2019 PORTFOLIO REVIEW ACTIVITY REPORT REPORTING PERIOD: December 20180 - December 2019 ACTIVITY NAME: MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS SUPPORT ACTIVTY (PPMG)

ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

Activity Purpose:  Individuals and CSOs representing underrepresented groups are constructively engaged in civic/political issues, will ensure that the government recognizes them as necessary and respectable partners in policy development.

The Development Hypothesis:  Constructive engagement in civic/political issues of individuals and CSOs representing underrepresented groups will be achieved by supporting the activities of groups of local organizations that advocate for the rights and dignity of underrepresented groups, building capacities of local NGOs and USAID implementing partners and providing grants to local CSOs that provide services to beneficiaries.

Implementing Partner: . Institute for Youth Development KULT

Activity Website: . Yes; url: www.ppmg.ba

Activity Facebook page: . Yes, url: https://www.facebook.com/ppmg.ba/

COR/AOR: Ela Challenger

COP Name: Jasmin Bešić

Key Partners/Other Donors: NGO & BA d.o.o.

Start /End Date: February, 2015 / February, 2022

Total Estimated Cost: $ 4,999,000.00 USD

Obligated Amount: $ 4,999,000.00 USD

Mortgage: $779,754.33

RESULTS ACHIEVED

The Activity’s highest-level result statement:  Increased citizen’s participation in governance.

Contribution to Project log frame indicators (list the log frame indicators that this activity is contributing to, the targets, and the FY19 Results):

Indicator Activity Targets for Activity Results for FY19 FY19* Number of underrepresented people assisted by a USG funded 2000 2916 intervention providing services to beneficiaries Number of advocacy initiatives focused on improving the status of youth, women, Roma, disabled, or LGBTI in public and political life in 60 50 BiH Number of human rights organization trained and supported 80 117 Number of organizations representing marginalized population which receive minimum 12 hours of training and counseling on 8 6 OCA dimensions Number of representatives of government institutions in BiH trained to 25 0 increase their organizational capacities.(done in 2017)

* If all results for FY18 are not available, provide data available and indicate the dates they cover.

2 Results achieved since last Review (Briefly summarize achievements made since January 2019):

 Grants: o Signed grant agreements with following organizations:

1. Union of paraplegics and polio survivors of FB&H ; o USAID supported organization of International Open Championship and 16th Paraplegic and Polio Games in B&H. o Grant amount: 10,000.00 USD. o Total number of beneficiaries (as of September 30th, 2019): 140 (PWDs from B&H and abroad). o Period of performance: September, 2019.

2. Association “Dlan” (); o Association “Dlan” runs USAID’s fifth Service center for families of persons with disabilities in B&H located in Zenica. Service Center in Zenica provide free-of- charge services to families of children and persons with disabilities and developmental disorders in the Zenica- Canton and the region. o SC Zenica started operating in April, 2019 and in December, 2019 had 79 families as beneficiaries, and since the Service Center offers services tailored to a wide spectrum of disabilities, this number will grow significantly in the near future. o In this short period after opening SC provided almost 3000 services to beneficiaries. o The Center provide beneficiaries services such as short term stay, access to psychologists, special education experts and educators, creative and inclusive workshops, and families of children and persons with developmental disabilities will be provided with legal aid, psychological counseling and help in crisis situations. o Grant amount is up to 84,000.00 USD. o Period of performance is: April 1st, 2019 – June 30th, 2020.

3. Association “Mala sirena” (Zavidovići) o The grant agreement was signed with the Association to establish sixth Service Center for Supporting Families of Children and Persons with Disabilities in BiH with a focus on the cities of Zavidovići, Žepče, Banovići, , Teslić, Tešanj and the surrounding area. o Service center will provide services similar to services provided in other SCs active in B&H. o Since its opening (October 1st, 2019) and up to December, 2019, Service Center in Zavidovići provided 1239 services to 52 families of persons with disabilities. o Grant amount is up to 50,000.00 USD. o Period of performance is: October 1st, 2019 – June 30th, 2020.

