Quarterly Progress Report QPR-004: Marginalized Populations Support Activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina (USAID/PPMG)

The implementing partner is the Institute for Youth Development KULT, and the approved subcontractor is NGO & Business Audit d.o.o. The project aims to support activities of local organizations that advocate for the rights, empowerment, and dignity of underrepresented groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Challenge in Bosnia and Herzegovina is that marginalized populations, including youth, women, religious minorities, Romani, disabled persons, minority returnees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons, are often overlooked or ignored by the BiH Government. As a result, these groups remain unheard and excluded from mainstream social, cultural, economic, and political life. The project seeks to address this challenge by providing grants to local organizations that promote the rights and dignity of marginalized populations and by building the capacity of local NGOs, BiH institutions, and USAID implementing partners to do so. 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. By the end of the project's life, the activity aims to strengthen the performance of at least 40 BiH NGOs and other organizations, enhance the performance of at least 75 current USAID local partners, and build the expertise of at least 75 BiH government leaders of municipalities and ministries collaborating with USAID. In the reporting period January – March 2016, the activities that deserve special attention include the signing of grant agreements with 11 organizations whose project proposals were recommended for funding under the ODI and Anti-TIP public calls. Grant agreements were signed with the following organizations: Alliance of Organizations for Supporting Persons with Intellectual Difficulties in FBiH SUMERO, Association of People with Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy of Bosnia-Podrinje Canton, Association of Parents and Friends of Persons with Disabilities “Sunce”, Association for Supporting Families, Persons and Community in Mental Health “Zajedno”, Citizens’ Association “Budućnost”, Library for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons in BiH, Democratic Youth Organization, Association of Citizens for Promoting Education of the Romani “Otaharin”, Women's Association “Derventa”, Association for Preventing Addiction “Narco-No”, and Association “Country of Children in BiH”. A grant award agreement was also signed with the “ProReha” Association – Center for training, retraining, and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and other unemployable categories. The USAID/PPMG will be financing the project entitled “Education and Internship of Persons with Disabilities” that will be implemented in Sarajevo by the “ProReha” Association.