Dotacija

Dotacija is a term used in several South Slavic languages to denote a funded transfer, usually a monetary grant allocated for a specific purpose. It is typically provided by a government body, ministry, regional authority, or private foundation to a recipient such as a public institution, municipality, non-governmental organization, or project operator. The funds are generally non-repayable and may be accompanied by conditions, performance indicators, and reporting requirements.

Etymology and usage: The word is cognate with Czech/Slovak dotace and Polish dotacja and is widely used in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. In public administration, dotacije are earmarked allocations within a budget or external grants to support defined activities like education, culture, science, or social services.

Process and treatment: To obtain a dotacija, a recipient typically submits an application or proposal including a budget and plan. Authorities evaluate relevance, feasibility, and compliance with policy priorities, then approve an amount and disburse it according to a schedule. Ongoing reporting or audits are common to verify that funds are used as intended.

Variants and significance: While often non-repayable, dotacije can be conditional on achieving milestones or meeting procurement rules. They differ from loans (repayable), equity investments, or general subsidies that may have broader eligibility. In budgeting, dotacije are a tool to align public resources with policy aims.

See also: grant, subsidy, budget allocation, earmarked funds, public funding.