4. Association “Sunce nam je zajedničko” (): o This grant agreement allowed the Association to open a seventh Service Center for families of children and persons with developmental disabilities from Trebinje and the surrounding area. o The Center will provide beneficiaries with free stay, with access to services of psychologists, special education experts and educators, creative and inclusive workshops, and families of children and persons with developmental disabilities will be provided with legal aid, psychological counseling and help in crisis situations. o Signing this agreement will allow the Association to provide a new set of services in the form of a Service Center, which is extremely important to their beneficiaries, and

3 it’s also important to note that the services will be completely free-of-charge and intended for the whole family. o Since its establishment (active only 2 months in 2019) this SC in Trebinje gathered almost 50 families with a child or person with disabilities as beneficiaries and provided almost 700 serices. o Grant amount is up to 50,000.00 USD. o Period of performance is: November 1st, 2019 – June 30th, 2020.

5. Alliance of supporting organizations for persons with intellectual disabilities SUMERO (Sarajevo); o USAID’S Marginalized Populations Support Activity and the Alliance SUMERO signed a grant agreement for supporting the process of deinstitutionalization of persons with intellectual disabilities. o Deinstitutionalization is a process where individuals leave institutions to live in their local community, in special housing units with up 5 people or fewer. In these communities, persons with disabilities receive adequate support, and trainings and social rehabilitation provides a significant degree of independence, helps them get involved in social life and gives them an opportunity for a fresh start. o Through their program “Supported housing in the community” SUMERO provided housing for approximately 100 persons with disabilities in the Zenica-Doboj, Una- Sana, Central Bosnia and Sarajevo Cantons. The new project is expected to provide support to a hundred more people. According to the latest data, 2000 persons with intellectual disabilities in BiH live in five institutes and institutions. Persons with intellectual and other types of disabilities who live in institutions are excluded from all aspects of social life, they don’t have access to elementary education in mainstream schools and not enough is being done to ensure inclusion. o This new agreement shows USAID's consistency in efforts and indicates that people with intellectual disabilities are leaving institutes and institutions for a life in the community. o Over the next two years, at least 200 persons with intellectual disabilities will be able to feel the benefits of living in their communities with all the necessary support. o Grant amount is up to 130,000.00 USD. o Period of performance is: November 1st, 2019 – October 31st, 2021.

6. Public Institution “Education and Rehabilitation Center for Children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities of Ljubuški Municipality” o USAID/PPMG donated therapeutic and IT equipment to Public Institution Education- Rehabilitation Center for Children, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in Ljubuški. This institution is only one Center in Western Herzegovina region dealing with PWDs and their families. Center is established by Municipality of Ljubuški, but it has beneficiaries from surrounding municipalities (, Čitluk, etc.). o Center provides services to over 80 beneficiaries and employs young experts in rehabilitation such as defectologists, speech therapists, psychotherapist, music therapist etc. They are funded by local municipality and different donors (national and international). o Through this in-kind grant we provided therapeutic equipment necessary for neurofeedback, speech therapy and music therapy (Play attention set, speech therapist probes, auditory integration test). o Also, we funded special education for experts to use Play attention set. Beside therapeutic equipment, we donated IT equipment necessary for experts preparation of work plans, therapeutic sessions, education, etc. to provide services as good as

4 possible. IT equipment includes: printer/scanner/copy machine, digital camera, laptop, tablet, hard disk. o Grant amount is up to 10,000.00 USD. o Period of performance is: October, 2019.

o PPMG continued support to ongoing projects and grantees:

1. Association “Dajte nam šansu” (Sarajevo); o Focusing achievement: Association “Dajte nam šansu”, the organization that runs the 2 Service Centers in , has succeeded in lobbying for amendments to the Law on the basics of social protection, civilian victims of war and protection of families with children at the FBiH level in the FBiH House of Representatives, which would allow parents of children and persons with disabilities to obtain status of parents / guardians / caregivers, which would give them monthly benefits and regulated pension and health insurance. The current situation is that parents of children and persons with disabilities often have to leave their jobs because of childcare, and consequently lose their pension and health insurance. In order for the amendments to the law to enter into force, it is necessary that the law be passed in the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament. This procedure is expected to be implemented in FY2020. o Last year two Service centers in Sarajevo provided over 15,000 services to beneficiaries and had registered 651 families. o We renewed grant agreement with this organization in October, 2019 and Service centers in Sarajevo will be funded up to June 30th, 2020. o Additional funding for this organization is: $ 180,000.00

