UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

2011

  • The Agreement on Inter-municipal Cooperation and MoU with USAID Sustainable Local Development Programme was signed with municipalities of Doljevac, Merosina and Gadzin Han. This new five-year-long programme worth $22 million has the objective to support long-term economic and social development of the communities in Serbia. The project components comprise inter-municipal cooperation in implementation of big infrastructural and development projects beneficial to all the municipalities involved, empowering and enabling local self-governments, increased citizens’ participation, strengthening youth competitiveness, creating favorable business climate.

2010

  • New regional office of USAID's Agribusiness project was opened in Niš. The Project will last for 2 years and it will cover the region of South and East Serbia. Agriculturists will receive grants for improvement of production while USAID experts will assist them in application of contemporary standards.
  • Ambassador Mary Warlick visited Niš Public Library on the occasion of donating US $4,500 in computer equipment on behalf of the American people.
  • A new generator, donation from USAID that will provide alternative supply of electricity in sudden situations, was installed in Institute for Urgent Medical Help in Niš. New generator is three times stronger than the previous one that has been used in this health institution. Alternative supply with electricity will above all, enable undisturbed functioning of Call Center in situations of emergency.

2008 - 2009

  • USAID- Agribusiness project
    • After the official opening of 2nd Fair of Agriculture in Niš, on September 26th 2008, Jean Nil, director of USAID Agribusiness project, signed Cooperation Agreement for financial means in the amount of 60.000 dollars with representatives of Niš City. Financial support provided to Niš by this USAID project in order to improve the quality of fair, almost doubled the number of exhibitors and visitors and enabled participation of business and financial subjects such as banks and counseling institutions. Producers and experts for agricultural equipment were among the exhibitors that year which brought to exchange of ideas and good practices as well as to new acknowledgments in the area of techniques and technologies in agricultural sector. The greatest support to agricultural fair from Agribusiness project was a creation of mobility which enabled that cattle breeding fair was held separately which contributed to a higher number of exhibitor and bigger diversity of those who took part at the fair. Seminars about HACCAP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) and management of economy were held during the fair which contributed to producers from the area of agriculture and craft shops in understanding necessity of food safety, good management of economy and international standards.
    • On 3. Agricultural Fair in Niš in 2009. USAID Agribusiness project financed organization of agricultural counseling.
    • A one-day educative seminar- "Global Gap- a Step Towards Strategy on Safety, was held for the purpose of Administration for agriculture and development of villages of the City of Niš and in organization of Agribusiness project.
  • Program for planning and reaction in crisis situations and strengthening of economic safety.
    Cooperation between the City of Niš and USAID Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Niš and DAI (Development Alternatives Inc.), implementing partner of the Program for planning and reaction in crisis situations and strengthening of economic safety- Crisis Management (2008). The program is aimed at giving support to building sustainable and system access to Management of Crisis Situations on the Local Level and assists municipalities too meet international standards in planning and reacting. The Annex of the Agreement on Cooperation was signed in April 2009 and relates to development of Safety Strategy aimed at the improvement of city capacities for management in crisis situations and improvement of citizens' safety. 
    Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA), Cooperation between the City of Niš and Urban Institute, the Agency that implemented the Program of Support to Economic development of USA agency for international development MEGA Program
  • COMPONENT OF LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
    • Office for Local Economic Development was founded within implementation of USAID-MEGA program
    • Council for economic development
    • Strategic planning of local economic development
    • Training of Office for Local Economic Development staff
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  • COMPONENT FOR STRENGTHENING MUNICIPAL CAPACITIES  
    • Providing expert aid related to debts of City Administration aimed at financing projects of capital investments. 
      • MEGA program provided training on the following issues: debits of the cities on the loan market, management of debt and presentation of credit worthiness of the cities to private institutions and international donors. As well, software and expert aid were provided in order to update the data base- Instrument for analysis of credit-worthiness of the cities (CATII), used for analysis and presentations of credit-worthiness of the cities, training for CATII software use.
    • A Citizen Assistance Center (CAC)/One-stop Permitting Center (OSPC)
    • Preparation of perennial Plan of capital investments (2009) within Strategic plan of economical development
      • Plan of capital investments is a perennial plan covering capital projects for the period of 5 years and represents system approach to investments planning. Such an approach will enable the City of Niš to better use capacities of city budget and enable better access to external financial resources. The development of all comprising investment plan will enable development of new and improvement of the existing services to citizens and implementations of main strategies of the City. Perennial plan of capital investments should contain all public investments planned on the territory of the City of Niš or are under its competence.
    • Establishment and improvement of cooperation between Urban Planning Institute and Office for Local Economic Development.
    • Creating mechanisms that will enable inclusion of local-self government in privatization process.
    • Management of assets and means
      • Project of Niš City Land Management and Administration Modernization. This project is aimed at creation of data basis of land sites to which the City is entitled and which would serve the city for systematic and planned management of the land sites with the final aim of encouraging economic development and accomplishment of other strategic goals of the City with respect of basic citizen's needs nowadays.
      • Through this project the City of Niš obtained donation in computer equipment from MEGA program. As well, MEGA program financed the development of Feasibility Study for the location in Donje Međurovo. Three people were engaged under contract on land surveying, for four months, are paid by MEGA program.
    • Building capacities needed for establishment of public and private partnership sector.
    • City of Niš is preparing Regional Plan for Management of Solid Waste with technical and financial aid of USAID-MEGA program (2009)
    • Project "Sewage System in Industrial Zone North"  was done within USAID-MEGA program.(2009)

