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Call for Application – Regional Social Academy “Agile Organisational and Project Management”

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Call for Application – Regional Social Academy “Agile Organisational and Project Management”

After two successful Regional Social Academy of IRIS Network, held in Belgrade and Tirana we are announcing the Call for participants of the Regional Social Academy, which will be held online from 26th to 28th October 2020.

The Academy offers participants further support in organizational development – changing the paradigm: moving from a traditional organization working as a “machine” to the new organisation working as “organism”. This year Academy will focus on new knowledge and skills of CSOs management and senior staff in agile organizational and project management – impact strategy design and management, agile project management, budgeting, agile leadership, and team management, leading the agile organisation, impact measurement, and management methodologies and practices.

Participants will attend 3-day tailor-made training consisted of online lectures and workshops. The Academy program will enable further improvements and optimization to the needs, interests, and constraints of the target groups and their institutional and organizational environments.

All information and application procedure you can find here.

The deadline for the application is 14th October 2020 at 17 p.m.

The final participant list will be announced on the IRIS Network website (www.iris-see.eu) no later than on 16th October.

Successful participants will obtain certificates, and enter Academy Alumni. Upon the training, each of the participants will have the opportunity to participate in a Follow-up check-point session which will be held on the 9th of November 2020, online.

Regional Social Academy is part of the regular IRIS program activities, organized annually.

Photos and impressions from First Regional Social Academy you can see here.

Photos and impressions from Second Regional Social Academy you can see here.

For additional questions contact iris@iris-see.eu.

Sanja Vukelic

IRIS Network survey for CSO’s: Social services – Covid19 pandemic

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IRIS Network considers important to assess the situation, challenges and difficulties its members as well as others CSO’s that are facing in the provision of social services and their everyday work as a result of the current COVID 19 pandemic.

We have responsibility towards its members as well as to other parties to have a detailed overview of their current situation and to provide this information to the EC, as the donor. This will be conducted through a questionnaire CSO’s can fill in on link below.

Therefore, the objective of the questionnaire is to assess the current situation and consequences caused by COVID 19 pandemic on the provision of social services to beneficiaries provided by IRIS Network members in their local communities. The results of the questionnaire will be used for developing a Report on Social Services in South East Europe under the COVID 19 pandemic and will include the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia. The Report will be used to assess the actual challenges that civil society organizations providers of social services face in working with beneficiaries and to map the assistance models.

The Report will also be used as an instrument in advocating for policies and measures of national/regional/ EU Institutions which focus on service providers during and after the crises.

Please provide detailed information in the questionnaire and include all information you consider relevant. Also, please include your projections and the assessment of the consequence caused by the crises that will affect your services and the whole social protection system.

For all interested CSO’s providing social services – you can fill in the questioner on the link below .

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYtxkZHFt2ZdZ89_F-IVVyIDYzH3bxToH4T5ybdcNrnLgQoA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please feel free to contact us through National Coordinators and / or Network Secretariat.

Stay well and healthy.

Sanja Vukelic

National meeting of IRIS Network in Serbia

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IRIS network in Serbia organized national meeting on 20th December 2024. in the premises of IDC.

During meeting, Regional benchmark study: Social progress and EU Accession process in the Western Balkan countries was presented with emphasis on situation in Serbia. This report provides a benchmark study of the social progress in six countries – Albania, Bosna and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, focusing on three key areas: education, economic environment and social protection, and healthcare, with additional attention to human rights, social services, employment, and social dialogue and will be published on our website.

National meeting gathered members from Serbia, as well as new members that had recently joined to the network. This was the opportunity to introduce and connect new members with others in order to involve them in activities and contribute to the future cooperation.

National meeting was part of the annual activities of the IRIS Network.

