Quarterly Progress Report QPR-009 Marginalized Populations
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Quarterly Progress Report QPR-009 Marginalized Populations Support Activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina Contract No. AID-168-I-15-00001 July 2017 This publication was produced by the Contractor for review by the United States Agency for International Development. 1 QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS SUPPORT ACTIVITY IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (PPMG) Report No. QPR-009 July 2017 Contract No.: AID-168-I-15-00001 Task Orders: AID-168-TO-15-00001 AID-168-TO-15-00002 AID-168-TO-15-00003 AID-168-TO-15-00004 AID-168-TO-15-00005 AID-168-TO-15-00006 AID-168-TO-17-00001 AID-168-TO-17-00002 The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. 2 3 CONTENTS 1. DOCUMENT REVISIONS ................................................................................................................ 1 2. ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................... 2 3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................................. 3 3.1. PROJECT BACKGROUND .................................................................................................. 3 4. ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS .................................................................................................................. 4 5. INTERVENTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS ..................................................................................... 10 5.1. TASK ORDER: AID-168-I-15-00001 ................................................................................... 10 5.2. TASK ORDER: AID-168-I-15-00002 ................................................................................... 39 5.3. TASK ORDER: AID-168-I-15-00003 ................................................................................... 42 5.4. TASK ORDER: AID-168-I-15-00004 ................................................................................... 46 5.5. TASK ORDER: AID-168-I-15-00005 ................................................................................... 47 5.5. TASK ORDER: AID-168-I-15-00007 ................................................................................... 52 5.5. TASK ORDER: AID-168-I-15-00008 ................................................................................... 52 5.6. OTHER ACTIVITIES .......................................................................................................... 53 6. FINANCIAL REPORT .................................................................................................................... 54 4 1. DOCUMENT REVISIONS Version Date Person Comment 1 2. ACRONYMS CO Contracting Officer COR Contracting Officer’s Representative OCA Organizational Capacity Assessment PPMG Marginalized Populations Support Activity QFP Quarterly Financial Report QPR Quarterly Progress Report SOW Statement of Work TO Task Order USAID U.S. Agency for International Development 2 3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3.1. PROJECT BACKGROUND Total Funding: $3.4 million Project Duration: February 2015 – February 2020 Implementing Partner: Institute for Youth Development KULT Approved Subcontractor: NGO & Business Audit d.o.o. The Challenge While the international community has long supported activities that facilitate the inclusion of marginalized populations in civic and political decision making in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), these groups are often overlooked or ignored by the BiH Government. As a result, many citizens – youth, women, religious minorities, Romani, disabled persons, minority returnees and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons – remain unheard and excluded from mainstream social, cultural, economic and political life. Youth are disaffected. Romani, largely disenfranchised, are excluded from decision-making processes, while most cannot get the skills or training they need to join the labor market. Persons with disabilities are marginalized from early childhood. Many are institutionalized and lack access to basic education in mainstream schools. Women’s participation in political and public life is extremely low. BiH society continues to abhor the idea of homosexuality and most institutions ignore discrimination or violent acts against LGBT persons. In fear for their physical safety, most of them stay hidden from the public sphere, and, as a result, LGBT activism is weak. A new marginalized group emerged in the aftermath of the 2014 floods, when 40,000 people were displaced. Assistance is still needed to provide economic and social stability to help flood-affected citizens from the most marginalized groups rebuild their lives. Our Activity USAID’s Marginalized Populations Support Activity supports activities of local organizations that advocate for the rights, empowerment and dignity of underrepresented groups of BiH society, and builds the capacity of local NGOs, BiH institutions and USAID implementing partners to do so. Providing underrepresented groups with opportunities to participate in civic and political issues, through their engagement in civil society organizations, will ensure that the government recognizes them as necessary and respectable partners in policy development. Implementation and Expected Results The Activity provides grants to local organizations that promote the rights and dignity of marginalized populations and to enhance their performance and management capacity through formal classroom training, mentorship and one-on-one coaching. Training topics include legal structures, financial management, human resources, internal control systems, project performance management, procurement systems, organizational sustainability, and monitoring and evaluation. The Activity also builds the capacity of USAID partners, institutions and government leaders to promote and protect the rights of these underrepresented citizens. A component of the Activity is designed to respond flexibly and swiftly to public demand for humanitarian and other material assistance. By the end of the project’s life, the activity will: Strengthen the performance of at least 40 BiH NGOs and other organizations, including associations, civil society organizations, BiH institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises; Enhance the performance of at least 75 current USAID local partners, to enhance their performance and management capacity through group trainings; and Build the expertise of at least 75 BiH government leaders of municipalities and ministries collaborating with USAID. 3 4. ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS In the reporting period of the quarter 2017/Q3 PROGRAM activities that deserve special attention are: signed grant agreement with the Rock School Association from Mostar, NGO Project Fair, and the Service Center SOCI in Tuzla was officially opened. 1. Grant Agreement signed with “Rock School Mostar” USAID/PPMG supported the work of the Rock School Mostar (MoRS) with 180,000 BAM. MoRS uses music as a means of connecting young people from the divided communities of Mostar. The grant agreement was signed on Monday, May 15, 2017 in Sarajevo by Jasmin Bešić, USAID / PPMG Chief of Party and Orhan Maslo, Director of the Rock School Mostar Association. Students from the Rock School Mostar have been in fear of closure due to a lack of funds, but the allocated funds will fund the implementation of activities over the next three years. Rock School Mostar allows young people to learn, play, work in the band, learn about the history of urban music and music theory, express their creativity and grow into mature musicians. The school does not only teach music, but through music workshops and socializing it connects young people, fights against ethnic barriers and prejudice among young people. "It is sad to talk about youth as marginalized group, but we are happy that funds have been provided for the continuation of the work of the Rock School Mostar. This musical story has more than 100 young participants, not only from Mostar, but from the entire Herzegovina. They spend time together, overcome prejudice and learn to respect and value diversity," said Orhan Maslo, Director of the Association" Rock School Mostar". The aim of the initiative is to show that normal and functional interethnic cooperation is possible, and that it gives excellent results among young people who are ready to put ethnic differences to the side, and focus on art. "It is our pleasure to support an initiative that takes care of young people, improves the quality of their lives, and ultimately opposes segregation among young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Jasmin Bešić, Director of USAID's Marginalized Populations Support Activity (USAID/PPMG). The Rock School Mostar has organized around 40 concerts, participated in international youth exchanges, hosted famous musicians, and organized music camps for young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Grant Contract was signed for a period of 30 months. 2. USAID/BiH Mission Director Peter Duffy officially opened Service Center for supporting families of children and persons with developmental disabilities «SOCI» in Tuzla At the premises of the Public Institution "Naše dijete" in the Mejdan, Tuzla, on 29 June 2017, the official opening of the Service Center for Families of Children and Persons with Developmental Disabilities SOCI was held. It is a center that offers free services for members of one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups