The Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government Marija Obradović called on the UNDP representatives in Serbia today, together with the Ministry, to support women mayors and presidents of municipalities in Serbia in performing the newly entrusted duties the best way possible.
In a conversation with Francine Pickup, the UNDP Resident Representative in Serbia, Minister Obradović pointed out that, in addition to the usual cooperation with local self-governments, one should be aware of the bigger picture and that women today lead those municipalities and cities with the most difficult current situation. In addition to continuing and improving the current cooperation and overcoming the existing challenges, she asked the UNDP to pay special attention to supporting small local governments in the face of COVID-19 pandemic by purchasing thermal cameras for measuring body temperature. That way the municipalities themselves would send a good message to their citizens – users of their services – that small communities in the country were modernized, but that we all also needed a new behavior in times of crisis, said Minister Obradović.
The UNDP Resident Representative in Serbia informed the Minister about the current cooperation and the effects of the projects that this organization is implementing together with the Ministry, as well as challenges and new ideas that could be jointly implemented in the coming period.
Minister Obradović agreed that it was necessary to continue and intensify cooperation in all phases of the implementation of projects aimed at supporting local development and reforms of state administration and local self-government.