Donor: EU managed by the European Agency for Reconstruction

Duration: 16. November 2005 - 15. January 2007

Budget: 1.578.947,37 EUR

Region: Obrenovac, Petrovac na Mlavi and Sremska Mitrovica municipalities

Description: Overall project objectives are:

1. to support the National Strategy of the Government of Serbia for Resolving the Problems of Refugees and IDPs with special emphasis on facilitating the closure of collective centres;

2. to contribute to the overall livelihood enhancement in the target areas through socio-economic support (in kind grant activities).

The specific project objective is to contribute to resolving problems of the displaced in the target areas giving high priority to those still hosted in the collective centres and to support qualifying EVIs from the domicile population. Therefore the project aims to:

• provide relevant information to displaced population enabling them to decide whether to return to their original place of domicile or to remain temporarily or permanently in Serbia;
• assist the displaced in moving from collective centres to individual living or assisted living environments;
• assist the displaced moving from unsatisfactory private accommodation to a suitable individual living environment;
• support the displaced as well as especially vulnerable qualifying individuals from the domicile population to develop sustainable livelihoods;
• enhance the host community services and develop community actions that facilitate the process of integration.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives the project consists of the following components:

1. Construction component - construction of one apartment building with 44 housing units on the territory of Ptrovac na Mlavi municipality, as well as construction of 23 housing units on the territory of Obrenovac municipality.

2. Income-Generation component - support to 150 start-up businesses in the form of in-kind grants (equipment and/or material), business and vocational trainings, as well as providing professional follow-up and advice regarding the legal registration and other business issues. To enhance the results of the intervention, HELP is additionally involved in local capacity building, support to social or other public institutions and dissemination of information related to the return of refugees/IDPs.

3. Local capacity building - the purpose of this component is that municipal authorities further develop their knowledge of European Union management through the involvement in all the phases of the construction and IGA project component. Organizing of a 5-day seminar for the municipal officer is being planned.

4. Support to social or other public institutions - the aim of the project is to support at least one social or other public institutions per municipality in expanding their capacity or raising the level of their services. For the activities that are to be implemented an Agreement between HELP and the municipality will be concluded.

5. Information related to the return of refugees/IDPs- HELP continues the cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in regard to offering information related to the return of refugees/IDPs in the countries of origin.

Current activities - construction component

The final construction work of 44 housing units for permanent housing solution of refugees from collective center Kasarna in Petrovac was completed. Also, the official ceremony of keys handover to future tenants marked the completion of the construction of an apartment building in Obrenovac for 19 refugee families, whereas 4 housing units were intended for housing socially vulnerable families from domicile population.

Petrovac
Apartment building in Petrovac

Obrenovac
Apartment building

Current activities - Income-Generation component

Joint programme presentations financed by the European Union managed by European Agency for Reconstruction were held on 22nd December 2005 in Obrenovac municipality and on 23rd December 2005 in Petrovac na Mlavi municipality with the presence of partner non-governmental organizations, representatives Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia as well as municipal representatives.

Decembar 2005, Obrenovac and Petrovac na Mlavi
Joint programme presentations financed by the EU

After the completion of the second selection 150 final clients for Obrenovac, Petrovac na Mlavi and Sremska Mitrovica municipality have been selected (50 clients in Obrenovac, 19 in Petrovac na Mlavi and 81 in Sremska Mitrovica). The final clients attended the orientation trainings organized in June 2006. The purchase and distribution of equipment and/or material for selected clients was completed as well as monitoring of the final clients.

November 2006,
HELP clients

HELP organized consulting visits and workshops in cooperation with FAO consultants for the clients involved in agricultural production and cattle breeding.

The realization of 20 hours of work for community for the IGA clients was completed. So far, 108 clients completed their obligation such as organized actions of cleaning green areas, painting of the benches and tables in the pars, painting the bridges’ fences etc.

September, 2006, Obrenovac and Petrovac na Mlavi
Work for community

Current activites – support to social and other public institutions:

With the aim of improving the living conditions of the beneficiaries of the Specialized institution for persons with special needs “Gvozden Jovicic” Veliki Popovac, Petrovac na Mlavi, HELP, along with the institution itself, participates in the reconstruction of the central heating system by donating the boiler for heating oil and gas. Within this component, HELP signed a contract, for the washing machine donation, with the Gerontology center in Obrenovac, on 23 November with the aim of improving the living condition of the beneficiaries. The washing machine was delivered in February 2007 and the Gerontology personnel was trained for its use.

Veliki Popovac,Petrovac
Boiler for heating in “Gvozden Jovancicevic” institution

Obrenovac
Washing machine as a donation to Gerontolgy centre