final narrative report - care Österreich...vlasenica on strengthening existing relationships with...

Inclusive Economic Growth and Employment Generation in Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina – Birac Region Contract No. 2013/336-866

1st INTERIM NARRATIVE REPORT

The European Union’s EU Support to Local Economic

Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

This project is funded by The European Union and The Austrian Development Cooperation

A project implemented by

Action title (Acronym): LED Birac

Contract No: 2013/336-866 Reporting period: 15 Jan -31 Dec, 2014

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ANNEX VI

INTERIM NARRATIVE REPORT

1. Description

1.1. Name of Coordinator of the grant contract: CARE Österreich

1.2. Name and title of the Contact person:

Judit Kontseková, CARE Österreich, Project Officer

Branislav Tanasijevic, CARE in the Balkans, Project Manager

1.3. Name of Beneficiary(ies) and affiliated entity(ies) in the Action:

Municipality of Vlasenica

Regional Advisory Service Bratunac

Women’s Association „Maja“ Kravica

1.4. Title of the Action:

Inclusive Economic Growth and Employment Generation in Eastern Bosnia and

Herzegovina – Birac Region

1.5. Contract number: 2013/336-866

1.6. Contract duration: 15 January 2014 – 15 June 2016

1.7. Start date and end date of the reporting period: 15.01-31.12.2014

1.8. Target country(ies) or region(s): Bosnia and Herzegovina, Birac Region

1.9. Final beneficiaries &/or target groups1 (if different) (including numbers of women and men)

Municipal governments of Srebrenica, Bratunac, Milici and Vlasenica supported

to improve business environment for agricultural SMEs and cooperatives;

Regional Advisory Service/RAS, Women’s NGO MAJA through strengthening

capacities as sustainable support institutions to SMEs

At least 80 local agricultural SMEs and cooperatives receiving training and

support to improve production and sales;

At least 120 potential women and social entrepreneurs supported through

training and at least 25 through grants schemes;

4 young professionals trained through job placement (50% women).

1.10. Country(ies) in which the activities take place (if different from 1.7): N/A

1 “Target groups” are the groups/entities who will be directly positively affected by the project at the Project Purpose

level, and “final beneficiaries” are those who will benefit from the project in the long term at the level of the society or

sector at large.



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2. Assessment of implementation of Action activities

2.1. Executive summary of the Action

The main goal of the Action is to enhance inclusive economic growth and employment

generation in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Birac Region and to improve

competitiveness of agricultural SMEs and producers through establishment of sustainable

support mechanisms and provision of technical support in 4 target municipalities – Bratunac,

Srebrenica, Milici and Vlasenica. The goal of the project will be achieved through: A)

Investing resources into the improvement of the business environment for (mainly export-

oriented) agricultural SMEs and producers and by strengthening capacities of the co-

applicants by delivering comprehensive capacity assessment and technical expertise. B)

Strengthening capacities of Agricultural SMEs and producers (mainly cooperative members)

operating in the project target area through the tailor made training program carried out by

the co-applicant Regional Advisory Service and through a project grants scheme for the total

of 16 beneficiaries – SMEs/agricultural cooperatives/cooperatives’ members.

C) Increasing the inclusion of women in agricultural entrepreneurship by promoting

women’s and social entrepreneurship as a sustainable business by supporting the

development and work of the first women’s cooperative Maja Kravica.

In the project inception period (Jan-Feb) CARE and co-applicants engaged the staff; MoUs

were signed between the project and target municipalities; the project was presented to the

wider communities through local media. These activities were followed by the needs

assessments for all three project components: assessments of business environment; of

needed technical support to food production agricultural producers/SMEs, as well as to

socially oriented food producers in the target region. In June, the project steered the

dialogues aiming at improving business environment in the target area (Expected Result 1),

by organising round tables in the local communities which resulted in establishing contacts

and communication among the local stakeholders active in agricultural development. The

exchange forums for women and social entrepreneurs organized under ER3 proved as a

successful format for spreading good practice among established and aspiring women

entrepreneurs. During the first year of the implementation the ground was prepared for the

launch of the comprehensive grant schemes. Under the training program for individual

beneficiaries, food production SMEs and agricultural cooperatives 88 business plans were

completed (51 by women, 24 for individual producers and 13 for SMEs and cooperatives.).

Representatives of 14 SMEs/cooperatives and 200 individuals participated in the trainings

(126 women). To support the work of the partners and the target municipalities the young

professional program was initiated and 4 young interns hired. The partners RAS and Maja

are being strengthened to act as qualified and impactful resource centres in their respective

fields.

The activities of the inception phase and project organised needs assessments were done

mainly on time. Despite the severe May flooding and its devastating effect on the agriculture

in the region the project progress has been considerable. The activities affected are the

cancelled Raspberry Fair (planned initially for June) and the every-day cooperation with all

four municipalities regarding issues not related to floods was in some extent hindered

because of the overwhelming engagement of the entire municipals’ staff on the recovery.

Indicators of the Specific Objective, and level of achievement if available at this stage:

SOI 1 Number of food production SMEs and agricultural cooperatives

that increased their production and sales by 10% over baseline Level of achievement is

not available at this project

stage

SOI 2 At least half of target SMEs and cooperatives created at least one

new job opportunity by the end of the project

SOI 3 Number of new women led and social enterprises operational by

the end of the project as a result of the intervention



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2.2. Results and Activities

Inception and cross cutting activities:

A.0.1 Recruit staff, signing of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)

between CARE, co/applicants and associates/beneficiaries (Month 1).

The CARE project team consisting of Project Manager and Project Coordinator and supported

by administrative, financial and program CARE staff, as planned in the project proposal, was

operational during the reporting period. Signing of MoUs with between CARE, co/applicants

and associates/beneficiaries was carried out at the kick-off meeting (A.0.2).

A.0.2 Organization of the project’s kick-off meeting

The kick off meeting was organized in Vlasenica municipality on March 28, attended by 53

participants, including Vlasenica Mayor, CARE Balkans Director Sumka Bucan,

representatives of municipalities Milici, Srebrenica and Bratunac, co-applicants RAS and

Maja, local media and food producers from the target region. The aim was to promote the

project to wider population and sign the MoUs among project partners and associates.

CARE is satisfied with attendance of the invited parties and level of media reporting about the

event.

A.0.3 Carry out baseline survey (Months 2-4) – eliminated activity, as per agreement with

DEC.

A.0.4 Meetings among co/applicants

The project proposal planned to conduct partners’ meetings quarterly. However, in the course

of the project implementation, the team realized the necessity for more frequent gatherings.

