European PROGRES
Sector 1 – Good Governance and Social Inclusion
Piloting Implementation of Measures from
the Strategy for Roma Social Inclusion at Local Level
Call for Project Proposals-06-2016
1. BACKGROUND
European PROGRES is a multi-donor Programme, financed by the European Union (EU), the
Government of Switzerland and the Government of Serbia, designed to support sustainable
development in the South East and South West Serbia. The Programme has been
conceptualised jointly with the European Integration Office of the Government of the Republic
of Serbia (SEIO), which has responsibility for monitoring implementation and providing
assistance and facilitation. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has been
granted with an initial budget of 17.46 million Euros and has the overall responsibility for the
Programme implementation.
Through a multi-sector approach this Programme will contribute to sustainable development
of underdeveloped areas and creation of more favourable environment for infrastructure and
business growth by strengthening local governance, improving vertical coordination, planning
and management capacities, improving business environment and development, as well as
enhancing implementation of social inclusion and employment policies.
The Programme works towards achieving four main results, while good governance principles
are interwoven as a cross cutting aspect of the entire intervention:
1. Strengthened local governance, planning and management capacities through
introduction of new, or improvement/elimination of existing procedures and
processes in line with the principles of good governance.
2. Increased competitiveness of local economy through improved business environment
and
management/organizational
capacities
of
small
and
medium
enterprises/agricultural cooperatives .
3. Improved access to employment, offering equal opportunities to both men and
women, and social inclusion of most vulnerable and marginalised groups through
development and implementation of local policies resulting in reduced migration from
South East and South West Serbia.
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with34
local self-governments in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 2
4. Effects of Serbia’s European accession communicated to general public.
Final beneficiaries, but also the key stakeholders and financial contributors of this Programme
are 34 municipalities from the third and fourth group of development level , which have
responsibility of taking ownership of activities implemented in their territory:
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Novi Pazar, Ivanjica, Nova Varoš, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raška, Sjenica and Tutin, in the
South West Serbia
Prokuplje, Blace, Žitorađa, Kuršumlija in the Toplica District
Leskovac, Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Medveđa and Crna Trava in the Jablanica District
Vranje, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladičin Han, Preševo, Surdulica and Trgovište in the
Pčinja District
Brus in Rasina District
Aleksinac, Gadžin Han, Doljevac, Merošina and Svrljig in Niš District
Babušnica, Bela Palanka in Pirot District
Knjaževac in Zaječar District.
Other beneficiaries include municipality-founded institutions and public utility companies, civil
society organisations (CSO) and media in the participating municipalities. It is the inhabitants
of the South East and South West Serbia who will feel the biggest benefits of the Programme.
2. INTRODUCTION
Addressing challenges that Roma population is facing in everyday life is coupled with many
issues, that one sometimes finds difficult to deal with. For example, there are different data
on the number of Roma that are currently living in Serbia: official 2011 census data tell that
there some 150,000 Roma1 people in Serbia today. Others2 say that the actual numbers are
somewhere between 250-and-600,000. It’s important because the numbers are used for
defining the strategy how to tackle the problems linked to Roma population.
However, different reports3 agree that most of the Roma population is facing social exclusion
and some form of discrimination, be it open or covert. Furthermore, the data concerning the
1
Svetlana Radovanovic, Aleksandar Knezevic, Roma in Serbia – 2011 Census of population, households and
housing units. Serbian National Statistics Office, Belgrade, 2015.
2 Goran Basic, Bozidar Jaksic, The Art of Survival – Where and How Roma Live in Serbia, IFDT, Beograd, 2005 and
Ana Popovic, Jelena Stankovic, Department of Economy, University of Nis, 2013
(http://www.eknfak.ni.ac.rs/dl/FINALLY/Nacionalni-izvestaj-Srbija.pdf)
3 United Nations Economic and Social Council, Concluding observations on the second periodic report of Serbia
(E/C.12/SRB/CO/2), 2014.
