Newsroom
OSCE Kosovo Mission helps local authorities boost service to citizens
PRISTINA 15 December 2004
PRISTINA, 15 December 2004 - A four-day public relations training course for more than 20 municipal information officers is taking place this week in Pristina. It will help Kosovo institutions provide better services and improve communication with the residents.
"No government initiative can be successful without effective communication with the public," said Virginie Wyart, the OSCE Mission's Municipal Governance Support Officer. "This is even more important in developing societies, where functional institutions are being established."
The role of information officers is crucial in ensuring citizen participation in the decision-making process, and the responsiveness of the government to the people's needs.
Professor Besim Spahic, a public relations expert and author of a number of books on social marketing, who will be in charge of the training, said: "Each official needs to ask themselves what the purpose of their post is and how are they making Kosovo a better place for its people. They further need to ensure citizens are aware and supportive of the answers they provide."
Representatives of the Office of the President of Kosovo are also attending the training course.
Last year, the OSCE Mission took a group of municipal information officers to Bosnia and Herzegovina to share work experience on information campaigns, websites, freedom of information and other municipal outreach projects with counterparts in Mostar and Sarajevo.
In 2005, greater attention will be placed on the communications aspect of their good governance. Further initiatives in this respect will be provided in consultation with the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration.
The Mission has contributed to building local capacity helping ensure municipal and central level government have the ability to provide services.
"No government initiative can be successful without effective communication with the public," said Virginie Wyart, the OSCE Mission's Municipal Governance Support Officer. "This is even more important in developing societies, where functional institutions are being established."
The role of information officers is crucial in ensuring citizen participation in the decision-making process, and the responsiveness of the government to the people's needs.
Professor Besim Spahic, a public relations expert and author of a number of books on social marketing, who will be in charge of the training, said: "Each official needs to ask themselves what the purpose of their post is and how are they making Kosovo a better place for its people. They further need to ensure citizens are aware and supportive of the answers they provide."
Representatives of the Office of the President of Kosovo are also attending the training course.
Last year, the OSCE Mission took a group of municipal information officers to Bosnia and Herzegovina to share work experience on information campaigns, websites, freedom of information and other municipal outreach projects with counterparts in Mostar and Sarajevo.
In 2005, greater attention will be placed on the communications aspect of their good governance. Further initiatives in this respect will be provided in consultation with the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration.
The Mission has contributed to building local capacity helping ensure municipal and central level government have the ability to provide services.