Thus, in this reporting period, 13 partners meetings were organised: orientation meeting on

February 26 among CARE, municipality of Vlasenica, RAS and Maja, to discuss all project

activities and future cooperation, establish communication channels and agree on the activity

plan Jan-March 2014. The next two partners’ meetings were organized in March and June and

in the period June – December another 9 meetings, all to plan further implementation and

discuss current issues of importance to the Action (coordination, opening of public calls etc.).

The meeting held in June was particularly focused on floods and their repercussions on the

project activities. In agreement with the Donor, the project slightly modified its activities’ plan

according to the new situation, which will be explained within the descriptions of particular

activities. Apart from the co-applicants (CARE, Vlasenica, Maja and RAS) the representatives

of associate municipalities Bratunac, Srebrenica and Milici were also invited to some of the

meetings, which helped to initiate good cooperation and coordination of all project associates.

A.0.5 Conduct semi-annual coordination and information sharing meetings with 4

municipalities

The project team decided to change the frequency of the coordination meetings: initially they

were planned as semi-annual, however the first coordination meetings were held on 18 March

and 03 June, merged with partners meetings. Namely, all 4 municipalities’ representatives

were invited to these two partners meetings, to facilitate their inclusion in the project and to

agree on the project activities. The meetings proved to be very necessary and useful for the

exchange of the project and general information on agricultural development with local

stakeholders; it helped partners Maja and RAS to realize more clearly their role in planning

the project events and their role of coordination between municipalities and food producers.

Therefore, the coordination continued to be held every three months.

The 3rd Coordination meeting was held in Milici on September 2, 2014 with 9 participants,

including Mayor of Bratunac municipality, Economic Department (ED) Heads of Vlasenica,

Bratunac and Srebrenica and the project partners. The main agenda was the project plan to



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issue public calls for agricultural producers, young professionals and the necessity for the

associates to appoint representatives to act as observers within the CARE Selection

Commission.

The 4th Coordination meeting was held in Vlasenica on December 3, with 10 participants,

including the Mayor of Vlasenica, ED Heads of Milici, Srebrenica and Bratunac

municipalities and the project partners. The participants were informed about the applications

obtained from potential beneficiaries upon the issued project calls and discussed issues related

the project trainings process. Among other issues, it was agreed that the municipalities would

provide mentors and working spaces within municipalities for the students included in the job

placement activity.

The meetings provide opportunity to present project plans and achieved results and to obtain

useful suggestions from municipal officials for better activity realization. The next

coordination meeting is scheduled for March 2015 in Srebrenica.

Activity A.0.6 Undertake the final evaluation (planned for months 28-29, not initiated in

this reporting period)

Note - reaction to the floods: subsequent to the flooding in Eastern Bosnia and given the fact

that the project target area was heavily affected, CARE started immediate information sharing

on the damages among the project stakeholders in the entire Birac region (7 municipalities)

and organized quick relief response with external funds, but using the project contacts and

capacities. Consequent to flooding, Bratunac municipality cancelled the fair Raspberry Days

Bratunac 2014, because the flooding damaged most of municipalities where the exhibitors

originate from such as Zvornik, Bijeljina, Doboj, Tuzla and municipalities from Serbia.

During the floods response, CARE PM was in communication with the EC Delegation Task

Manager Vesna Grkovic.

ER1: Business environment for (mainly export-oriented) agricultural SMEs and

producers improved in target municipalities

In this reporting period, the project initiated realization of ER1, through the needs assessment

(A.1.1), facilitation of the gatherings in the local communities between municipal authorities

and stakeholders involved in agricultural production/development: producers and their

cooperatives, agricultural SMEs, financial institutions, professional advisory from the region.

There has been a close coordination especially with the municipalities of Bratunac and

Vlasenica on strengthening existing relationships with local/international development

institutions, banks and employment services (A.1.2 and 1.3). Coordination meetings and

roundtables were initiated in this regards. In Vlasenica specifically a coordination was

launched with UNDP in the field of building of a commercial-experimental orchard on the

municipality property, where liaison with the agricultural school is also underway. Both

municipalities are supportive towards the partner Maja that aims at enhancing women and

social entrepreneurship in the region (potential co-financing of the grants as well as additional

facilities to be provided are under discussion). A coordination between the municipalities and

the partners in charge of technical support proves useful to provide tailored capacity building

(training for 157 individual agricultural producers) and to initiate market linking between

individual producers and cooperatives specifically in the diary sector, potato processing and

berry production (A 1.4). As part of the young professionals program (A.1.6) 13 young

graduates were trained and 4 hired to support the implementation of the project within the

structures of the partners and the respective municipalities. This project component is

important for providing better employment outlooks for young professionals and to provide

them with practical and comprehensive on the job training thus supporting the aims of the



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project.

Indicator 1. # of joint initiatives of municipalities and economic development institutions

created as a result of the project interventions - not measurable at this project

stage

Indicator 2. Relevant strategic documents and measures developed and adopted in the target

municipalities as a result of the project - not measurable at this project stage

Indicator 3. A minimum of 4 export oriented partnerships created as the result of the project

involvement - not measurable at this project stage, however the team is

identifying potential local capacities for expansion to foreign markets among

local food production SMEs and cooperatives, that are being included in the

project coordination meetings and round tables.

Indicator 4. At least 2 trade fairs implemented with the support of the project – Raspberry

Fair planned for June 2014 was cancelled for 2015, due to the floods that

affected the target area. Floods responsive activities were organized instead.

A.1.1 Assess business environment, existing services and need for technical support at

target municipalities

The business environment needs assessment expert was engaged within an open application

process in March 2014. NBR consultants from Gradacac were contracted. As part of the

consultancy, supported by the project team, NBR conducted data collection in the field (polls

with cooperatives’ members, individual producers and women in agricultural business) and

series of meetings with local stakeholders and provided the draft report beginning of May.

Further consultancy and provision of the final report was delayed until August because of the

flooding, since it was impossible to reach some of the interviewees and obtain all necessary

data. The final consultancy is in attachment to this report and its main recommendations were:

- The main problems in agricultural production is the lack of necessary equipment,

processing capacities and market access to the sector of agriculture, lack of long-term

programs for small producers and the need for better advisory support;

- Permits for the use of space owned by municipalities should be leased under favorable

conditions to agricultural producers, in order to increase the production;

- It is necessary to seek for co-funding of the development projects in the target area;

- Opening of the border crossing in Bratunac for transportation of goods is a valuable

precondition for the trade of agricultural products.

