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Projects

Support to socio-economic stability in the Western Balkans region

Increase capacity of economically and socially vulnerable groups to participate more fully in society and access to labour market, decrease poverty levels and contribute inclusion of Roma into Montenegrin society.

  • Duration: April 2017 – January 2019
  • Donor: German Government - Ministry of foreign affairs (AA)
  • Budget: 3,858,350.44 EUR
  • Region: Western Balkans
  • Target group: Start-up businesses, micro and small businesses, unemployed women, youth, national minority groups, disabled, less employable categories of population

Objectives

The overall objective of the regional project is to increase the capacity of economically and socially vulnerable groups to participate more fully in society while the specific objectives aim to decrease poverty levels among economically vulnerable groups, increase access to labour market in Serbia for the former prisoners, and contribute inclusion or Roma into Montenegrin society.

Description

Through in-kind grants, educational/vocational training, networking and mentoring the project activities will lead to economic empowerment of the targeted group, decrease the level of poverty, and increase their employment prospects.

Results

  • 720 fully operational micro businesses in Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, generating sufficient income
  • 2785 persons in Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Montenegro, attended business and professional training increasing their skills and knowledge in business running, thus enhancing their business efficiency and competitive performance including the employees and convicts in the correctional institutions
  • 11 cooperatives/associations - Community Entrepreneurial Initiatives (KOS, SRB) established and fully operational generating income
  • 15 correctional facilities in KOS, MNE, SRB equipped and increased the performance level of the treatment programme
  • 30 former prisoners in Serbia assisted with in-kind grants through the resocialisation programme
  • 2 small scale initiatives supported in Serbia (nursing facility for adults with mental disabilities Kulina and boarding school Strelac, 541 direct beneficiary)
  • 10 vulnerable families in MNE provided with durable housing solutions (4 prefabs, 10 families, 67 households' members)
  • 5 RAE mediators for health, social and employment trained and employed in MNE
  • 448 RAE population members assisted by the RAE mediators in MNE
  • 369 ad hoc emergency aid beneficiaries in MNE supported
  • Created and applied mechanisms and models for the resocialisation of former prisoners in SRB, KOS, MNE
  • Project partners enhanced their management capacities in the socio-economic projects implementation.
In Help's regional project 4395 direct beneficiaries were supported and empowered towards self-reliance.