2. Association “Tračak nade” (Foča): o Last year Service center in Foča provided about 20,000 services to beneficiaries and had registered 111 families. o We renewed grant agreement with this organization in October, 2019 and Service center in Foča will be funded up to June 30th, 2020. o Additional funding for this organization is: $ 50,000.00

3. Association “Dajte nam šansu-Zvjezdice” (): o Last year Service center in Banja Luka provided over 8,000 services to beneficiaries and had registered 163 families. o Our Service Center in Banja Luka in May, 2019 organized a conference which gathered regional experts, SCs representatives, and government representatives in the area of social care and services. As a result of this Conference, the City of Banja Luka started to re-evaluate their set / list of social services provided to a wide range of beneficiaries intending to include in official regulations the services provided by SC in Banja Luka. This will be a huge step forwards as the City of Banja Luka will fund services provided to beneficiaries living in the jurisdiction of the City of Banja Luka. The initiative is initiated at the level of the Ministry of Health in the Republic of Srpska. The Ministry will analyze a set of social services and try to find a model to include in the official regulations services provided by SCs in Banja Luka, Foča and Trebinje. o This SC is running Daily Center (reconstructed by CRS and funded by USAID) and some functions are merged with Daily Center. Hope is to have one place with two functions, once law on SC is amended to recognize such centers. o We renewed grant agreement with this organization in October, 2019 and Service center in Foča will be funded up to June 30th, 2020.

5 o Additional funding for this organization is: $ 50,000.00

o In total, 7 Service Centers in 2019 provided over 48,000 services and had registered 1100 families as regular beneficiaries of Service Center services.

o All Service Centers will be funded by USAID/PPMG up to June 30th, 2020.

4. Association “EDUS – Education for all” (Sarajevo): o Our grantee EDUS finalized 3 researches on developmental issues at children. o Through 1st study they developed revised Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Protocol for area. o Also, through 2nd study they developed Behavioral Development Scales (revised, 2nd version, RBS) which represent set of instruments necessary for experts in Mental Health Centers for better and more precise assess and diagnose of developmental disorders at children. o Third study showed that EDUS approach in treatment of Autistic children is the only approach in B&H that provides scientifically validated progress and results in treating Autistic children. o Data for 3 studies were collected on more than 1.500 children with disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder all over B&H. o Period of Performance: August 1st, 2017 – April 30th, 2019. o Funding: $ 298,000.00

5. Association “Zemlja djece u BiH” (); o Survey on the prevalence of violence against children in B&H o Association “Zemlja djece u BiH” (Tuzla) for grant amount of $ 45,000 conducting an epidemiological survey on the prevalence and incidence of various forms of violence against children in BiH, including: physical violence, psychological violence, sexual violence, child neglect, violence in the digital environment (cyber bullying, grooming, sexting, sextortion, live stream). Focus will be placed on processing cases where children witnessed violence (in the family and the community) to place emphasis on children’s exposure to this type of violence and the importance of recognizing children as the primary victims. o This survey is also intended to show the prevalence of violence against children in marginalized groups (children with disabilities, Roma children, children without adequate parental care and children placed in residential institutions). o The research is conducted for the needs of the BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees and the preparation of a national action plan for the prevention and suppression of various forms of violence against children and young people up to 18 years of age. o The survey used stratified cluster probability sampling of 4% of children aged 6, 11, 13 and 16, children placed in institutional care, and Roma children who live in isolated Roma communities. The planned scope would be a minimum of 5000 children. The survey includes primary and secondary schools, homes for children without parental care, residential institutions and Roma communities in both BiH entities and Brčko District. o Grant amount is up to 45,000.00 USD. o Period of implementation is December 17th, 2018 – May 31st, 2020.