A.1.2 Design and implement mentoring program for target municipalities to improve

public policies and service delivery

This activity, initially planned for months 5-10, was postponed for the fall, due to the great

engagement of the municipalities throughout the spring around the raspberry fair planned for

end of June (cancelled in the last moment because of the floods), engagement of the officials

around the floods recovery and later the holiday season when it is usually very difficult to

organize activities with municipalities’ representatives.

In the fall, CARE selected the NBR consultancy house for the mentoring program, however

during the initial communication with municipal representatives around mentoring, the team

received poor interest for participation from municipal officials, who stated that a number of

similar mentoring was attempted to be undertaken by other donors. Also, the municipal

capacities were engaged within the UNDP formed LAG - Local Action Group involving all

their capacities leaving small place for trainings scheduling. For all these reasons,

implementation of the mentoring program is under revision by the team and the final decision

whether it will actually be carried out will be made in spring 2015.



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Note: since the Raspberry Fair scheduled for 27-28 June 2014 was cancelled because of the

flooding (which will be explained further in the text), the project decided to mark the occasion

by organizing two round tables to initiate building of relationships between municipalities and

stakeholders for business development, thus initiating activities A.1.3 and A.1.4:

A.1.3 Support relationship building of target municipalities with local/international

development institutions, banks and employment institutions

The situation caused by the floods in eastern BIH hindered in some extent the project

activities planned to engage the municipalities, nevertheless there has been a great

coordination in the municipalities in Bratunac and partially in Vlasenica. CARE redesigned

the plans for the relation building and opted for supporting new and strengthening existing

relationships between Bratunac municipality and local/international development institutions,

banks and employment institutions, through a round table organized on 27.06.2014 in

Bratunac municipality. The event was attended by 26 participants from banks, micro credit

organizations, INGOs and the Ministry for Agriculture of Republika Srpska and Agency for

SME development Banja Luka. The participants discussed the floods damage and its influence

on business, presented their current activities and plans, also potential fields for cooperation.

It was concluded that overlapping of activities would be avoided by sharing information about

planed activities among CARE, agencies and Bratunac municipality. It was announced that

individual producers in Birac will be supported by the project (by RAS and Maja) in obtaining

subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture; registration of individual agricultural households

will be promoted through Maja activities. Next round tables are planned to be organized in

spring 2015.

In August, the project initiated intense communication with UNDP related to possible

cooperation in Vlasenica. UNDP is planning to support building of commercial-experimental

orchard on Vlasenica municipality property (the project is not jet finalized) in 2015. It is

envisaged that UNDP will cooperate with the agricultural school management around this

project and that their students from Vlasenica will undertake practical work in these orchards.

The project achieved an agreement with UNDP that the project’s student from Vlasenica

(Activity A.1.6) will have an opportunity to be partially engaged in the orchard, even for

managerial duties.

A.1.4 Foster sales oriented partnerships between higher level government institutions

and local food production SMEs

On 13 of June a round table was organised in Bratunac municipality with 12 participants with

food production SMEs/agricultural cooperatives (and Raspberry Association representatives)

operating in Bratunac and the municipality officials. The participants discussed damages

caused by flooding and landslides, influence of the situation on investments and programmes

aimed for employment growth, but also other related topics. Agricultural producer’s

awareness raising about better communication with agronomists in the field was emphasized

as priority.

A continuation of round tables is planned for spring 2015, foremost in Srebrenica because of

the construction of new potato processing capacities in that municipality. CARE with its

partners already started to promote potato production for the 2015 season amongst individual

producers, which should be sold through the existing cooperatives in BIRAC region. The

cluster of raspberry producers requires meetings – the project plans to invite all relevant

stakeholders from Srebrenica municipality, region BIRAC and RS Ministries of agriculture

and economic relations departments to the round table. The upcoming Bratunac Raspberry

Fair (planned for June 2015) is also regarded as the opportunity for fostering sales

partnerships.

A.1.5 Support the organisation of at least two trade fairs



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Upon the decision of Bratunac’s Mayor, the agricultural fair “Raspberry Days Bratunac 2014”

scheduled for 27-28 of June 2014 was cancelled because of the emergency situation caused by

the floods. However, Bratunac municipality fully supported the project in organizing

‘compensational’ activities:

Two round tables on 13th and 27

th June, mentioned under A.1.3 and A.1.4.

Training for individual food producers from the 4 target municipalities, was organized on

27 June in Bratunac, with RAS trainers. It included topics of agricultural production, but

also tackled flooding and damage repair in agriculture - influence of natural disasters on the

production of berrylike fruits and vegetables and on the crops. The interest of the

participants was huge (initially planned for 50 producers, attended by 157) and proved the

need of organizing continuous education for producers, where RAS should take an active

role.

Humanitarian action organized by Maja Kravica, on the town square in Bratunac on 27

June, was originally designed as competition of Bratunac women’s NGOs in preparing

raspberry cakes. However, the participants and Maja decided to turn the competition into a

humanitarian action, where the funds planned for the winners were used for purchasing

household items to most damaged families in Bratunac. The action involved, apart from

Maja, NGOs Forum Zena, Jadar, Glogovka, Priroda, and others, in total 41 persons and

was attended by around 400 citizens. The visitors were invited to purchase cakes and all

funds collected were also donated to the most damaged families of Bratunac municipalities.

Preparation for 2015 Bratunac Raspberry Fair will start in March. Project partners Maja and

RAS will take active role in attracting all of those who could support further development of

the Fair with attractive exhibits, opening of new topics for discussions among stakeholders

and inviting more agricultural producers from the BIRAC region.

Bratunac Fair is managed by the members of the Fair’s Board: representatives of the

municipality, cultural centre, entrepreneurs and NGO who all take active role in Fair

organisation. The Board meetings will be held from March 2015, where CARE, Maja and

RAS as Board members will negotiate with representatives of Bratunac municipality the

project support to the Fair. Date of the fair is traditionally last weekend in June (date yet to be

confirmed).

A.1.6 Implement Young Professional Program – Training and Job Placement of young

graduates at target municipalities and RSA (planned for months 11-27, not initiated in this

reporting period)

In cooperation with project partners and target municipalities, on 27 October 2014, CARE

organised a public call for young graduated students. In the application process, the priority

was given to graduates with agricultural education, IT and English language. The project

received a total of 24 applications from all four municipalities, out of which 13 were selected

for the project training program. The training was organised on 22-23 November with support

of the engaged consultants CEDES from Sarajevo. The main purpose of the training was to

raise and test the knowledge of the participants on agricultural production and development, as

well as on soft communication skills. Thus, the training program included basic information

on agro-production and development, communication, team work, project cycle management

and motivation. Upon the finished training, the project team (CARE, Maja and RAS as

members of the Committee and municipals’ representatives as observers) selected 4

candidates for the project internship program with RAS, which will last for 12 months: 3

female and one male, two agronomists, one economist and one English language specialist.