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 3
socio-economic status of Roma are scarce, and often outdated. One can say that the failure to
maintain statistics on this group of poverty-stricken population is yet another form of their
social exclusion. But, some available data show striking differences, for example in economic
status of Roma and the majority of population in Serbia: the economic dependency ratio (the
ratio between the number of active, yet dependent, and persons who do have personal
income) shows that the number of dependent persons in the inter-census period (2002 - 2011)
was reduced by about 15.0% and that the number of persons with personal income rose by
about 10.0%. At the same time, the number of dependent Roma increased by 69.1%, while the
number of persons with personal income dropped by over one-half (51.0%).
The similar pattern is visible4 when it comes to other important aspects of everyday life, such
as education, employment or health services. The scope of Preparatory Preschool Programme
is 98% in general population, and about 63% among Roma. This has consequences when it
comes to success and attendance rates in both elementary and secondary schools (e.g. approx.
90% of general population attends secondary schools, vs. only 22% among Roma youth).
When it comes to employment, Roma are often victims of ethnic and cultural prejudices and
stereotypes and many can find irregular employment only. One of the usual consequences of
poverty is poor health and access to health services. The demographic data indicate that the
Roma population is a young population (more than 50 percent of them are under 25).
However, the mortality rate among Roma is much higher than in other ethnic groups – their
average life span is twelve years shorter than the average life span in Serbia.5
Although Article 69 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia guarantees the right to social
security and although MICS survey indicates that more than 95% of Roma settlements
residents are not aware of available financial support schemes provided by the Government
(e.g. social welfare payments, child benefits, custodial care benefits and lump-sum benefits),
many Roma families do not apply for social benefits because they do not know exactly whether
they meet the criteria or not (32% of those who did not apply for the benefits reported this as
the main reason). This is another consequence of inadequate education – many rules and
regulations, forms and procedures that need to be understood and followed in order to apply
for the benefits, lay beyond the available capacities of many Roma.
4
Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) of Women and Children in Serbia 2014 and Multiple Indicator Cluster
Survey of Women and Children in Roma Settlements in Serbia 2014, conducted by the Serbian National Statistics
Office and UNICEF, 2014
5 Mirosinka Dinkic, Kosovka Ognjenovic, Siobhan McClelland, Impact Analysis of Health Policies on Accessibility of
Healthcare for Roma Population in Serbia, Republic of Serbia Government, Poverty Reduction Strategy
Implementation Focal Point, Belgrade, 2009.
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 4
The new Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma in the Republic of Serbia 2016-2025 6 (the
Strategy), details specific measures for each of these primary objectives, plus housing. In the
Operative Conclusions from the "Social Inclusion of Roma in the Republic of Serbia (20152017)”7 Seminar, and in the Draft Action Plan for Chapter 238, specific measures for improving
the current status in the said sectors were set and promulgated. Given that the exercise of the
right to education, work, adequate housing, and health care, reflect the overall state of human
rights and social equality (non-discrimination) in the local community, local communityspecific measures have to be adopted if measurable and tangible progress is to be achieved.
Local self-governments are entrusted with mechanisms to manage and implement inclusive
public policies. Furthermore, the Law on Local Self-Governments requires from them to
provide for the respect of human and minority rights9.
This Call for Proposal is aiming at providing opportunities for local Roma and other CSOs/NGOs
as well as professional Roma Associations to pilot relevant measures, as described in the
Operative Conclusions and the Strategy, within their municipalities and communities, in
cooperation with local self-governments, wherever needed and pertinent.
3. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE INTERVENTION
A number of international and domestic legal and strategic documents provide rationale for
this intervention, such as (to mention but a few) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(1948), The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(1965) 10 , the Strasbourg Declaration on Roma 11 , The EU Framework for National Roma
Integration Strategies up to 2020 12 , Strategy for the Development of Education in Serbia
2020 13 , National Employment Strategy 14 , the Strategy for Public Health 15 , the Strategy for
6http://www.ljudskaprava.gov.rs/images/pdf/Strategija_Romi_2016-
2025/Strategij%D0%B0_za_socijalno_ukljucivanje_Roma_i_Romkinja_2016_2025.pdf
7 On September 9, 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Zorana Mihajlovic requested the state bodies to implement the
Operative Conclusions in the next 2 years.
