Branka Mracevic is a distinguished professional with a degree in Political Science specializing in International Relations and Diplomacy, recognized for her academic excellence. She also holds a Master’s degree in European Studies from the International University for Social Studies “Luiss Guido Carli” in Rome, Italy.

 

With over 15 years of experience in project management, Branka has worked across civil, public, and international sectors, focusing on EU integration and funding programs. As Head of the Department for International Relations and EU Projects in the Municipality of Herceg Novi and Advisor for EU Projects and International Cooperation in the Municipality of Kotor, she has successfully developed and managed EU/IPA-funded projects in digitalization, tourism, culture, and democratization.

 

Her expertise extends to consulting public institutions on EU integration and project cycle management (PCM), a role she has undertaken for six years. Additionally, she has served as the Vice President of the Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) in Montenegro, further solidifying her leadership in international cooperation and development initiatives.

Goran in the previous 25 years, had good cooperation with the Union of Municipalities and participated in the drafting of all local regulations (and model acts) related to citizen participation in decision-making, organization and functioning of local communities, cooperation between local administration etc.

 

In addition, he has been providing expertise to the UoM in the preparation of the first analysis of the training needs of local officials. He has held dozens of workshops for representatives of local self-governments and CSOs, mainly on the topic of citizens’ participation in decision-making at the local level and the functioning of local communities.

 

He was engaged in the preparation and implementation of the program of strengthening the capacity of local self-governments to manage the process of financing CSO projects from the budget of local self-governments (UNDP ReLOAD program). He is a member of the Working Group of the MPA for the drafting of the new Law on Local Self-Government, while has been engaged in the Working Group for analysing the functioning of local self-governments in Montenegro.

 

He is a trainer and consultant in strategic planning, managing advocacy campaigns, project management, organizational management, fundraising, human resources development, etc.

Mrs. Jolanda Trebicka will be appointed as the Project Director. She has a very reach experience in supporting municipalities in the area of EU integration and EU access of funding, thanks to her 6 years of experience as the Team Leader of the EU funded project in Montenegro “Municipalities for Europe (2017 – 2024) – www.bpe.al and her 17 years’ experience on supporting Western Balkan countries, including Montenegrin’s authority in IPA CBC programming and implementation.

 

She has been part of the SIGMA/OECD team assessing the intermunicipal cooperation in Western Balkans during 2023. She will be the official liaison between the EUD and the Consortium, and will have the overall responsibility for the contract and operational aspects of Project delivery, approving work plans for planned expenditures, close collaboration with the TL in the day-to-day management of the Project.