27 585263 First-Progres-Report-Feb

2 Executive Summary The first year of the “Let’s Build a Home Together” project was burdened with a number of obstacles, most of which were outside the UNOPS’ control. Still, there were positive aspects in implementation that include building of trust among the Project beneficiaries, full participation of 170 identified families in all consultations about durable housing solutions, and high involvement of women in the decision making process. The good communication with the focal points appointed by the City of Belgrade meant there was a high turnout at all events involving the beneficiary community. Another positive move was obtaining the location permit for the construction of social housing flats in Orlovsko naselje, albeit with a four-month delay. However, only one other location – in Jabučki Rit - out of six identified in the City of Belgrade Action Plan for the Resettlement of the Residents of Makiš, Resnik, Jabučki Rit and Kijevo Container Settlements (RAP), was assessed as adequate, though conditionally, because of its remoteness and isolation. In these two locations, 27 units can be constructed compared to 121 planned by the RAP. This reconfirmed the need for additional sites and the City of Belgrade has been advised formally and informally that it must urgently propose sufficient number of new locations, with adequate capacity to accept all beneficiaries interested in the social housing. It is of utmost importance that any new location has resolved urban-planning status and ownership, and that the location permit for social housing construction can be issued immediately. Furthermore, the housing design proposed within the RAP - prefabricated wooden multi- storey blocks - is no longer valid having been superseded by the new legislation. In addition, changes in legislation that occurred during 2013 are also influencing the increase of special standards depending on the number of family members. Both result in the increased costs for the construction. Due to internal reasons, the OSCE Mission in Serbia is not in a position to purchase the village housing as originally envisaged. The Delegation of the European Union formally requested UNOPS to alter its activities to include purchasing of all village houses in its activities. Procurement of the building material for the reconstruction of nine self-owned houses is in progress, with minute delays. The completion of the works for the first six houses is expected by the end of July 2014, at the latest. The next three houses should be reconstructed by the end of October, when the construction of one completely new house is also going to be finalized. This will result in 50 people being provided with durable housing solutions. In October 2013, in response to the delays and remaining obstacles, the European Integration Office of the Government of the Republic of Serbia (SEIO) and the Delegation of European Union (DEU) included the Project on the ‘bottleneck list’, as its delays potentially jeopardise the achievements of results. The key difficulties encountered include: the lack of 3 capacities, as well as of accountability of the City of Belgrade to take ownership and implement the RAP; inability of the City and its municipalities to identify new locations for the social housing units; ousting of the Mayor of Belgrade and delays in appointment of the Interim City Council, and hence changes in several City Secretariats as well as in the membership of the Coordination Body; poor involvement of the City of Belgrade institutions dealing with urban planning and construction issues, utility companies and public enterprises; the local community objections related to the arrival of the new Roma neighbours that included discriminatory attitudes; delays in purchase of village houses by the OSCE that meant that the final list of beneficiaries to be relocated to the specific locations could not be defined; as well as uncertainties in regards the mandatory co-funding for the Project by the City of Belgrade. The Project Team is in the process of preparing an Addendum to introduce a new budget line for the purchase of the village houses directly. However, the implementation of the Project to date has shown that without full political commitment of the City of Belgrade and its improved ability to coordinate all institutions, allocation of funding and an efficient task force to lead the process, the Project won’t be completed on time or within the budget. Options are already being considered for an extension of the Project is required. This Progress Report, along with the Executive Summary, has nine chapters and accompanying annexes, describing the background, activities and results, assumptions and risks, difficulties encountered, partnerships established, cross-cutting issues as well as management/operational details of implementation, including monitoring and evaluation. 4 Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 3 List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. 7 1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 8 1.1 Problems to be addressed ............................................................................................... 8 1.2 Government and sector policy ........................................................................................ 9 1.3 Beneficiaries and parties involved ................................................................................. 11 2 Intervention .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Overall objective ............................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Results ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.4 Activities ........................................................................................................................ 19 3 Assumptions and risks .......................................................................................................... 39 3.1 Assumptions .................................................................................................................. 39 3.2 Risks ............................................................................................................................... 39 4 Partnerships .......................................................................................................................... 44 5 Difficulties encountered ....................................................................................................... 45 6 Cross cutting issues .............................................................................................................. 47 6.1 Gender ........................................................................................................................... 47 6.2 Environment .................................................................................................................. 47 6.3 Institutional and management capacity ........................................................................ 48 6.4 Good governance .......................................................................................................... 49 7 Visibility ................................................................................................................................ 49 8 Implementation .................................................................................................................... 50 8.1 Procurement .................................................................................................................. 51 8.2 Human resources ........................................................................................................... 51 8.3 Finance .......................................................................................................................... 51 8.4 Logistics/Travel .............................................................................................................. 51 8.5 ICT .................................................................................................................................. 52 9 Monitoring and evaluation ................................................................................................... 52 9.1 Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 52 9.2 Steering Committee meetings ....................................................................................... 53 5 9.3 Evaluation ...................................................................................................................... 53 Annex I - Progress against indicators ...................................................................................... 54 Annex II – Indicative Plan for Q1 and Q2 2014 ........................................................................ 59 Annex III - Key developments .................................................................................................

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