8 Draft Action Plan of August 2015.
9 Article 20, Paragraph 32 of the Local Self-Government Act, „Official Journal of the RS“, no. 129/2007 and 83/2014).
10 „Official Journal of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia“, no. 31/67
11 CM(2010)133 final 20 Oct 2010.
12 An EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies 2020 - Council Conclusions adopted by EPSCO on 19
May 2011.
13 „Official Journal of the RS“, no. 107/2012.
14 „Official Journal of the RS“, no. 37/2011.
15 „Official Journal of the RS“, no. 22/2009.
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 5
Prevention and Protection Against Discrimination16, The Protection of Rights and Freedoms of
National Minorities Act17and The Social Care Act18.
3. THE OBJECTIVE
The Overall Objective of the intervention is to empower Roma and other CSOs/NGOs as well
as professional Roma Associations to participate in implementation of selected Measures for
improving socio-economic status of Roma at local level, as specified in the Strategy.
5. THE SUBJECT OF THE CALL
Through an open call for project proposals to fund eligible Roma and other CSOs/NGOs and
professional Roma Associations with the amount of up to a maximum of EUR 10,000 per grant,
for piloting and/or implementation of projects at local level stemming from the following
Strategy’s Objectives.
Thematic areas of the Call include: employment, housing, education, social and health
protection as well as human security measures, and to effectively involve representatives of
the Roma community to participate in the process of developing and implementing strategic
measures as stated in the Strategy.
6. GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICANTS
A.
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
i.
Eligible to apply in this Call are:


Roma CSOs/NGOs and other CSOs/NGOs with proven trackrecord in implementing Roma-related projects that are legally
registered and operational in one of the 34 municipalities (please,
see above) participating in European PROGRES or regardless of
their registration seat if they have partnership with Roma and
other CSOs/NGOs that are legally registered in one of the 34
municipalities participating in European PROGRES
Legally registered Professional Roma Associations 19 that are
implementing projects and activities in the relevant thematic
16
„Official Journal of the RS“, no. 60/13.
„Official Journal of SR of Yugoslavia“, no. 11/2002, "Official Journal of Serbia and Montenegro", no. 1/2003 Constitutional Charter, and „Official Journal of the RS“, nr 72/2009, and 97/2013 - decision adopted by the
Constitutional Court).
18 „Official Journal of the RS“, no. 24/2011.
19 Association of Roma Coordinators, Association of Health Workers etc.
17
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 6
areas and are operational in one of the 34 municipalities (please,
see above) participating in European PROGRES.
ii.
One organisation/applicant can submit only one project proposal. One
applicant can be awarded with only one grant.
iii.
Eligible projects for funding must relate both - to one of the above
mentioned Objectives of the Strategy for Roma Social Inclusion and to a
specific Objective-related Measure, as described in the Strategy. Only
projects that are linked to and stemming from the said Objectives and
from specific Measures, as described in the Strategy, will be considered
for funding.
iv.
Projects proposals that are result of partnership between a CSO/NGO and
LSG are strongly encouraged. The partnership must be in a written form,
signed by relevant signatories from both sides, and with clear division of
tasks and responsibilities.
v.
The Applicant must have clear and proven record of implemented projects
related to Roma issues, clearly targeting and contributing to improvement
of Roma community.
B. THE PROJECTS SELECTION
I.
The projects that will be awarded will be selected through a competitive
process.
II.
European PROGRES does not have an obligation to spend all funds
available for this activity and will fund only quality projects that meet
specific criteria,
based
on
their
relevance,
expected
outcomes/impacts and sustainability of the proposed intervention.
III.
The project proposal will be dismissed if it was not submitted according to
the requirements and criteria of this proposal, or is incomplete, or is
submitted after the deadline. This decision will be final.
IV.
Geographical and thematic representation will be taken into account
during the selection of the project proposals.
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 7
C. THE GRANT AMOUNTS
i. For this Call, European PROGRES dedicated total amount of EUR 150, 000 (in
RSD).
ii. The minimum value of the grant is EUR 2,000 and the maximum is EUR 10,000
(in RSD).
