member States, renowned schools or higher education institutions in EU working in the area of public policy, regional partners and other international actors. This way, we enabled the participation of 27 public servants from the WBs in the following initiatives: 3rd Workshop for data providers – data.europa.eu held in Paris in November, Data Science Conference Europe, Communicating in an EU-related Environment, and the 2024 European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) Conference 

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Mobility Schemes

Representatives of the Agency for Personal Data Protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina exchanged with their counterparts from the Information Commissioner of the Republic of Slovenia.

In November, they exchanged information on privacy policy, risk assessment, inspection supervision, the right to be forgotten (data subject rights), and administrative fines. The framework of data protection in Slovenia and the comparative exchange of knowledge and experience will be very useful to the beneficiaries.

Mobility and Capacity-Building Programme Crafted with Italian Institutions

Launched 2nd Cycle of Capacity-Building and Mobility Programme Connecting Western Balkans and Italian Administration

At the end of the year, we officially launched the second cycle of its flagship Capacity-Building and Mobility Programme, designed to strengthen ties between public administrations in the Western Balkans and Italy. The initiative, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, was unveiled during a dedicated Info Day, marking the continuation of a successful collaboration initiated in 2023. Building on the achievements of the first cycle, the new programme introduces an expanded framework to foster knowledge exchange, deepen cooperation, and enhance civil servants' capacities across the region. This cycle will focus on three key streams: EU Single Market, European Affairs and Integration, and Human Resources Management and Development.

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Concluded the 1st Cycle of the Mobility and Capacity-Building Programme that Linked the Western Balkans with the Italian Administration

In December, in Rome, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the National School of Administration (SNA), we hosted the closing workshop and certification ceremony for the Western Balkans Public Servants Capacity Building and Mobility Programme.  50+ participants and experts reflected on the program's transformative journey launched in December 2023, which marked a significant milestone in fostering collaboration between the Western Balkans and Italian public administrations.

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Regional Mobility Programme with Job-Shadowing Component

Concluded the Western Balkans Regional Mobility Programme

In October, we finalised this unique flagship initiative that included 24 public servants who worked and learned from regional organisations such as the Regional Cooperation Council, Transport Community Secretariat, Regional Youth Cooperation Office, CEFTA Secretariat, Western Balkans Fund, ReSPA Secretariat, etc. The programme significantly enhanced participants' understanding of regional collaboration mechanisms and the role of these organisations in advancing the Western Balkans' European integration agenda.

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Partnership

Our strong partnerships are flourishing and expanding rapidly.

Development Partners Dialogue Session Toward Better Coordination and Engagement with Regional and International Partners

Held as part of the HL Policy Dialogue in Skopje, the Session aimed to foster coordination and engagement with regional and international development partners, by enhancing collaboration and exchange among all stakeholders and contributing to better-targeted support for public administration reform processes across the region. High-ranking public servants across the Western Balkan region discussed challenges, current initiatives, and shared needs while presenting ongoing projects implemented in PAR. In return, development partners, including the European Commission’s DG NEAR, France’s DGAFP, the Embassy of Switzerland in Albania, GIZ, and the Centre of Excellence in Finance, shared their ongoing projects and priorities, outlining available resources and support mechanisms.     

Our team supported the launch of the “Ready4EU” Programme to mark the beginning of this important initiative of the Montenegrin Government to start the preparation of Montenegrin civil servants for their future work in the EU institutions, agencies, and advisory bodies. ReSPA contributed to conceptualising the draft curriculum for this programme and continued to provide support by hosting training sessions at its premises in Podgorica.  

For the first time, ReSPA participated in the EUPAN Directors General Meeting, organised under the Hungarian Presidency, while at the EUPAN Working Level Meeting ReSPA Director delivered the presentation on “Skills Development in Public Administration Related to Digital Services”.

ReSPA Director participated in the 18th Coordination Meeting of Regional Organization, organised in Trieste by the Central European Initiative, and presented the key practices in regional cooperation to senior representatives from the various regional organisations.  

Director Handjiska-Trendafilova also contributed to the Balkan Integration Forum 2024 and highlighted the need to build human capacities for a successful EU accession and effective utilisation of EU funds: “ReSPA is dedicated to public sector’s capacity building, regional civil servants’ mobility, and fostering peer networks with EU member states and remains open to further cooperation with ministries to enhance public services for our citizens and businesses”.

ReSPA Director enriched the High-Level Policy Dialogue Organized by the European School of Transnational Governance and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Held in October in Podgorica, the event was organised in the context of the broader capacity-building project for Western Balkan diplomats that the EUI is implementing with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Director Handjiska Trendafilova at WeBER PAR Platform Meeting: ReSPA Focuses on People-Centered Reforms

Held on 5-6 November in Skopje, the meeting brought together experts, civil society representatives, and government officials from across the region to discuss public administration reform and reinforce a shared commitment to participatory democracy and transparent governance within a European Administrative Space.

Signed Memorandums of Understanding with EKDDA Greece,  UNDP Montenegro and INA Romania aim to bolster administrative capacities in the region for EU accession by developing learning and capacity-building programs focused on public sector modernisation and digitalization. The ultimate goal is to establish a solid foundation for boosting support for transforming public administration from the Western Balkans into a fully modernised administrative system ready to meet all requirements stemming from the EU accession process and the overall socio-economic growth prospects.       

We welcomed delegations from GIZ and EKKDA 

The ReSPA team also welcomed a delegation from GIZ and EKKDA Greece and discussed further cooperation in advancing public administration reform across the region and the EU. The meetings highlighted key areas for collaboration, including capacity building, modernization of public services, and fostering effective governance to support the region's EU integration process.                        

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Indicative Programme Of Work 2025

Programme of Work 2025 provides the directions for supporting human resource development, facilitation of knowledge-sharing, and promotion of structured exchanges with EU Member States to ensure that the region's administrations are equipped to meet European governance principles and standards.

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ReSPA Team

Committed to Excellence: Continuation with CAF Implementation

Embarking on the 2nd Cycle of the CAF process in-house, we reaffirmed our dedication to institutional improvement and quality management. Upon finalising CAF Workshops, we finalized the Action Plan,  outlining targeted measures to enhance the organization’s efficiency, effectiveness, and service delivery. We are working toward obtaining the prestigious CAF Effective User Label - a recognition that validates adherence to the highest standards of quality management and institutional excellence.

Empowered With New Team Members: Boris Ristović and Caroline Socie Joined Our Team

Boris Ristović possesses extensive experience as a monitoring and evaluation manager for flagship US and EU regional programmes, promoting freedom of expression in the Western Balkans. He also collaborated with the Council of Europe and the EU on reforms in human rights, judiciary, and public administration in Montenegro, as well as with USAID and UNDP Montenegro, OECD/SIGMA, UNODC, UNCITRAL, and OSCE.

Expanding on the fruitful collaboration between ReSPA and the French Government, and as a testament to French support for ReSPA’s initiatives in advancing public administration transformation across the region, Ms. Caroline Socie, a French Technical Adviser, joined our team in November. She will lend her expert support to these crucial processes over the next two years.

In September, we continued to actively inspire other public institutions to build a greener and more sustainable future by working together in Urban Garden Podgorica. Immersing ourselves in the world of sustainable practices, we learned about urban gardening, composting, and eco-friendly techniques.

In December, we sought to symbolically support the wonderful team running the “Rastimo zajedno” (Growing Together) institution and bring joy to the beneficiaries of their institution. We donated equipment and spent time with them, drawing and playing, receiving a burst of love and positive energy in return, and being endlessly grateful for every smile and hug!

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Knowledge Management Platform

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