From 18 to 30 November 2021, within the second phase of the ROMACTED programme, workshops on ‘Participatory Local Strategic Planning` were held for members of the Community Action Groups (CAGs) in 13 partner cities and municipalities in Serbia, as follows: Aleksinac, Bač, Kostolac, Kragujevac, Kruševac, Lebane, Niš, Pirot, Prokuplje, Subotica, Vrnjačka Banja, Zaječar and Zvezdara. Except in Apatin, the sessions took place in all other partner cities/municipalities.

These workshops covered the following topics: introduction to strategic planning, setting goals and priorities, communication, and sharing roles in the team.

The workshops were delivered to strengthen the capacities and skills in the planning process of the Community Action Groups as well as in the process of preparing goals and priorities at the local level and their active participation in the work of local self-government. The acquired skills and information will enhance the understanding of active citizenship among the community members, especially regarding the process of planning municipal policies and activities. Furthermore, they served as a team-building exercise for CAG members to prepare for the incoming activities as well as to enhance the understanding of the programme`s methodology.

Workshops targeted 130 representatives of the local community in the 13 partner cities and municipalities, out of which 59 were Roma women. By the end of the training sessions, the participants emphasized that such training was beneficial and encouraging for incoming plans and activities in their communities and municipalities.

In 14 partner cities and municipalities, 33 Community Action Groups were established, numbering a total of 262 members, out of which 138 are Roma women.