Programme for Supporting Local Initiatives in Southeastern Europe
	Introduction The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Regional Environmental Center (REC) signed an Agreement to implement a project supporting the development of local environmental action plans (LEAPs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo as defined by UNSCR 1244 in November 2007. The project aims to assist further development of capacities of local institutions in SEE for sustainability planning and management by addressing issues of abating environmental degradation, decentralization, strengthening local institutions, reducing negative effects of shifts in political structures, enhancing the speed of institutional reforms. This is in line with the requirements of decentralization and regionalization as reform goals stipulated in negotiations and/or agreements on approximation of SEE countries with EU. This project will help 19 municipalities in SEE (in B&H, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo as defined by UNSCR 1244) to develop their LEAPs and to implement environmental priority project defined within the LEAP. The project consists of 2 components: Component 1: Development of LEAPs The project will guide 19 municipalities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo/a, Macedonia and Serbia to draft LEAPs. Municipalities will be selected according to previously defined criteria agreed with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). This project will set up working groups, survey citizens' opinions, assess the state of environment, define and rank environmental problems, assess priorities and prepare a detailed action plan that includes the activities that should be taken in order to improve the current state of environment. The REC LEAP methodology will be used for LEAP development. Once the LEAP documents are formally adopted, the project will provide financial support for implementing environmental priority projects in all selected municipalities that will be asked to provide not less than 50% of co-financing of the total value of the projects to be implemented. Investment activities will be identified in the LEAPs according to local priorities, in line with regional/national requirements and plans. Also, targeted training for key local stakeholders on development of implementation plan, preparation and financing of investment projects will be organized. Municipalities that have already developed LEAPs with support from the Sida and other donors will play an important role in this project as their experiences and lessons learned will be fed into the relevant capacity building activities. Component 2: Regional cooperation The project will provide support for national and regional networking of LEAP stakeholders from beneficiary municipalities and will draw upon the knowledge and experience of LEAP practitioners from across the region that have already finalized the process and implemented priority investment projects in their communities. This will be done by organizing ad-hoc bilateral visits between municipalities, 12 national coordination meetings and two regional workshops that will provide a clearing house facility for information on LEAPs and local sustainable development. Duration of the project: November 2007 - October 2010.   Contact person: Andrea Bevanda-Hrvo Tel/fax: 033 209 130 E-mail: abevanda@rec.org.ba				Component 1: Development of LEAPs - Goals and activities   Component 2: Regional cooperation - Goals and activities