Specific objectives:
- To empower civil society engagement in safeguarding the integrity and the democratic character of the elections
- To enhance transparency, accountability and integrity of the election process
- To mobilize citizens for an ongoing scrutiny and demand for free and fair elections
Main project activities are the following:
1-Capacity building for civil society organizations and network development
Capacity building and network development activity will be consisted of the following sub-activities:
- Recruitment of local coordinators and long-term observers (LTOs)
- Capacity building program
for the “Citizens on Watch” local coordinators and LTOs
2-Grant programme for support to local CSOs “Innovative approach towards improvement of election procedures and participatory democracy”
- The overall objective of the program for support to local CSOs is to contribute to the citizens’ engagement in democratic processes and increase public demand for free and fair elections.
- Specific objective of the
program is to raise level of citizens’ political literacy and restore public
confidence in the election process.
3-Advocacy campaign for
improvement of election`s legislative framework and adoption of international
election observation recommendations
Advocacy objectives to be achieved by the campaign will be the
following:
- Established advocacy group as the supporting mechanism for improvement of election rules and procedures;
- Enabled dialogue between civil society and public authorities for improvement of participatory democracy and election integrity;
- Obtained citizens’ support for adoption of one unified electoral law;
- Developed model of unified
electoral law submitted to the National Parliament.
4-Public awareness campaign
Public awareness campaign will be the key activity to mobilize citizens for an
ongoing scrutiny and demand for free and fair elections. Through public
awareness campaign citizens’ support for advocacy campaign will be obtained and
utilized in support of civic initiative towards the National Parliament.
- Preparatory activity - Creation of Campaign Action Plan
- Development of online educational tools and upgrade of Citizens on Watch website
- Field actions in 20 cities
- Billboards in 20 citiesž
- Meetings with local and regional CSOs and other stakeholders
- Research and promotion of “Election procedures in Serbia 2012-2017 – South Serbia case study”
Outputs of the project:
- Recruited and trained 30 local coordinators of the Citizens on Watch network
- At least 30 LTOs recruited and equipped with knowledge and skills to conduct election observation missions
- Citizens in local communities more aware about the right to vote and the importance of democratic engagement
- Established working groups which support the advocacy initiative
- Developed model of unified electoral law