D. DURATION OF PROJECTS
The implementation of activities from the project proposal will last maximum of 8
(eight) months, counting from the day of signing the contract. However, the
implementation must be finalised by 1 June 2017 at the latest.
E. THE PROCESS
This Call for Proposals will have 2 (two) stages:
Stage 1:
a) Preparation and submission of Project Concept Notes
 Applicants are expected to develop and submit a concept note on
the project with which they would like to apply (the form for the
Concept Note is attached to this Call)
b) Evaluation and Selection of the Concept Notes that will enter the Stage 2
 Each concept note will be assessed and evaluated by the
Programme against the basic criteria set in this Call for proposals,
as well as for its relevance, methodology and sustainability. Multilayered vulnerability of envisaged beneficiaries and anticipated
positive impact on local communities will be specifically
considered.

Each applicant will receive written information on the results of
this stage. The results will be final, for this stage.
Stage 2:
I.
The applicants selected in the Stage 1 will be invited to attend the Training
Programme, which will be comprised out from following activities and
topics (this would be organised and funded by the Programme):
1. Ad hoc assessment of organizational capacities and training
needs
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
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2. Plan and implement capacity development activities on at least
the following:
a. CSO/NGO management and development
b. Project management essential skills
c. Financial planning
d. Fund raising (including mapping and maintaining of
contacts), advocacy and lobbying
e. Preserving relevance at the community level
f.
Establishing, maintaining and managing relations with
local authorities
g. Strategic planning
h. Contacts with local/national media (strategy and
practice)
3. The Project concept development to a fully-fledged Project
Proposal.
II.
The Training Programme will last 5 working days, divided in batches. The
attendance at the trainings will be mandatory and only those who finish
successfully the training programme and pass pre-set milestones will be
eligible to apply with fully fledged project proposals, whose development
is expected to be assisted during the course.
III.
Applicant submits project proposal in required format (see below the list
of required documents) and time (see below for the details).
IV.
The Programme evaluation commission appraises the proposals and
informs the candidates on the final decisions taken.
E. NON-ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AND COST
Following activities and expenditures will not be considered eligible:
i.
ii.
Projects that do not explicitly tackle the topics listed above
Projects aimed at filling up any funding gaps from on-going activities
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 9
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
Activities that can be more appropriately funded from other funding
sources
Activities where a substantial part of the budget covers recurrent costs
and/or personnel costs
Travel, catering and/or conference services costs not founded in project
rationale
Projects focused on research, or promotional activities with no specific
outcomes
Extensive hardware/software purchases without true foundation in
project rationale
Items from the budget, including office costs, fees or salaries, already
funded by other sources (other projects, other organisations – public or
civic, etc.)
All costs originating before the project beginning or accrued after project
closure
F. THE SELECTION CRITERIA
Proposals in both stages will be selected based on assessment of their various aspects,
including the following:
1. Operational capacity of the Applicant
2. Relevance of the proposal to the objectives of the Call
3. Relevance to the Roma community
4. Methodology proposed
5. Sustainability of the proposed project
6. Planned outcomes and envisaged impacts of the project
7. Proposed Budget and its Cost-Effectiveness (in Stage 2)
8. Partnership arrangement/contract (if applicable)
G. SUBMITTING THE PROJECT PROPOSALS – STAGE 1 AND STAGE 2
Stage 1
The Applicant prepares (in Serbian) and submits the Project Concept Note (the
form is attached to this Call), in the set timeframe.
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 10
Stage 2
After successfully concluding the Training Programme, the Applicant submits the
full Project Proposal (both in Serbian and English), which must contain the
following application files:
I.
Application Form
II.
Detailed project budget proposal, in table format (please note, that all
purchases that are to be made by European PROGRES must be budgeted
without VAT, i.e. – please list the amounts in the budget accordingly).
Please list what you expect European PROGERS to purchase and what
would be your contribution (e.g. raw materials, etc.). Please note that
your contributions to the project realisation must include VAT.
III.
Detailed budget narrative
IV.
Logical framework analysis Form
Additional information about the submission of Concepts / Project Proposals
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
The applicant must have all requested forms filled out appropriately.