6. Association “Sarajevo Open Centre - SOC” (Sarajevo):

6 o One of the goals of the grant awarded to SOC was support to media campaign and promotion of the first Pride Parade in BiH. o The Pride was held in September 2019, and grantees supported by the PPMG played a key role in organizing and delivering the Pride Parade (Sarajevo Open Center-SOC, Youth Center KVART and Tuzla Open Center-TOC). Also, the public-facing media campaign began in April 2019 and was superbly planned to properly prepare the public for the event in September. Part of the media campaign was also supported through a PPMG grant to the Sarajevo Open Center. o The Pride ended very successfully, without any problems and difficulties on the very day of the parade (September 8, 2019). On Pride over 3000 persons (LGBTI, members of families, friends, supporters, politicians, athletes, etc.) took part from B&H and region. o Organization of the Pride is a milestone in the effort for the LGBTI population to exercise the same rights as other B&H citizens. o In addition to the Pride, beneficiaries of two sub-grantees (in and Tuzla) worked on developing and adopting local measures to improve the status of LGBTI people in these local communities. Also, more than 100 LGBTI persons in Prijedor and Tuzla took part in the activities implemented by TOC and KVART. o SOC is working on maintaining unique LGBTI web portal lgbti.ba, advancing organizational ability to influence and interact with relevant stakeholders for achieving strategic objectives, campaign related to strategic litigation cases. o Since the media campaign for promotion of Pride and LGBTI rights started, more than 50 articles, interviews, media press releases, videos and analyzes were published on platform lgbti.ba and other web sites.

7. Association “ Rock School” (Mostar): o Also, the Association “Rock School Mostar” in this academic year (2019/2020) by December 2019 enrolled 133 new young students in their rock music school program, which is very popular in the Herzegovina region. This number is not final since they continued receiving applications after December 2019, and new students are enrolling their program on weekly basis. o Last academic year (2018/2019) MoRS academic programs were attended by more than 160 students. They learned how to compose, play, produce music, form groups, jazz/blues/soul session bands and create original audio materials (songs and compositions). Also, MoRS realized Summer rock school aimed to young musician who spend summer holidays in Mostar which was very popular. MoRS delivered over 3,500 hours of education, practice and performance to their students. Also, they started with new program which aims for experienced and advanced musicians. o Program intend to be platform for promotion young professional musicians, and under this program they already have two bands whose members are musicians with advanced knowledge and who aim to seriously engage in music by creating their own repertoire and musical works. o Also, MoRS delivered 5 program concerts and 1 final concert at the end of the school year (June 21st, 2019). o In previous two and a half years MoRS provided musical education to over 450 young persons from Herzegovina region and wider (B&H, Croatia and other countries). o Period of Performance: May 16th, 2017 – December 31st, 2019. o Funding: $ 100,000.00

o Women's Entrepreneurship Support Fund for marginalized groups;

7 . During 2019 PPMG signed grant agrements woth additional 9 local communities (cities and municipalities) within the initiative Support Activity for Marginalized Groups of Women in Developing Businesses and established Entrepreneurial Fund for Women (Phase 2). . This fund is jointly financed with the 9 municipalites, the local government applied for USAID funds in the amount that they intended to match themselves and invest in women- owned startup businesses (USAID match 1 USD of the governments with 1 USD). . These local communities are: Živinice, Žepče, Lopare, Prozor-Rama, Berkovići, , Istočna Ilidža (RS), Foča, Novi Grad / Bosanski Novi. . These municipalities offered about 160,000 USD for Entrepreneurial Fund for Women and total funds available for businesses of marginalized women is up to 320,000 USD. . In 2019 PPMG in all 9 local communities held a preparatory workshops on writing business plans for potential applicants for public calls from local stakeholders. . Also, USAID/PPMG signed grant agreements with over 50 women who started or will start their businesses in following period.

8 Activities:

 6 trainings for USAID’s grantee, partner organizations and institutions held in reporting period: o Topics: . Monitoring & Evaluation; . Public Advocacy; . Administration & Human Resources; . Strategic Planning; . Public relations and media presence; . Financial Management; . The training session on gender equality was conducted on 3 training sessions.

 Study Visits: o Study visit of representatives of Association “Mala sirena” to Service center “Dajte nam šansu” Sarajevo; o Study visit of representatives of Association “Sunce nam je zajedničko” to Service center “Dajte nam šansu” Sarajevo; o Study visit of representatives of Association “Zemlja djece u BiH” to Service center “Dajte nam šansu” Sarajevo.