During the internship period students will actively support Maja, RAS and allocated

municipalities in all project activities. Therefore they will gain necessary knowledge for future

job pursuits.

Note: municipality Milici expressed certain dissatisfaction with the results of the selection

process, since their candidate was not contracted. However, although the project team looked

to select a student from Milici, none of their candidates showed the appropriate knowledge,



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skills or motivation to be selected.

On the 24th of December, in the premises of Vlasenica municipality, the project organized

ceremonial contract signing with 4 selected students, to be engaged in/by RAS as from

January 1, 2015. Besides the project partners and municipalities’ representatives, the event

was attended by local media representatives and through the project’s media associate

“Prijatelji Srebrenice” the press release was announced with BIH media networks. RAS

signed employment contracts with students and agreements with the municipalities on

mentoring and sharing of students working hours. The municipalities’ obligation is to assign a

mentor and working place for the intern within their ED departments. RAS obligation is to pay

salaries and contributions and coordinate time sharing of interns with municipalities. The

interns will report to RAS and their tasks will include assistance to implementation project and

other activities undertaken by CARE, Maja, RAS and municipalities on daily basis.

ER2: Food production SMEs and agricultural cooperatives strengthened by CARE and

Regional Advisory Service (RAS)

In this reporting period, the activities to achieve this expected result were mainly focused on

assessing the present capacities of the co-applicant RAS, in order to refresh its capacities and

successfully assume the role of advisory institution to final project beneficiaries. The project

has seen a close liaison between RAS and Maja, with RAS providing intensive mentoring in

the field of agriculture for the partner in charge of promoting social and women

entrepreneurship (Maja). The 4 interns hired under the activity 1.6 contribute to the capacities

of RAS to support the different project target groups.

Indicator 1. Regional business agency RAS serves an increased number of clients, and has

diversified its service portfolio -

As a direct result of the project training organised to raise the capacity of RAS,

in less than 6 months 89 food producers signed membership with RAS (28 from

Bratunac, 48 from Srebrenica, Milići 8 and Zvornik 5).

(From New Year RAS will employ 4 new graduated students who will increase

RAS’ presence in and closer cooperation with municipality officials.)

Indicator 2. At least 40 food production SMEs and agricultural cooperatives and their

members developed business plans and implement them, partly with financial

support of the project (grants) -

88 food production SMEs and agricultural cooperatives and their members

participated in project trainings in business plan development.

37 food production SMEs and agricultural cooperatives and their members

(from Srebrenica and Bratunac only – Vlasenica and Milici will submit their

business plans in February 2015) developed business plans.

Indicator 3. At least 4 food production SMEs and cooperatives supported by the project

signed sales and export contracts-

First results expected in the period January – June 2015.

Indicator 4. Facilitate formation of agricultural SME clusters -

Within the project round tables two clusters gathered: berrylike producers and

milk farm producers. At the end of the year CARE offered support to the

company Doo Srebrenicanka in increasing the number of their members

throughout the region of BIRAC.

A.2.1 Strengthen capacities of RAS



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The goal of this activity was to improve the current services of RAS - expand the range of

technical assistance in agriculture and other areas relevant for the project, to provide technical

support to final project beneficiaries – recipients of economic strengthening grants. Beginning

of March the consulting company CEDES was contracted for the job - they conducted the

needs assessment which is being used as a base for the capacity building program for RAS,

planned for spring 2015. The assessment report showed a clear capacity and dedication of

RAS for maintaining their consultative role in the agricultural development of Birac; also their

interest in expanding the knowledge on the EU (EC) development opportunities and capacity

to approach the funds. The assessment also emphasized the gaps in variety of services

currently provided by RAS, which will be one of the main points of their capacity

strengthening throughout the project.

In this reporting period, RAS assisted a large number of beneficiaries in all 4 target

municipalities and worked more on the greater visibility of their organization. RAS also

arranged their membership set up – increase number of members in the local communities by

over 80 (28 from Bratunac, 48 from Srebrenica, Milići 8 and Zvornik 5), thus additionally

strengthening their relation towards agricultural producers.

RAS vastly contributed to the project work of Maja, by providing the consultancy in

agricultural business development for Maja’s members and potential project beneficiaries in

the fields of women and social entrepreneurship. Thus, one of RAS’ agronomists allocated

one day per week for the consultancy in Maja, providing professional advice to members of

the cooperative in Maja’s premises and in the field.

After hiring 4 new students for internship program RAS will strengthen its relations with

target municipalities. Plans for more intensive cooperation were made and will start from

spring 2015, including workshops with agricultural producers from different sectors,

cooperation in relation to opening RAS branch office in space provided by Vlasenica

municipality.

A.2.2 Conduct needs assessment for technical support to food production SMEs and

agricultural producers CARE decided to combine the needs assessment for TA to food production SMEs (activity

A.2.2) with the one for socially oriented food production SMEs (activity A.3.2). Association

of entrepreneurs UPIP from Zepce was engaged for the job from May 26, upon the application

process. The consultation was expected to be finished at the end of July. However, upon

CARE’s evaluation of the process and results of the consultancy, it was concluded that UPIP

did not satisfy the ToR criteria - performed field visits in insufficient quantity, insisted on use

of questionnaires unspecified for the interest groups (women entrepreneurs, individual

producers and cooperatives) and produced a report with general conclusions based on

insufficient data. For these reasons, CARE cancelled UPIP contract without financial

reimbursement and invited remaining bidders from the selection process provide their offers.

The consultants Slavko Simic and Damir Miljevic, with a proven expertise acknowledged

throughout the Balkans have been selected to carry out the needs assessment during August

and September. In excellent cooperation with CARE, partners and allocated municipalities

they produced the assessment report which gave great recommendations for the preparation of

public calls for the project training/grants segment (The needs assessment report is provided

as Annex 1). The experts also recommended to conduct trainings in municipalities

simultaneously (to save time and compensate for the delay in activities caused by the floods

and the repeated assessment process) and to review the duration of trainings for certain

categories of beneficiaries – based on their experience: to decrease the duration of the training

for women from the planned 6 days to 5, to increase from 3 to 4 days for individual producers.