Sanja Vukelic

Perspectives of Inclusion – Civic dialogue about work integration of persons with disabilities from the perspective of different local community stakeholders

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IRIS Network organized on 10th December 2024 in Pančevo, on the human rights day, the social dialogue titled​ ” Perspectives of inclusion ” – Civic dialogue about work integration of persons with disabilities from the perspective of different local community stakeholders, with special focus on work integration of this target group, opportunities and challenges which they are facing.​

The dialogue brought together representatives of organizations members of Iris Network, civic society organizations that provide social services to persons with disabilities, as well as representatives of institutions. At the event were present representatives of the National Employment Service and Erste ​Bank, from sector​ for social banking, members of the Pančevo City Council and Administration, Association Volja za zivotom from Velika Plana, Associations Evo ruka from Belgrade, Na pola puta from​​ Pančevo and Zelena Plantaza Iva from Surduk.

Main topics for discussion covered programs of the National Employment Service ​for persons with disabilities, their position and needs, obstacles and challenges with which they encounter in everyday life, legal restrictions and other obstacles which makes their active engagement difficult, opportunities for overcoming them, obligations of institutions and support, as well as their integration and work engagement in social enterprises, as one of the models of working integration. In conclusion, through exchange of good practices, participants jointly developed recommendations which could help in the future to improve the position of persons with disabilities. In addition, all present participants express their interest to form an informal network and cooperate in order to improve position of persons with disabilities on the labor market.

The civic dialogue was organized within project “IRIS Progress – Strengthening capacity providers community service and participation in public​policies” which is funded by the European Union, and implemented by Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC).

 

Sanja Vukelic

Balkan caravan – Journey through the Western Balkan region

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The IRIS network organized the Balkan Caravan from 8- 13 July, 2024 in six countries of the region – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo*, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The purpose of the Balkan Caravan is the promotion and exchange of good practices in the field of human rights and social inclusion in the Western Balkans. In each of the countries, a Mini Festival of Human Rights is organized by the host organizations and partners of the IRIS network.

The Balkan Caravan traveled through six countries of the region, hosted by our members:

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina – Center for psihological support SENSUS and LIR CD
  • Montenegro – SOS Nikšić and Alfa Centar
  • Albania – Useful to the community and CLR
  • North Macedonia – Center for youth activism KRIK and CDI
  • Kosova* – Down Syndrome Kosova and Center for independent life
  • Serbia – Association of Psychologists Novi Pazar and ASB

The Balkan Caravan consisted of the following organizations: Association Altruist Mostar, Volunteers of Montenegro, Association Halfway there, Defending the rights of people with disabilities – Medpak, Real act of kindness and Jesuit Refugee Service Serbia.

 

  1. Day of Balkan Caravan in Mostar: A Day of Creativity and Education

The first day of the Balkan Caravan was spent in the city of Mostar, hosted by “Psychotherapy Sensus”. Event was warmly opened by our grantee, “Ray of Hope” who conducted a brooch-making workshop, bringing creativity to the participants. Following this, hosts guided participants through their photo exhibition and conducted a workshop on Human Rights and Mental Health.

 

In addition to these activities, there were held presentations from our guests from the association “Halfway There” and “Volunteers of Montenegro”, who showcased their projects and contributions. The first day of the Balkan Caravan was filled with creativity, education, and collaboration.

 

 

 

  1. Day of Balkan Caravan in Nikšić: Empowering Women and Raising Awareness

On the second day, Balkan Caravan arrived in Nikšić where it were welcomed by partners from Alfa Center Nikšić and grantees from Montenegro, SOS Nikšić and SOS Podgorica.

SOS Podgorica showcased their project “Together for better services for women and children”  through presentation, while SOS Nikšić organized an event in the main city square. At this event, they promoted their online service for victims of stalking, directly informing the women of Nikšić on how to recognize stalking and how to seek help.

Following these activities, participants had an opportunity to visit mural – “OsnaŽENE – vidljive”, featuring Frida Kahlo and Judith Heumann. These women are portrayed not only as symbols of feminism but also as women with disabilities, emphasizing their empowerment and resilience.