 Events: o Organized important events: . PPMG organized and media promoted meeting of mayors of 9 local communities establishing 2nd phase of Fund for businesses of marginalized women in B&H; . PPMG organized media events promoting signing grant agreements with marginalized women supported in their businesses through Fund for businesses owned by women; . PPMG organized event in Ljubuški and on this occasion delivered defectologist, educational and technical equipment to Public Institution supporting children, youth and persons with disabilities in Ljubuški. . PPMG organized and promoted the Opening Ceremony for Service center for families of persons with disabilities in Zenica. USAID’s officials attended this event tohether with mr Brock Bierman, Assistant Head of the USAID Europe and Eurasia Office. . PPMG supported and organized media promotion of the conference held in Banja Luka and implemented by our grantee Association “Dajte nam šansu-Zvjezdice”; . PPMG financially supported media campaign “Ima izać’” (initiated by Association “Sarajevo Open Centre”) promoting LGBTI rights and 1st Pride Parade in B&H; . PPMG supported and in media promoted fashion show organized by Association “Dajte nam šansu” with parents of children with disabilities as models; . Post-Award Conferences held in reporting period: Association “Dlan”, Association “Mala sirena”, Association “Sunce nam je zajedničko”, Union of paraplegics and polio survivors of FB&H Sarajevo, Alliance SUMERO, Public Institution in Ljubuški, signing grant agreements with 9 local communities.

 Review of USAID/BiH Unsolicited Proposals – o Since April 2017 PPMG do not review unsolicited proposals due to changes in Task Order #1 (Modification in May 2017).

9  Visibility o Designed and produced promotional materials for trainings; o Designed and produced facts sheets for new grantees; o Website of the Activity in function and daily updated; o Online Resource Center for partners and grantees in function and updated (www.obuka.pmg.ba) o Updated Online database of knowledge with publications relevant to target groups (http://ppmg.ba/ba/resursi/publikacije)

 Publications: o Fact Sheets for new grantees ( new grantees); o As an overview of all activities held in the period from December, 2018 to December, 2019, we produced regular monthly newsletters and published on the official website of PPMG – www.ppmg.ba; o We published 5 Success stories: . Živinice: Entrepreneurship from Women’s Perspective . Zenica: Service Center for Supporting Families of Children and Persons with Developmental Disabilities . Mobile App for Diagnosing Autism? . Additional 214,500 BAM for Supporting Persons With Disabilities Living in Local Community . Public Institution Education and Rehabilitation Center for Children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities of Ljubuški Municipality Gets New Equipment o Newsletters and success stories are available on: . http://www.ppmg.ba/en/news

 One-on-One Capacity Building Support to Grantees: o PPMG provided one-on-one coaching to: . Associations “Mala sirena”, “Dlan” and “Sunce nam je zajedničko” during the process of pre-award assessment and negotiation in awarding grants for establishing 3 new Service Centers in B&H; . During this process PPMG held many meetings with representatives of Service Centers. . PPMG supported development of Strategic plan for Association “ Wave” and planning workshop for action plan development.

 Pre-award assessment conducted in 2 following organizations: o Association “Sunce nam je zajednicko” Trebinje; o Association “Mala sirena” Zavidovići.

 Mid-term and Post-award assessment conducted in 9 following organizations: 1. Association “Mostar Rock School” Mostar; 2. Association “EDUS” Sarajevo; 3. Association “KVART” Prijedor; 4. Association “Tuzla Open Centre” Tuzla; 5. Association “Sarajevo Opent Centre” Sarajevo; 6. Association “Dajte nam šansu” Sarajevo; 7. Association “Dajte nam šansu-Zvjezdice” Banja Luka; 8. Association “Tračak nade” Foča; 9. Association “Dlan” Zenica.

10

LEARNING AND ADAPTING

Describe how the “items for action” from the last portfolio review have been addressed:

Identify any significant “lessons learned” from monitoring, evaluations, or other sources of evidence during the reporting period: . Based on PPMG’s specific requests and recommendations Service Centers established more precise and strict system for monitoring of services, beneficiaries and reporting to donor. . All PPMG’s grantees are in process of establishing data bases with all their beneficiaries, provided services to beneficiaries, and contact data so anyone (assigned by USAID) who would like to evaluate work of our grantees could use these data bases and do research without even contacting grantees. . After experiences from the Model of Support to Entrepreneurship of Women in Phase 1 we doubled the period of performance for complete process and for Phase 2 and Phase 3 it is set to 24 months, not 12 months.