The experts also had recommendations regarding the setup of the women’s cooperative

“Žena” founded by Maja. (more under A.3.2).

A.2.3 Select target groups for project support (food production SMEs, agricultural

producers) (Month 10)



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Based on the needs assessment recommendations (A.2.2), public calls were announced

simultaneously for all three beneficiary categories: 1) SME food production and cooperatives

from all 4 municipalities, 2) Individual producers from Bratunac and Srebrenica and 3)

Women social entrepreneurs from Bratunac and Srebrenica. The announcement was made on

27 October and lasted until 07 November. (All application forms are provided in Annex 2)

Upon the closure, based on the low number of received applications from SMEs and

cooperatives (there is generally a low number of these categories in Birac) the project team

decided to form a joint training group consisting of SME and cooperatives with the training

location in Srebrenica, Cultural Centre, premises of Women’s Association “Sara” Srebrenica.

Total number of participants was 15 (4 from Srebrenica, 7 from Bratunac, 1 from Milici, 2

from Vlasenica).

The Second training group was formed from individual producers from Srebrenica (14 applied

and 12 selected for the training) and those from Bratunac (51 applied and 22 selected for the

training). The total number of selected applicant was 24 and the location for the training was

Restaurant Davidoff in TC Robot, Bratunac municipality.

On 15 December the project opened a public call for trainings of individual producers and

women social entrepreneurs from the municipalities of Vlasenica and Milici. In order to

secure enough applications for the trainings and avoid the holiday period, the application

process is determined to last until January 15 and the trainings will start end of January. The

aim of the team is to finish the grant awarding procedures before the spring planting season.

The results of the public calls are presented in the table below:



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No. of received applications

No. of candidates invited to the trainings

Srebrenica Bratunac Milići Vlasenica Total Srebrenica Bratunac Milići Vlasenica Total

Women 15 49 58 64 186 15 49 30 32 126

Individual producers

13 51 35 56 155 12 22 20 20 74

SMEs & Cooperatives

5 7 2 2 16 4 7 1 2 14

Total per Municipality

33 107 140 122

31 78 51 54

A.2.4 Design and implement training program for 80 food production SMEs and

agricultural cooperatives (Month 11)

The four days trainings for the joint group of SME food production and cooperatives as the

first training group and for individual producers from Bratunac and Srebrenica as second

group were held simultaneously on 19, 26-27 November and 11 of December. The venues

were in Srebrenica (SMEs/cooperatives) and Bratunac (individual from Bratunac and

Srebrenica) as explained under A.2.3.

The expert team Mr Simic and Mr Miljevic was engaged to design and deliver the entire

training program. The project aim is to obtain 100 completed business plans from all three

groups of beneficiaries. The interest and feedback from the participants of the trainings was

very good.

Until the end of this reporting period, the project obtained the total of 88 completed business

plans: women 51 (Bratunac 39, Srebrenica 12); individual producers 24 (Bratunac 16,

Srebrenica 8); SMEs and cooperatives 13 (for all 4 target municipalities).

A.2.5 Select beneficiaries – recipients of project grants and in-kind contributions (Month

12 - 14)

Deadline for training participants to deliver their business plans was December 18th. Field

visit to the short listed applicants from all 4 municipalities and categories will be carried out

after New Year’s and Christmas holidays and it is expected that the decision for grant

awarding will be made in March 2015.

A.2.6 Provide grants and in-kind contributions to 16 beneficiaries – for production

improvement and physical infrastructure (Months 12-14)

Decision and grant awarding is expected to be carried out beginning of March 2015.

A.2.7 Facilitate formation of agricultural SME clusters (activity)

This activity was originally planned as continuous, throughout the project duration. However,

during implementation, it was realised that it would be better to facilitate formation of clusters

on the basis of the SMEs needs assessment - since there were difficulties and delay in the its

implementation (explained under A.2.2), it is expected that the work on formation of

agricultural clusters will begin in the fall.

During the first round tables organized within the project, two possibilities for clustering were

identified: berrylike producers and milk producers. Maja and RAS obtained contacts of all

producers interested in clustering and are in constant contacts with them, providing them

assistance with subsidies applications toward RS Ministry of Agriculture, support in

application preparing toward other donors or banks that operate in Birac Region. (In this

reporting period, RAS processed 205 requests for subsidy from RS Ministry for agriculture,

supported 21 agricultural producers in their bank loan application.). More particular activities

around the agricultural SME clusters will be undertaken in the next reporting period.



2013.1 of 22

ER3: Women and social entrepreneurship promoted at regional level as a sustainable

business model

Indicator 1. NGO MAJA turned into a resource centre for the promotion of women and social

entrepreneurship –

NGO Maja acts strongly as a resource centre, providing information and

services to women entrepreneurs throughout the region and establishing

cooperation with various developmental stakeholders. They are active members

of the network “Citizens for Europe”, where Maja’s coordinator Ms. Nada

Marković was recently selected to be a rural development team member. Maja’s

staff are constantly engaged as rural development trainers, strengthening

relations with RS agriculture Ministry and other stakeholders - they received a

USAID grant to present the State subsidies for agricultural producers in 4 target

municipalities. In cooperation with the Rotary club Austria, in November 2014

Maja secured donations in irrigation system and raspberry seedlings for 15

women agricultural producers. They recently applied (in cooperation with

Mozaik foundation) to Uni Credit Bank for purchase of cooling plant facility

with a capacity of 80 tons.

Indicator 2. Initiatives taken by municipalities in support of women/social enterprises, as a

result of the project –

Mayor of Bratunac municipality started the procedure to grant NGO Maja

Kravica with the building of the pre-war cooperative Kravicanka. This

procedure is in progress and the final decision is to be made soon by the

municipality. (Cooperative “Žena” founded by Maja is planning to open a

chicken farm there and also to install one cooling plant for berrylike fruit

collection.)

Indicator 3. At least 60 women led and social enterprises developed business plans, and

implement them, partly with financial support of the project (grants)

After completing the project trainings in Bratunac and Srebrenica women

submitted 60 business plans until the end of this reporting period. Upon the

completion of trainings in Vlasenica and Milici it is expected to receive

additional 60 business plans.

Indicator 4. At least 4 social entrepreneurs signed sales and export contracts - not

measurable at this project stage.