 

 

 

 

  1. Day of Balkan Caravan in Elbasan: Raising Awareness and Empowering Rural Women

Balkan caravan spent the third day in Elbasan, Albania with hosts CLR and grantees – Psycho social center Vatra and Useful to the Community. There was organized raising awareness campaign in the main square where grantees informed citizens about their work and presented the handmade products of their beneficiaries.

Moreover, Balkan caravan visited center from organization Useful to the community, where were organized dialogue between local decision-makers and members of this organization about issues and challenges that rural women faces in their daily lives.

Final activity of this day was meeting in the Municipality of Elbasan with local organizations and representatives from the Department of Social Services of the Municipality of Vlora and the Directorate of Social Services of the Municipality of Elbasan. Participants discussed and exchanged their practices and challenges which lead to common conclusions in improving the services offered to citizens.

 

 

  1. Day of Balkan Caravan in Skoplje: Art, Music, and Inclusion

Balkan caravan arrived to Skopje at the Center for Youth Activism KRIK. We were joined by our grantee HERA and our partner from Macedonia, CDI Macedonia.

Participants had the opportunity to explore their facilities, admire artistic paintings and products made by beneficiaries, and enjoy in talk with colleagues from other countries. There were organized a dialogue between local institutions, local organizations and participants where they discussed situations in each country and shared the possible solutions for similar problems that they are facing. Additionally, participants gained a gift which are T-shirts that beneficiaries printed. They learned a printing process from workshops that were held through IRIS grants.

 

 

 

  1. Day of Balkan Caravan in Pristina: Advocating for Disability Rights

The fifth day Balkan Caravan spent in Prishtina with host, Down Syndrome Kosova. With representatives from public institutions, civil society, and members of Down Syndrome, participants had the opportunity to discuss issues related to the rights of individuals, with a special focus on disabilities and exchanging ideas and good practices.

Participants were particularly delighted by a musical performance by one of their talented beneficiaries. Additionally, there were presented artworks from the beneficiaries, including beautifully crafted greeting cards. Hosts showed participants their space and presented their work in order to transmit their good practices to others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Day of Balkan Caravan in Novi Pazar

The last day of Balkan caravan was spent in main park and hosted by the Association of Psychologists in Novi Pazar. The day featured open-space events with presentations from 20 organizations, offering a variety of workshops, exhibitions, and showcases of their work.

In addition to the outdoor stands, there were presentations of projects and initiatives by Iris grantees, including the Altruist Association from Bosnia and Herzegovina, NVO Medpak from Albania, the Jesuit Refugee Service from Serbia and the Evo Ruka Association from Serbia. The association “Halfway There” also held a quiz for youth on internet safety, engaging and educating participants on this important topic.

 


This activity, Balkan Caravan is held in the framework of the EU-funded project “Strengthening capacities and policy engagement of community service providers – IRIS PROGRESS”, funded by the EU. Project partners on the project are ASB (Germany), Center for Labour Rights (Albania), CDI (North Macedonia), Alfa Center (Montenegro), Center for Independent Life (Kosovo*) and LIR CD (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Sanja Vukelic

TENDER FOR PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT OF BALKAN CARAVAN – HR/SOCIAL INCLUSION PRACTICES PROMOTION – Tender ref.no.: IDC-IRIS 2022/ SER T6

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We are informing you that on June 17, 2024. the organization Initiative for Development and Cooperation is opening the procurement for provision of services for logistic support of Balkan Caravan – HR/Social Inclusion Practices Promotion, reference number IDC – IRIS 2022 SER T6, within the project “Strengthening capacities and policy engagement of community service providers – IRIS PROGRES” funded by the European Union, represented by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia.

All interested bidders may send a request for the tender documentation to the e-mail procurement@idcserbia.org .

The deadline for submitting offers is June 25, 2024. at 12:00 hours.

We remain at your disposal for any additional information.