2004

  • In June 2004 the City of Niš and CHF International/Serbia signed the Agreement on Cooperation on implementation of Development program (CRDA – Community Revitalization through Democratic Action). This program supports proactive role of local communities in planning and accomplishment of selected aims through independent and responsible decisions. Local communities selected for implementation of this program are: Gornji Komren, Gornji Matejevac, Mezgraja and Mramor.

2002 - 2003

  • In July 2002, the City of Niš and USA Agency for International Development (USAID), which defines modes of cooperation between USAID and the City of Niš on the implementation of the project Serbian Local Government Development Program (SLGRP). Within this project:
    • A Citizen Assistance Center (CAC) was opened. Its investment value was 7.5 mil dinars, out of which the City of Niš invested 4,3 while USA Agency for Development invested 3,2 mil. dinars (2003); 
    • Project "Business Improvement District- BID Zone Niš" was initiated with the donation of УСАИД (CHF) (2003);
    • American Culture Center was opened in cooperation with Press and Culture Department of USA Embassy (2003).

2001

  • American Embassy supported the reconstruction of Niš Cathedral in 2001  with 20.000 DM.

2000

  • In August 2000, US Ministry for State Affairs approved donation in the amount of 168.000,00 dollars for assistance in the areas of health care, environmental protection, communal services and education within the project (SMAP – Serbian Material Assistance Program). The donation was realized through partnership activity with cities of Sofia (Bulgaria), Columbus (Ohio) and Niš (Serbia) within International Resource Cities program whose material support was provided by USAID. SMAP program was realized by mutual cooperation of ICMA (International City/County Management Association) and Fund Chance for Stability from Segedin. Within this project, PUC Mediana got as a present a compactor for waste compacting of 90.000 MD value and a fence around the landfill, 1600 m long and of 60.000 DM value. As well, PUC Naissus and PE Pcelica got the donation within this program.
  • Donation of US agency for aid USAID to clinical center and PE Pcelica in the amount of 85.000 Dollars For sanitation and upbuilding of Gynecology and Maternity Clinic, Clinical Center Niš received 50.000 Dollars while 35.000 dollars were used for equipping a kindergarten Vilin grad in Čalije Settlement. 
  • City, friend of Niš City- Columbus City, Ohio