The Machine for production of cement blocks ensures employment for returnees in the local cooperative in the municipality of Doboj

doboj kooperativa
doboj kooperativa
doboj kooperativa
8/11/2008 - Sarajevo, 5 August 2008 – Today in the municipality of Doboj, MZ Ševarlije the machine for production of cement blocks has been delivered to the local cooperative that will result in increased capacities of production and direct employment of three project beneficiaries. The procurement of this machine through the project sustainability component stimulates employment and income generation of returnees in their places of origin within the third phase of the SUTRA program (implemented by UNDP and funded by the European Union - 4 million Euro, local authorities through the BiH Return Fund - 2 million Euro, UNDP - 200,000 Euro, UNHCR - 256,000 Euro and partner municipalities - 596,000 Euro, making total of close to 7.052 million Euro) was completed today in Sarajevo.
Employing returnees is one segment of the overall sustainability component –in this way small and medium enterprises have the opportunity to think about business options and prepare the business plan that would allow for employment of project beneficiaries. People from the cooperative in the MZ Ševarlije are content with the procured machine as it will significantly increase the capacities of the production as well as secure three permanent jobs. ‘Initiatives of this character are indispensable in local communities – the maximum focus of activities within the return process should be ensuring sustainable therefore job-related solutions’ said Mr. EnesSuljkanović, president of the municipal council in Doboj.

SUTRA PLOD (Support to Results-based Approach – Partnership for Local Development) project that has reached it third phase of implementation is a joint undertaking of EU, UNDP and the BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, in cooperation with entity line ministries, Brčko District and the BiH Return Fund, aiming at strengthening the local authorities on central and municipal level. During the two first phases, the central level authorities took over the leading role in creating and adopting return strategy at the BiH level, while municipalities took the lead in the beneficiary selection process, implementation of tender procedures and reconstruction.

Success stories

Delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina Visited Hungary

Under the auspices of the SUTRA PLOD Programme and Hungarian International Development Assistance Non-profit Company, HUN-IDA, a delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the second one in the last four months, visited Hungary within a study trip on 17 – 26 June this year. The experiences of Hungary, which joined the EU three years ago, are valuable and applicable upon BiH, too, which was witnessed by the members of our delegation. Functioning of authorities at central and local levels, rural development, use of money from the EU pre-accession funds and projects implemented are among the topics introduced to the BiH guests by their kind hosts. At the Office of the Hungarian Prime Minister, where their host was Ms. Erika Németh, Head of Department for National and Ethnic Minorities, the representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina were introduced to the legislation on rights of national and ethnic minorities in Hungary, characteristics of local governments of national and ethnic minorities in Hungary, e-government, “client-gate” services and to the importance of setting up a website (www.magyarorszag.hu).

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