The first of three sensitisation meetings to present the EU-funded project Rural development guided by rural civil society organizations was held on 22 February 2018 at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (Tehnopolis) in Niksic.

The overall goal of the project is to increase the impact of rural CSOs, and increase their involvement in the development of public policies and decision-making processes. This will be achieved through improving the capacity of rural CSOs for advocacy, lobbying and networking, as well as through their better knowledge of how to influence local and national decision-making processes.

The main activities of the project include: identifying and networking rural CSOs; building their capacities for rural development policies; identifying the potential for research and advocacy; and ensuring a sustainable dialogue with key local/national authorities.

The meeting’s participants highlighted key issues to be resolved: the continuous migration of people from rural areas, particularly the young; the lack of standardized product quality; the lack of formal legal regulation for certain branches of agriculture; the small number of registered rural households, and their poor knowledge; and the lack of general infrastructure. The participants also discussed further steps necessary to promote rural development, including better communication, infrastructure, education, motivation and incentives for the young, as well as the greater involvement of local self-government.

The project is being implemented by CNVP Montenegro, the Regional Development Agency Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, the Association of Livestock Producers, the Network for Rural Development.