This project component is an important part of CARE´s work as it proves the efforts to

establish social and women entrepreneurship in BiH. The partner organisation Maja

established in 2013 is the first women’s cooperative in the country and gained significant

experience and capacities in the field of mentoring and financially supporting women from

disadvantaged backgrounds and enhancing their entrepreneurial skills, strategies and work. In

that sense Maja cooperates with other NGOs and is part of a wider network that fosters

women economic empowerment in the context of the projects “Women Economic

Empowerment” (2012-2014) and “Empowerment of Women Vulnerable to Violence” (2015-

2017) financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation and implemented by CARE. In this

context their technical capacities are further developed within the project.

Maja’s methodology is to support potential women entrepreneurs with regular and intensive

mentoring and prepare them for drafting and implementing feasible business plans. Thus this



2013.1 of 22

Action seeks for synergies and will ensure mutual mainstreaming of both approaches; the

regional development approach of this Action and of the above mentioned projects. Intensive

exchange between RAS and Maja is achieved by the project, most importantly by RAS

supporting Maja with technical expertise in the field of agriculture. Also, the professional

cooperation was visible during the project trainings in Bratunac and Srebrenica.

On the other hand the expertise of CARE and Maja is a good base for gender mainstreaming

in other institutions, including RAS and the municipalities. Maja proved to be a reliable

partner and was a visible strong link between them and applicants.

A.3.1 Facilitate NGO MAJA to become a resource centre for women and social

entrepreneurship

On the basis of the developed ToR for the needs assessment, design and implementation of a

capacity building for the partner organization Maja to become a resource centre for women

and social entrepreneurship and upon the application process, Ms. Nerka Jugo as independent

consultant was selected and contracted for the consultancy in the period 17th March - 17

th

April. The direct work with Maja within this consultancy was carried out through the capacity

building needs assessment and three days training session on 4th, 7

th and 8

th of April in the

premises of the association Maja. Despite the great progress of the last 2 years, the current

conclusion of the consultancy (the consultancy report is attached as Annex 3) was that NGO

Maja needed further significant capacity building in organizational strategic planning, stronger

linkage with official structures and capacity to cover the entire Birac region, literature and

expertise on agronomy, IT equipment, in order to assume the position of a renowned resource

centre, however that the NGO staff are highly motivated to progress. One of the direct

recommendations was that Maja should commence professional support to women

entrepreneurs – this was adopted immediately and through cooperation with RAS, that is

providing weekly consultancy through field visits and coaching of Maja to take over the job in

the future.

In the period May-December 2015, as mentioned within the indicator 3.1, Maja, supported by

the project, undertook a series of initiatives to strengthen its position and visibility in the target

region.

During this reporting period, the project purchased one computer to strengthen Maja’s IT

capacities. Furthermore, it was agreed with RAS and Bratunac municipality to share two of

the four students hired by the project where one of them will spend time in premises of Maja,

to support their daily activities.

A.3.2 Conduct needs assessment for technical support to socially oriented food

production SMEs

Please refer to A.2.2., as there has been a merging of the two project activities to enhance

effectiveness of capacity building.

The needs assessment report from Mr. Simic and Mr. Miljevic (attached as Annex 1) provided

useful recommendations for Maja, for example that since they aspire that their cooperative

“Žena” operates as a socially oriented cooperative, they must adjust their Statutes accordingly.

A.3.3 Design and implement campaigns promoting women and social entrepreneurship

addressing potential entrepreneurs, cooperatives and municipalities (planned for months

21-28, not initiated in this reporting period)

A.3.4 Select target groups for project support (women and social entrepreneurs) (Month

10)

Similar to Activity 2.7 this activity was postponed – from originally planned months 7-9, to

month 10 - due to the delay of SMEs needs assessment, necessary as a basis.

The selection process for women and social entrepreneurs was undertaken together with the

other categories of beneficiaries and described under A.2.3. The call for applications for



2013.1 of 22

women social entrepreneurs from Bratunac and Srebrenica municipalities was open on

October 27 and lasted until November 7, 2014. Out of 186 received applications, CARE, Maja

and RAS representatives acting as Selection Committee, selected 126 candidates for the

training program.

A.3.5 NGO Maja provides trainings for 120 women and social entrepreneurs (planned

for months 9-14, not initiated in this reporting period)

The first round of trainings was organised for women from Bratunac (49 candidates) and

Srebrenica (15 candidates) in the training premises “Sara” in Srebrenica cultural centre and

Davidoff restaurant in Bratunac. Trainings were designed and delivered by Mr. Simic and Mr.

Miljevic on 17-18 and 24-25 November and on December 10th, simultaneously for women in

Bratunac and Srebrenica. Due to the fact that only 15 women from Srebrenica applied, the

project team decided to add another 17 women from Bratunac to this group, since there were

49 candidates there.

Trainings included all phases of designing a business plan. Trainers formed groups per

production sector and used the knowledge of the most experienced ones to present facts to

others. RAS was present to offer production calculations, details related to equipment

distributors and to offer information about possible buyers of produced goods.

Transportation to/from the training locations for all participants was provided by the project.

Upon an agreement made with CARE, the last day of training for women was additionally

attended by the Republika Srpska’s Gender Centre from Banja Luka and Ministry of

Agriculture from Banja Luka. Gender centre representative Ms. Simundža presented the work

of the Gender Centre in both municipalities and distributed their official brochures. RS

Ministry of Agriculture was represented by Ms. Neskovic from their office in Bijeljina. She

also made a presentation of the Ministry’s work in Bratunac and Srebrenica. Participants were

interested in discussing information in relation to subsidies, Ministry plans for 2015, etc.

CARE’s attempted to organize a presentation by representatives of Ministry for Economic

Relations and Regional Cooperation from Banja Luka where several phone calls and e mails

were exchanged with their representative Mr. Darko Telić failed to secure their presence at the

trainings. Prior to the start of the trainings, the Ministry could not decide on which department

should present them.

A.3.6 Support at least 24 women and social enterprises with project grants to facilitate

implementation of their business plans (planned for months 14-27, not initiated in this

reporting period).

The team expects to decide on grant awarding for all four municipalities in March 2015.

A.3.7 Organization of exchange forums for women and social entrepreneurs

Even though this activity was initially planned for the project months 11-27, it was initiated in

May 2014 (month 5), because the project team believed it to be effective to inform women

entrepreneurs well in advance about the examples of successful businesses of women in

agriculture and thus to motivate them for the project trainings planned for the fall.