If this activity has been evaluated over the past year, describe how the evaluations findings were used, either in this activity or in a new design. The evaluation was done in summer, 2019, and few findings that are already implemented in our work are: o PPMG established database with contact data and type of services provided to all beneficiaries of all grantees. This database is already operational and grantees report their data on quarterly period. o Unfortunately, although our trainings were evaluated by our grantees and attendees as very useful and professional (stated in evaluation report done by MEASURE-BiH), USAID in Task Order #12 (replacement for TO#1) excluded trainings as component after September 2019 and to the end of the Activity. o After evaluation findings related to technical support to women starting their businesses, we will provide more intense and for longer period of time support to women awarded with grants to start their businesses. Women in evaluation reported that they would appreciate if municipality or donor provided more support in business plan development, financial planning and management after business started. o Since local municipalities did not provided this kind of support PPMG will have more intense communication to beneficiaries and provided more in-depth technical support where needed.

Key Implementation Challenges (please note strategic, political, sectoral, management, design, financial, and/or other implementation challenges that are affecting performance): o Unfortunately, although our trainings were evaluated by our grantees and attendees as very useful and professional (stated in evaluation report done by MEASURE-BiH), USAID in Task Order #12 (replacement for TO#1) excluded trainings as component after September 2019 and to the end of the Activity. o We will have to find some other sort of education/knowledge transfer to our long-term grantees after this changes. o We prepared plan for grantees during our monitoring visits (regular visits) and providing very specific education for professional in Service Centers (psychologist and defectologists).

Identify any opportunities to adapt the activity or its implementation (as a result of learning and/or contextual changes): . None.

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PROCUREMENT/CONTRACTUAL ISSUES

Identify any potential procurement/contractual issues. None, in the last year procurement actions taken:  Issuance of 2 new Task Orders (TO#11 and TO#12) and two Task Order Modification (TO#3 and TO#10 in August, 2019).  Period of performance of these Task Orders depends on activities to be delivered and funded under specific TOs.

CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

Briefly describe how activity has contributed to addressing the following cross-cutting initiatives in FY19 and describe any significant interventions planned for FY20:

a.) Anti-corruption . All procurement processes of our grantees higher than approx. 2,900.00 USD have to be approved by PPMG’s grant manager prior to final decision about the service provided.  Also, in all procurement processes of our grantees higher than approx. 5,800.00 USD one of members of procurement commission is representative of PPMG.  Through this mechanism we want to ensure that donors funds are spent responsibly and best providers will be selected (hired) with offers evaluated on pre-agreed criteria. . PPMG do not allow grantees to employ on projects personnel from public companies or public institutions. Through this mechanism, we reduce the possibility that people working in public institutions and companies have any conflict of interest regarding the organization and project we are funding. . The model of support for businesses of women from marginalized groups (Phase 2. And Phase 3.) predicted that all funds of the Fund will be allocated on the basis of public calls. Additionally, the PPMG representatives and representatives of local community businessmen will be members of Commissions for selecting the best business plans. In this way, the possibility of manipulation of funds and the allocation of funds to persons who are eligible only for the representatives of the administrative bodies will be significantly diminished. We have developed this kind of selection and assignment model (through Phase 1.) to reduce the likelihood of corruption when allocating funds from the Fund.

b.) Reconciliation . Our contribution to reconciliation is reflected in supported activities in the Herzegovina region and in the area of Foča. o Our grantee Association “Mostar Rock School” provides education in the areas of music, music and audio production to young persons from Herzegovina with specific focus on City of Mostar area. . Mostar is specific location/case in B&H since it is strongly divided city populated with Croats and Bosniaks. Croats lives mostly in western part of the City (right bank of Neretva river) and Bosniaks lives mostly in eastern part of the City (left bank of Neretva river). . Mostar Rock School implement education process which includes forming of session bands who last up to 2 months, transforming them and forming new session bands.

