Summary
Public administration reform (PAR) is an essential requirement for successful implementation of various ongoing sector reforms in Serbia, in view of Serbia's EU accession perspective. As an integral part of PAR, public financial management (PFM) has an impact on economic governance and sustainability of socio-economic reforms.
The Sector Reform Contract assists the Government of Serbia in further improving the public administration in accordance with the PAR, ensuring provision of high quality services to citizens and businesses, and contributing to economic stability and better living standards. Assistance is focused on supporting the establishment of a more professional, depoliticised, accountable and fiscally responsible public administration, which provides better services in a timely fashion, both at central and local level.
Budget support aims to sustainably strengthen the capacity of the Serbian administration by using the Serbian policy and public finance systems in restructuring central government administration, policy planning and coordination, human resources management, public financial management and transparency and openness of the public administration through stronger participation of citizens and civil society organisations in the policy-making process.
Sustainable progress predicts political commitment to the reform process through political leadership and monitoring of implementation; appropriate coordination at all levels of governance; professionalisation and transparency of administration; de-politicisation, merit-based recruitment and promotion of civil servants; better administrative procedures and e-government services and commitment to a more comprehensive approach to public finance management.