The Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia has launched a call for proposals within the project “Support to the social inclusion of the most vulnerable groups, including Roma, through more diversified community-based social services”, financed from EU pre-accession funds.
The grant-scheme worth €4.35 million aims to improve social inclusion and poverty reduction among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in Serbia. Together with the Ministry of labour, employment and social policy, the EU Delegation will hold information sessions in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and Užice.
The project aims at promoting the social inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups through the provision of sustainable community-based social services; improving the position of Roma people through initiatives aimed at their active social inclusion; promoting the efficient use of resources through partnering of different stakeholders involved in the provision of support to vulnerable groups and encouraging and promoting inter-municipal cooperation (through the so-called “cluster approach”) in delivering social services.
Total amount of funds that will be given through this project is €4,350,000, divided in two lots:
- Lot 1: Community-based social services
- Budget: €2,900,000
- Size of grants: €100,000–300,000
- Potential applicants: Civil society organisations from Serbia and other eligible countries, local authorities and public institutions active in the social protection sector.
The applicants should, through their actions, contribute to strengthen the existing services or establishing new ones, propose new modalities or merge existing modalities to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Lot 2: Active inclusion initiatives for the Roma population
- Budget: €1,450,000
- Size of grants: €60,000–500,000
- Potential applicants: Civil society organisations from Serbia and other eligible countries, public institutions belonging to social protection sector, independent government bodies working in sectors relevant for the call, public institutions dealing with health, education and culture, public companies, local authorities and international organisations.
The applicants should aim to develop human resources and employability through support for education, boosting employment and self-entrepreneurship and support local communities or local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to play an active role in decision making process for local economic development.
Information sessions about this call for proposal will be held throughout Serbia, as per the following calendar:
| Town | Date and Time | Venue | Address |
| Belgrade | 1 April 2014 11:00 – 15:00 |
Dom omladine Beograda (Amerikana hall, 1st floor) | 24 Makedonska str |
| Novi Sad | 2 April 2014 12:00 – 15:00 |
City Hall (assembly hall) |
2 Žarka Zrenjanina str |
| Niš | 3 April 2014 12:00 – 15:00 |
City Hall (big hall) |
24 Nikole Pašića str |
| Užice | 4 April 2014 12:00 – 15:00 |
City hall (ceremonial hall) |
52 Dimitrija Tucovića str |
Potential applicants interested in attending the Information Sessions are advised to register online at following link.
Deadline for submission of proposals is 19 May 2014.
The full Application Package, including the Guidelines for Applicants, is available for a free download on the following internet sites:
EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia: www.europa.rs;
EuropeAid: europa.eu/!NR83PN