12 . Through this mechanism, they work to create better relations between young people from different banks of the Neretva River, members of different ethnic groups (Bosniaks and Croats). . Due to the way the educational process is organized, during the academic year young students of the school have to cooperate, learn and form groups with many other students and thus overcome the barriers concerning ethnic differences, become more aware of prejudices and stereotypes they have, and learn through music how to overcome them. o Our grantee Association “Tračak nade” (managing organization of Service center for families of persons with disabilities) from Foča (Republic of Srpska) provided services to beneficiaries from Foča and local communities surrounding Foča. Some of these communities are located in Federation of BiH and some are located in Republic of Srpska. . This is important since Foča is mostly settled by Serbs and few neighboring communities are mostly settled by Bosniaks. . Service Center provides services to all beneficiaries, regardless of whether beneficiaries comes from one or another entity of B&H or their religion, nationality, etc. c.) Countering Russian Influence . In all our grant agreements and other sorts of agreements we included clauses that partners (organizations or physical persons) can not use any sort of software or products developed or produced (or partially developed or produced) by Kaspersky Lab. . All our partners are forbidden to use and have to deinstall or delete all application (if they have it) related to Kaspersky Lab or they should not be able to receive USG funds. . In this way, we have improved the security of documents and deliveries that organizations and partners funded by the US government should produce or deliver. o There is a reduced risk that documents will be compromised and accessible to third parties, including Russia. d.) Women’s Empowerment . PPMG launched the second cycle of the Fund for Supporting Businesses Owned by Marginalized Women in the previous fiscal year. The Fund is implemented in partnership with 9 local communities (municipalities and cities in BiH). o The Fund has a total of about $ 320,000 available, of which about $ 160,000 is donated by USAID (PPMG) and about $ 160,000 is donated by local communities. PPMG delivered education on development of business plans and management of small businesses to all women who showed interest in entrepreneurship in 9 selected communities (Živinice, Žepče, Lopare, Lukavac, Prozor/Rama, Novi Grad, Foča, Istočna Ilidža, Berkovići). o By the end of December 2019, we signed about 50 agreements with women who will be entrepreneurs. o In the first cycle of the Fund (released 2016/2017), 96 businesses were launched and in the summer of 2019, about 63% of the businesses started were active. PPMG expects similar results in the second cycle of the Fund. . In second quarter of FY2020 will be published another RFA for local communities for Phase 3 of Fund for Supporting Businesses Owned by Marginalized Women. . Also, on our 6 trainings attended 72 women who were empowered to advocate human and women rights in their local communities and were sensitized to the problems of women in B&H. . Marginalized Populations Support Activity (PPMG) delivered 3 gender session on trainings in last FY. o Topics covered on the gender sessions included and gender-based violence and combating against gender-based violence and discrimination through capacity-development and

13 strengthening position of women in the organizations dealing with marginalized populations issues. e.) Youth . The beneficiary of the PPMG grant, the Association “Zemlja djece u BiH” conducts research on the presence of various forms of violence against children in BiH. Part of the sample in the survey will also be young people aged 15-18 who attend secondary schools in both entities (FBiH and RS) and Brčko District. o The research is conducted for the needs of the BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees and the preparation of a national action plan for the prevention and suppression of various forms of violence against children and young people up to 18 years of age. o Also, the survey will cover both marginalized and socially excluded categories of children and young people under 18. This research is carried out after 7 years of vacuum in collecting this type of report for the needs of the Ministry, and in this way BiH seeks to actively analyze trends regarding children and the violence they are experiencing or witnessing in their environment. . Our Service centers in Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Foča, Zenica, Trebinje and Zavidovići trained their volunteers to work with children with disabilities. Also, the SC “Dajte nam šansu” in Sarajevo is authorized by the Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton to train in-class assistants (young student volunteers) who work with children with disabilities. . The Association “Mostar Rock School” in this academic year (2019/2020) enrolled 133 new young students in their rock music school program, which is very popular in the Herzegovina region. This number is not final since they still receiving applications and new students are enrolling their program on weekly basis. o Last academic year (2018/2019) MoRS academic programs were attended by more than 160 students. They learned how to compose, play, produce music, form groups, jazz/blues/soul session bands and create original audio materials (songs and compositions). Also, MoRS realized Summer rock school aimed to young musician who spend summer holidays in Mostar which was very popular. o MoRS delivered over 3,500 hours of education, practice and performance to their students. o Also, they started with new program which aims for experienced and advanced musicians. Program intend to be platform for promotion young professional musicians, and under this program they already have two bands whose members are musicians with advanced knowledge and who aim to seriously engage in music by creating their own repertoire and musical works. . PPMG’s capacity-building trainings were attended by representatives from 27 CSOs whose primary scope of work are youth and youth issues. f.) Stigma Reduction . In line with our dedicated work on stigma reduction toward persons with disabilities and their families we supported and in media promoted fashion show organized by our grantee Association “Dajte nam šansu”. o This fashion show is specific since models are parents of children with disabilities (mothers and fathers) as well as children with disabilities and their siblings. o Also, models were very recognized sportsmen in B&H and region (such as Amel Tuka, Mirza Teletović and many others). o This fashion show was organized in the City Hall of City of Sarajevo and is very well followed by the media. o Many persons of interest attended this show, such as US Ambassador to B&H Eric Nelson, Mayor of City of Sarajevo Abdulah Skaka, Amira Medunjanin (world-recognized singer of our tradition music), and many high-level politicians in B&H. . Also, we are supporting folk dances group composed of children with disabilities formed in our Service Center in Banja Luka.