The 1st Exchange Forum was scheduled for May 21 – one week after the floods started and it

was obvious that this plan should change. Thus, the project team used the scheduled date and

in cooperation with the target municipalities (plus Sekovici and Zvornik not covered by the

project, but belonging to the Birac region) organized the forum, but with flooding damage and

recovering process as the main meeting agenda. The meeting was attended by 35

representatives of the Municipals’ Crisis Headquarters, Red Cross, and Centres for Social

Work, civil protection divisions. With exception of representatives from Srebrenica, all other

municipalities were represented and the joint conclusion was that Birac should work in

coordination and strengthen its civil protection. The project gained useful contacts and the

effort of coordination at the forum was welcomed by the participants.

In general, the goal of the forums is to promote woman social entrepreneurship, where

successful stories from the women producers would be heard by the municipal representatives



2013.1 of 22

who would then preferably attempt to solve their eventual problems and to support them. The

events are followed by media to attract more women to start similar food productions.

The 2nd

Exchange Forum was organized in August 27th in Srebrenica municipality, in premises

of the Cultural Centre Srebrenica. The meeting was attended by 23 participants (17 women)

involving representatives of Srebrenica municipality and the NGO sector from Srebrenica and

three women social entrepreneurs previously engaged in cooperation with Maja Kravica. The

event was well reported on by radio-TV company “Prijatelji Srebrenice”. Three invited

women told their stories and challenges they face in day-to-day activities in agricultural

production. The joint conclusion was that more women should be involved in agricultural

production, income can be granted if producing food within the clusters, such as the cluster for

berrylike fruit or the one for milk production. Municipality Srebrenica’s representatives

emphasized the need of more food processing capacities and more support in equipment (the

project team intends to bear this in mind in the process of selection of the granted businesses

and will also advocate for this kind of support with other organisations implementing

economic/agricultural development projects).

2.3. If relevant, submit a revised log frame, highlighting the changes.

Not seen as necessary at this project implementation stage.

Please list all contracts (works, supplies, services) above € 60 000 awarded for the

implementation of the action during the reporting period, giving for each contract the

amount, the award procedure followed and the name of the contractor. N/A



2013.1 of 22

Updated action plan 2

Year 1

Half-year 1 Half-year 2

Activity Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Implementing

body

Inception phase activities

A.0.1 Recruit staff, signing of

agreements and MoUs

(initially proposed)

CARE

(realized/realization plans)

A.0.2 Organize kick-off

meetings (initially proposed)

CARE


CARE, RAS, MAJA

Cross-cutting activities:

A.0.4 Conduct quarterly

meetings among co/applicants (initially

proposed)

CARE, RAS,

Maja, municipalities


Conduct monthly meetings among co/applicants


A.0.5 Conduct semi-annual meetings with municipalities


CARE, RAS, Maja,

municipalities


Conduct quarterly meetings with municipalities (initially

proposed)

A.06 Arrange final evaluation (initially

proposed)

External evaluation

Activities to achieve ER1 – Business environment for (mainly export-oriented) agricultural SMEs and producers improved in target

municipalities

A.1.1 Assessment of business

environment (initially

proposed)

CARE, RAS,

Maja


A.1.2 Mentoring program for

target municipalities


CARE, RAS


A.1.3 Supporting relationship

building of target

municipalities (initially proposed)

CARE, RAS


A.14 Fostering sales oriented

partnerships (initially proposed)

CARE, RAS,

municipalities


A.1.5 Providing support to at

least 2 trade fairs (initially proposed)

CARE, RAS


A.1.6 Young Professionals

Program (initially proposed)

CARE


Activities to achieve ER2 - Food production SMEs and agricultural cooperatives strengthened by CARE and Regional Advisory Services

A.2.1 Strengthening

capacities of RAS

CARE


A.2.2 Conducting needs

assessment

CARE, RAS

2 This plan covers the financial period between the interim report and the next report.



2013.1 of 22


A.2.3 Selecting target groups

for project support

CARE, RAS


A.2.4 Training for SMEs and cooperatives

CARE, RAS


A.2. Select beneficiaries –

recipients of project grants and in-kind contributions

CARE


A.2.6. Provide grants and in-kind contributions to 8

beneficiaries

CARE, RAS


A.2.7 Facilitate formation of agricultural SME clusters

CARE, RAS


Activities to achieve ER3 - Women and social entrepreneurship promoted at regional level as a sustainable business model

A.3.1 Facilitate NGO MAJA

to become a resource centre for women and social

entrepreneurship

CARE


A.3.2 Conducting needs assessment for TS to socially

oriented food production

SMEs

CARE, Maja


A.3.3 Design and

implementation of promo

campaigns

CARE


A.3.4 Selection of target

groups for project support

CARE, Maja


A.3.5 NGO Maja providing

trainings

CARE, Maja


A.3.6 Supporting to women and social enterprises with

project grants

CARE


A.3.7 Organization of exchange forums

CARE, Maja




2013.1 of 22

3. Beneficiaries/affiliated entities and other Cooperation

3.1. How do you assess the relationship between the Beneficiaries/affiliated entities of this grant

contract (i.e. those having signed the mandate for the Coordinator)? Please provide specific

information for each Beneficiary/affiliated entity.

Vlasenica municipality with their representatives showed great interest in all activities

performed so far and were a reliable source of information about the local developments of

interest for the project. In communication with the Municipality officials, the project is

planning to expand joint events between RAS and Vlasenica municipality in the fall this year

within the preparation activities for the distribution of the project grants (Activities A.2.2 –

A.2.6).

The development of the co-applicant Maja was visible in this reporting period: they are

expanding their capacities for women’s entrepreneurship by strengthening the network of

their members, increasing visibility and presence in the region, supported by the project.

There is an understanding that Maja would need more staff to carry out this increasing

engagement. They have a strong network of members – women entrepreneurs in Birac

Region, which is considered by all local stakeholders (municipalities, financial parties,

agronomists) as a favourable asset for cooperation in women entrepreneurship development.

The co-applicant Regional Advisory Service represents the local asset that will be able to

carry on regional advisory for agricultural entrepreneurship development after the project

finish. Currently, apart from the engagement in CARE’s project, RAS cooperates extensively

on agricultural UNDP projects and CARE’s intention is to pay special attention to

coordination of these activities of RAS on various projects in the next project realization

period. Also, RAS will be strongly encouraged to assume their regional project role and to

expand their advisory capacities accordingly.

For information on concrete meetings with all three mentioned co-applicants (main project

beneficiaries) please see A.0.2 and A0.4.

3.2. How would you assess the relationship between your organisation and State authorities in the

Action countries? How has this relationship affected the Action?

Beginning of May, the Project Manager established the first contact with Zoran Kovacevic,

Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture of Republika Srpska (RS), who expressed his interest

in the project and the possibility of support from the Ministry. As the result, the PM also

established contact with the Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of Republika

Srpska (Banja Luka). Since the floods started in May, the concrete cooperation was stalled.

However, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of RS Zoran Maletic and Marko

Kakuca, representative of the Agency for SME, attended the 27/06 project organized Round

Table, which they regarded as a good opportunity to gather information from the field. (The

project also invited the representatives of the Cantonal Ministry of Agriculture in Tuzla to

the project Round Table in June, however because of the holiday season, they did not

attend.) The plan is to activate more this cooperation in the future period.

In addition the Training organized for women (A 3.5) was attended by the Republika

Srpska’s Gender Centre from Banja Luka and the Ministry of Agriculture (Bjeljina office).

The work of the Gender centre and the involvement of the Ministry was presented in both

municipalities and the public representatives gained an in depth insight into the aims and

activities of the Action that is a sound base for further coordination.

Where applicable, describe your relationship with any other organisations involved in

implementing the Action:

On March 3rd, CARE attended the meeting organized by the EC Delegation (DEC) in BIH

with aim to introduce all grantees of the EC program.

Associate(s) (if any)



2013.1 of 22

Vlasenica, Bratunac and Srebrenica municipalities fully support the project implementation:

during the joint meetings (activities A0.2 and A.0.5) and other project gatherings they

expressed believe in joint approach in strengthening of cooperative networks and

information sharing on the market and development of women’s entrepreneurship.

During the initial business environment assessment (A.1.1), needs assessment for technical

support to food production (A.2.2 and A.3.2) and preparations for the project trainings, the

project received strong support from WA “Forum žena“ from Milici, WA “Podrinje“ from

Vlasenica and local radio stations Medžik and BIRAC.

Sub-contractor(s):

For the purpose of further enhancing the project promotion, CARE engaged association

„Prijatelji Srebrenice“ (Friends of Srebrenica), as a local capacity in Birac region, registered

for radio and TV broadcasting and linked with BIH media network on the national level. In

this reporting period, they attended all project activities and promoted the project through

their local radio, website, TV shows and media network.

Apart from this, CARE engaged a number of external consultants for various project

activities (see under A.1.1. A.1.2. A.1.6. A.2.1 A.2.2, A.2.4. A.3.1. A.3.2. A.3.5.)

Final Beneficiaries and Target groups,

- Altogether 126 women beneficiaries, 74 individual agricultural producers and 14

SMEs/cooperatives were invited to trainings and to submit business plans that will be

evaluated competitively. Altogether 241 beneficiaries showed interest to apply. In addition

RAS provided training for 157 agricultural producers that showed great interest in further

technical assistance.

- Space was created for sharing experiences not only on the level of project implementers,

but in the framework of the exchange forums (A. 3.7), where good practices has been

shared specifically between women entrepreneurs.

- 13 young graduates were invited for trainings and 4 were selected for an internship to

support the Action, thus enhancing their employment outlooks and the resources of the

project partners RAS, Maja and of the associated municipalities.

Other third parties involved (including other donors, other government agencies or local

government units, NGOs, etc.)

On the Round Table organized on 27 June, mentioned within the Activity A.1.3, the project

established communication with the association of raspberry producers Vilamet, and micro

credit organizations LOK, EKI, Mikrofin and Partner, who are ready to spread information

about project grants scheme among the potential beneficiaries. Associations „Forum žena“

Milici, „Podrinje“ from Vlasenica, Priroda from Bratunac and „Sara“ from Srebrenica

schowed great interest to offer support in infomation sharing, even offered their premisses

for the meetings with final beneficiaries (within the activity A.2.2. A.2.4. and A.3.2).

3.3. Where applicable, outline any links and synergies you have developed with other actions.

As already mentioned under A.1.3, possible cooperation in Birac Region between CARE and

UNDP was discussed at a meeting in August in Srebrenica. The project is also in contact with

organisations Oxfam and JICA (who were present at the project organised Round Table on

June 27 - A.1.3) to avoid overlapping with their project activities. The activities and goals under ER3 are related to fostering women and social entrepreneurship

– these project elements are deriving from CARE´s comprehensive work in the framework of



2013.1 of 22

the Austrian Development Cooperation financed projects “Women Economic Empowerment”

and “Empowerment of Women Vulnerable to Violence”, within which the women´s

cooperative operated by the NGO Maja was established. The project is mainstreaming these

former achievements - promoting women social and economic inclusion with other partners

(RAS and the municipalities). Furthermore, as already mentioned in the indicators for ER3,

Maja is active in establishing links and synergies with various programs of other donors

aiming at supporting women entrepreneurs.

3.4. If your organisation has received previous EU grants in view of strengthening the same

target group, in how far has this Action been able to build upon/complement the previous

one(s)? (List all previous relevant EU grants). N/A

4. Visibility

CARE PM was in regular communication with EC regarding all events organized in this reporting

period. All press releases were communicated to the EC prior to the events.

In the inception project period and in communication with DEC in Sarajevo, the project undertook

the design of visual project identity and production of the promotional materials. Design studio

Triptih from Sarajevo, with a long record of successful cooperation on CARE’s projects, was

engaged for the job. In this reporting period, the project produced banners with project logo for

CARE and project partners, book cases for grant applicants, leaflets and T- shirts and distributed

those items as appropriate within the organized project activities and promotional events. The EU

visibility guidelines and the rules of the Austrian Development Cooperation were strictly

followed. The project produced posters which particularly announced the activities on 27 June

(see A.1.3 and A.1.5) and were distributed to the target municipalities and local communities. The

visual identity elements, pictures and quantities of promotional materials are attached as Annex 4.

Please see paragraph 3.3 for the information on the engagement of media/communication

associates “Prijatelji Srebrenice”.

The European Commission may wish to publicise the results of Actions. Do you have any

objection to this report being published on the Europe Aid website? If so, please state your

objections here.

CARE has no objections to publicising the results of the Action.



2013.1 of 22

Annexes:

Annex 1: Needs Assessment Report

Annex 2: Public calls - supporting documents

Annex 3: Capacity Building Report for the partner Maja

Annex 4: Visibility and photos

Annex 5: Overview of the grant mechanism

Name of the contact person for the Action:

Mr. Branislav Tanasijevic, Project Manager, CARE International in the Balkans;

Judit Kontseková, Program Officer CARE Austria

Location: CARE Srebrenica Office, M Bjelakovica nn, 75 430 Srebrenica

Date report due: 28th February 2015

Date revised report sent: 28th February 2015

final narrative report - care Österreich...vlasenica on strengthening existing relationships with...

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