Local Democracy Agency Subotica

Local Democracy Agency LDA Subotica was founded in 1993 under the auspices of the Council of Europe and by an agreement with the local government of Subotica as a local NGO whose main mission was to promote local democracy and human rights in local multicultural community in the then war torn former Yugoslavia. Today LDA Subotica is registered as local NGO, member of the European Association for Local Democracy – ALDA, consistently advocating democratic governance and participation and getting the accession negotiation process with the EU closer to citizens in local communities in Serbia and in multicultural Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in particular. Our main programmes are focussed on capacity building, awareness raising and advocacy actions intended for three main target groups – policy and decision makers at local level, civil society organisations, youth and women’s groups in particular. Educating for democratic citizenship, promoting intercultural dialogue, regional cooperation, cross-sectoral partnership building for local sustainable development are the main types of our activities including also networking at regional and European level. ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy ALDA was established in 1999 at the initiative of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to coordinate and support a network of Local Democracy Agencies which was established in the early 1990s. It remains one of its supporting programmes. It is the umbrella organisation of the Local Democracy Agencies which are self-sustainable, locally registered NGOs that act as promoters of good governance and local self-government. ALDA is a membership based organisation gathering more than 180 members coming from more than 35 countries. ALDA is funded through membership fees and project funding from the European Commission, the Council of Europe and other public and private donors.