The Local Democracy Agency in Osijek is a non-governmental and non-profit association established in 1993 by the support program of Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in order to foster local democracy, human rights, sustainable development and local economic development in war stricken Eastern Croatia. It has been registered as an association of the Republic of Croatia since 2001. It is established on the principles of de-centralised international cooperation and since 1999, furthermore it has been an ALDA member. Since its establishing in 1993, LDA Osijek, in accordance with its mission, supports and fosters democracy at local level by strengthening and building capacities of different local stockholders and target groups in order to become efficient actors in local communities.
STRATEGIC GOALS:
Building of social capital and re-establishing of confidence in Eastern Croatia Networking of local stakeholders with European partners Promotion of concept of active European democratic citizenship Promotion of EU programs involving youth Promotion of EU policies - agricultural, rural and sustainable development policy Fostering of new, creative initiatives which contribute to sustainable development
Promotion and inclusion of tradition and heritage in new development trends
PROGRAMMES AND TARGET GROUPS:
Projects and activities of LDA Osijek can be divided into two main program areas:
- Promotion of European values and standards. This program makes efforts to familiarize local communities with the objectives, the values, the functioning and the institutions and policies of the European Union in a way it is accessible to the population. Its aim is to demystify EU membership and make Croatia’s integration process towards EU easier. A very important target group in the frame of this project for us are local authorities, civil society representatives and young people.
- Fostering of local economic development. The main objective of this program is to introduce and indicate the different possibilities and models of development in accordance with EU policies on agriculture, rural and sustainable development. Apart from local authorities and civil society this project targets also youth, farmers and ordinary citizens. As Eastern Croatia is a heavily war-struck area and also officially belongs to category of areas of special state concern and welfare in the same time re- building of social cohesion and synergy is always very high on the hidden agenda of this program.
METHODOLOGY:
Non-formal education of local capacities which combines trainings, workshops, study trips, campaigns and transfer of know-how and good practice and principle of trans-border
cooperation represent leading methodologies and approaches in our work.