14 o This folk dance group had many performances in last FY and through their activities they are reducing stigma toward children with disabilities and their capabilities.

LOOKING FORWARD

Identify at least one specific achievement or milestone to be accomplished in the next six months: . Signed grant agreements with municipalities under 3rd Phase of Fund for Supporting Businesses Owned by Marginalized Women. RFA will be published in February, 2020 and selection process will be finalized in March, 2020.  For this 3rd Phase PPMG have on disposal about 130,000.00 USD and these funds will be duplicated with local community funds so the total fund will be greater than 260,000.00 USD.

Upcoming interventions, milestones, and events that the Mission Director should know about: . Event of signing grant agreements with selected local municipalities under 3rd Phase of Fund for Supporting Businesses Owned by Marginalized Women.

Consider areas in which the Mission Director or Embassy could intervene to help accomplish the activity’s objectives: . The activity will share different issues or actions to be supported either through public speeches or blogs.

How can our new Ambassador best be informed of this activity? Are there any events in the next 6 months suitable for participation by the new Ambassador? . Event of signing grant agreements with selected local municipalities under 3rd Phase of Fund for Supporting Businesses Owned by Marginalized Women. . Opening ceremony for Service Centers in Zavidovići and Trebinje.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

Lessons learned from outreach over the past year: . In reporting period PPMG had about 137 important media appearances in newspapers, TV shows, web sites, radio shows etc.  We focused more on other program activities rather than promoting businesses of marginalized women (as it was case in previous FY).

Date and topic of latest USAID Facebook post: . December 3rd, 2019; . Topic: Fashion Show, organized by Association “Dajte nam šansu”, on which mothers of persons with disabilities were models and presented their modeling skills and pointing out that these women also could be role models for others as well as they have same needs, capacities and interests as other mother/women/persons.  US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson attended Fashion Show.

Date and subject of last success story:

15 The stories were published on different portals, PPMG web and USAID web and link was on our facebook. o Živinice: Entrepreneurship from Women’s Perspective o Story about Selma Andelić and her Creperie “Chockomania” in Živinice o December, 2019 o Zenica: Service Center for Supporting Families of Children and Persons with Developmental Disabilities o Story about opening Service Center in Zenica o April, 2019 o Mobile App for Diagnosing Autism? o Story how to make the best possible diagnosis for children with disabilities using a mobile app developed by the Association “EDUS” o March, 2019 o Additional 214,500 BAM for Supporting Persons With Disabilities Living in Local Community o Story about supporting deinstitutionalization process in B&H o November, 2019 o Public Institution Education and Rehabilitation Center for Children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities of Ljubuški Municipality Gets New Equipment o Supporting persons with disabilities and experts in Herzegovina region o October, 2019

. Newsletters and success stories are available on:  http://www.ppmg.ba/en/news

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