IRIS connects currently 200 member organizations that provide different types of social services to different vulnerable groups: people with disability, children, and youth at risk, women victims of family violence, refugees, asylum seekers, etc.
IRIS aims to strengthen the role of not-for-profit social service providers throughout SEE and to ensure that these organizations are recognized as equal partners by the public sector.
IRIS was founded in 2012 and from the mere beginning we had huge support from our partners in the European Union and in the CSF program.
Facts on IRIS
- Connects and builds capacities for more than 200 organizations from SEE region providing social services;
- 10 000 beneficiaries are provided necessary social and health services each day by our member organizations
- IRIS has six national secretariats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania;
- We encourage a consensus among decision-makers, experts, and civil society on the needs for effective coordination and use of available local resources and future EU funds earmarked for social inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups;
- Our online platform, iris-see.eu, is a platform for the exchange of knowledge between different organizations and people involved in the provision of social services throughout the region;
- E-learning curriculum IRIS launched is a helpful tool for capacity building process for the IRIS network members and other interested organizations and professionals;
- IRIS trained more than 150 professionals in organizational management of CSOs through a training program “Efficient management – better services” in period of 2012-2023;
- In 2014 we supported 23 grass-root projects focused on improving social services on the local level: five in each of Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia, and three in Kosovo.
IDC Serbia
Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the social and economic inclusion of less privileged categories of the population and the protection of their human rights. We work with vulnerable social groups that mostly live below the poverty line, and together with them, we try to fight for the highest possible level of social inclusion.
Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund
Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund is a non-political and non-denominational charity and relief organisation with 16 branches federal and 224 branches at regional level.
Center for Labour Rights
CLR is an organization in Albania that serves as a resource center for activism, services, education, research, and networking for workers and other interest groups..
ALFA Centar
ALFA Centar is a non-governmental organization founded in October 2006 in Montenegro. Their goals include promoting and advocating for the right of every citizen to a peaceful, safe, and dignified life. They work in areas such as civil-military relations, traffic safety, youth programs, and community programs.
CDI - Community Development Institute
Community Development Institute (CDI): CDI is a national umbrella association for sustainable development, education, and social services. CDI works on improving living conditions, strengthening democracy, and civil society.
Center for Independent Life
Center for Independent Life” which is an Organization that works on protecting the right of people with disability and also trains this category of society to live independently.
LIR Civil Society
LIR Civil Society is a non -profit, non-political and humanitarian organizations, qualified to work on various aspects of civil society, economic development and environmental protection.