Representatives of the organisation Help and the Municipality of Prijepolje, signed the cooperation agreement within the Swedish-funded through Sida, the project “Increased employability and income generation for vulnerable groups” on Wednesday, 8 September 2021.
With this agreement signed the cooperation between Help and Prijepolje officially started on a project whose general goal is to contribute the poverty reduction, social inclusion, sustainable and inclusive economic development, as well as decent work (SDG 8) through providing better access to the labour market and employment.
“At least 20 people will be supported in Prijepolje with an in-kind grant with an average value of two thousand Euros in starting or developing their business activity. This improves the opportunities for vulnerable populations with special emphasis on groups at increased risk of poverty and social exclusion, such as Roma, informal waste collectors, long-term unemployed youth and women, rural population, large families, under-educated and minority groups” said Help’s Regional Serbia and Montenegro Coordinator Klaus Mock during the agreement signing.
The total value of direct investment of donor funds in Prijepoje in the first one-year phase of the project amounts to over 42 thousand euros, while the Municipality as a project partner co-finances almost 30 per cent.
The previous Help support through eight projects in Prijepolje is worth over 300 thousand euros, so the President of the Municipality, Mr Vladimir Babic, commented on the sustainability of the so-far implemented activities saying:
“Businessmen who were supported by this organisation many years ago still exist in this area and are proud of their businesses,” said Babic.
Help Kraljevo office in charge of the project realisation in Prijepolje will organise an information campaign to inform interested persons about the way and conditions for applying in due time depending on the pandemic measures.
Help’s 2,8 million EUR project “Increased employability and income generation for vulnerable groups” is financed by Sweden through Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Sida, and will be implemented in 16 cities and municipalities in Serbia from July 2021 until the end of June 2025. In the first phase, at least 176 in-kind grants worth 2,000 and 3,600 euros will be distributed, as well as business and professional training sessions for beneficiaries and their family members.
