Framework for Regional Development Vision

February 6, 2002, Zadar- Croatia

The final conference of the Framework for Regional Development Vision initiative was held in Zadar-Croatia on this date.

This initiative, in accordance with the principles established by the Stability Pact and with the EU enlargement prerequisites and best practices, aims at launching an up-to-date, bottom-up process of territorial management in the Croatian counties of Sibenik-Knin and Zadar.

The strategy of this pilot project is based on the principle that it is of outmost importance to redress regional imbalances, and to strengthen and upgrade the capacity to manage regional resources in order to better pave the ground for a sustainable return process of Serbs refugees in the area.

In this situation, the Post Conflict Grant was perfectly in line with the territorial needs of revitalization and valorization of the existing and potential social capital of the area. An interactive workshop was chosen as the most appropriate instrument to help the 55 beneficiaries selected among different sectors (local institutions, private stakeholders and NGOs) to express territorial needs and potentialities and to elaborate sustainable social development strategies based on a human capacity building process.

The Pilot project was well appreciated by the Croatian Government, it being in line with its on-going decentralization process and with its efforts towards local development empowerment.

Framework for Regional Development Vision website can be found at: http://www.frdv.com/eng/index.htm

Attached is the Summary Activity Report of the Framework for Regional Development Vision.