Insufficient information or failure to provide inputs for requested boxes in
the attached forms will render the application ineligible for further
processing and the application will be dismissed.
Additional documentation that may be at will submitted with the
application files: recommendations, relevant support letters, evidence of
previously implemented projects, and similar.
Project proposals must be submitted as 1) one printed copy of all
application files, and 2) in electronic form, on a CD. Printed copies of
application files have to be bound and must be signed by the applicant on
appropriate places. Hand-written applications will not be accepted.
The applicant should submit all supporting documents (organization’s
statute, bank statements, reference lists, pro-forma invoices, etc.) also in
electronic form as scanned documents.
In case project proposal refers to infrastructure works, the applicant must
submit relevant technical documentation as well (permits, technical
design, Bill of Quantity etc.).
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 11
7. BRANDING AND VISIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The grantee will be expected to comply with communications and visibility requirements as
set by European PROGRES. The Programme will provide the grantees with adequate
guidelines and other information prior to beginning of the project implementation.
These requirements cover the written and visual identity of European PROGRES, the donors
and the implementing agency, and they apply to print, electronic and any other material,
presentation, banner, invitation, sign, plaque or goods purchased with the funds provided by
the donors and managed by European PROGRES.
8. MONITORING, REPORTING AND EVALUATION
The grantees must monitor their own projects and make relevant records, including photos,
which must be included all reports.
The following reports will be expected from the grantee:

Monthly progress reports (after first month and thereafter)

Final report assessing and analysing project implemented, its outputs and
outcomes.
All reports include narrative and financial aspects. These reports will be considered public
information.
European PROGRES will monitor implementation and audit grantees. The grantee can be
evaluated at any time during the project implementation and subsequent actions may be
taken according to the assessment’s findings. The payment schedule will be linked to project
milestones and findings from the Programme’s audits.
9. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
Successful project proposals must demonstrate awareness of good governance requirements
and sensitivity to gender. The applicant must clearly indicate how vulnerable and marginalised
groups will be involved in and/or benefit from the project.
10. DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO THIS CALL (ANNEXES)
1.
2.
3.
4.
The List of required registration and other related documents (Stage 1)
The Proposal Submission Form (to be submitted in Stage 1)
The Project Concept Note Form (to be submitted in Stage 1)
CSO Factsheet (to be submitted in Stage 1)
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org
page | 12
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Scoring Criteria (for Stage 1)
The List of required registration and other related documents (Stage 2)
The full Project Proposal Application Form (to be submitted in Stage 2)
Logical Framework Analysis (LFA) Form (to be submitted in Stage 2)
Project Budget form (budget and narrative budget-to be submitted in Stage 2)
Scoring Criteria (for Stage 2)
European PROGRES Report – Narrative – template
European PROGRES Report – Financial Report – template
UNOPS Grant Support Agreement with General Conditions – Template
11. SUBMISSION DEADLINE AND EUROPEAN PROGRES OFFICES ADDRESSES
All Project Concept Notes must be received by European PROGRES via registered mail or in
person at the addresses below, by 16:00 hours, 4 July 2016.
The Project Concept Notes must be submitted in a sealed envelope and marked with the title
of the call for proposals (Call for Proposals - Piloting Implementation of Measures from the
Strategy for Roma Social Inclusion at Local Level 06-2016), with full name and address of the
applicant and labelled with “NE OTVARATI PRE ZVANIČNOG OTVARANJA POZIVA”, on the
following addresses:
European PROGRES
Ćirila i Metodija 23,
18000 Niš
or
Kragujevačka 1,
36300 Novi Pazar
or
Kneza Miloša 52
17500 Vranje
The deadline for submission of full project proposals will be announced timely to those who
successfully pass the first stage (please, see above for additional information on the stages of
this Call).
Applications that are received after the deadline or via email will not be considered.
For more information about the Call please contact: Nataša Ivanović, Programme Associate
for Empowerment of the Vulnerable Groups, European PROGRES Programme,
[email protected] mobile: 063/86-14-528, phone: 011-240-58-32.
Programme is financed by the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia and is implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with
34 municipalities in the South East and South West Serbia
www.europeanprogres.org