National Congress of IRIS Network – Konekta

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National Congress of Konekta Network was held on 1.10.2015, in Paraćin with the presence of 32 member organisations. Guests on the Congress were representatives of: Social inclusion and poverty reduction unit, Centre for social policy Belgrade, National organization of persons with disabilities of Serbia, Lokalpress network – association of local media in Serbia and media partner Medijacija – Portal Who is responsible that follows the activities of Konekta network in last 12 months.

Following the needs for the positioning and formalisation of national network, members of Konekta decided to start official registration process after three year operations as informal network. The network will be registered as Association of organisations social service providers – Konekta Network.

During the Congress, Statute and Network activity plan for 2016 was adopted. Following Konekta Network Congress will be held in June 2016 for the purpose of expanding membership and Strategic plan development.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR MEMBERS OF THE IRIS NETWORK

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In the framework of the project “Improving the provision of Social Service Delivery in South Eastern Europe through the empowerment of national and regional CSOs”, implemented by the consortium of SOLIDAR, LIR CD BiH, OGI Croatia, EDC Serbia, SOS TELEPHONE Montenegro, CLARD Kosovo, ARSIS Albania, ASYD FYROM – led by ASB Germany, SOLIDAR is organising a Professional Staff Training Programme open to staff members of CSOs providing social services in the Western Balkans, that are part of the IRIS Network.

The programme offers to one selected candidate the opportunity to spend 4 weeks in the premises of Movimiento por la Paz (MPDL)  in Madrid (Spain) and provides a learning experience on the provision of social services and civic movement in Spain, as well as insight into how the provision of services and the policy advocacy is shaped. Travel, accommodation and living costs of the selected candidate will be covered.

For more information please see the on the description of the Programme.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS WITHIN SMALL GRANTS FACILITY PUBLISHED

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IRIS Network has a great pleasure to announce the continuation of its small grants program, which will provide financial support to the member organisations in: Albania, FYROM, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.

This call will support implementation of advocacy initiatives.

Proposed advocacy initiatives should focus on:

  • Improving policies and their practices in the area of social inclusion and provision of social services on local level;
  • Improving policy framework for CSOs providing social services at local level;
  • Introducing of innovative models in provision of social services;
  • Improving policy framework and practices of involvement in decision making process  vulnerable groups and/or beneficiaries of social services.

Total budget of the call is 60 000 EUR.  Funding will be provided for minimum 12 projects lasting up to 6 months maximum. It is anticipated that  maximum of € 5,000 per project will be available.

Project proposals should be written in English language. Applicant must submit filled application package and additional documentation consisted of:

  1. Application form;
  2. Budget proposal;
  3. Scanned copy of Registration of organization;
  4. Scanned copy of Statute of organization;
  5. Scanned copy of Balance Sheet and Income Statement for the previous year (2014.)

In case of partnership, corresponding additional documentation should be enclosed, as well as “Partnership agreement” from the Application form, signed and stamped by the legally authorized representative.

If you have a project which may fulfill the requirements of  above described program, please send your proposals to:  masa.mitrovic@asb-see.org no later than 31.10.2015 midnight, with the email subject  “Call for proposal for the CSO support”.

Supporting documents: Application form; Budget proposal; Guidelines.

PREDA Plus helps to refugees in FYROM

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PREDA Plus is providing immediate help to the refugees on exit point in FYROM in Tabanovce.  In cooperation with ASB, PREDA Plus distributed 150 humanitarian packages per day, out of which 50 for women and 100 for men. This number roughly covers 5 to 10% of the total distributed humanitarian aid at the spot.  Additionally, PREDA Plus provided food and milk for the refugee children, as well as the blankets.

The situation at the border-crossing Tabanovce is changing from hour to hour. At the moment, 4000-5000 people are crossing to Serbia daily. Most of the refugees are using trains for transit, but some of them are transiting via busses and/or taxi.

Due to the change of weather conditions (lower temperature, rain and fog) there is a need of additional type of aid packages: warm clothes (jackets), boots and raincoats.

IDC is helping refugee children

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Since the beginning of September 2015, IDC has started implementing the program for refugee children and their families residing in the park near the bus station and the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade. Together with their parents, children are travelling long way through the often dangerous and inhospitable places, without much food and water, sleeping in tents or under the open sky, in a situation of existential insecurity. In these circumstances, their psycho-social needs are often put aside. Therefore, the IDC started a program primarily designed for children refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Eritrea and other countries, travelling through the territory of Serbia. Program is consisted of: workshops, watching cartoons, visits of clown, games playing and other activities targeting children. Also, along with a number of organizations, including the Foundation Ana and Vlade Divac and organization ADRA, IDC’s young volunteers distributed food, water and sweets to children, which were donated by Mondelez International.

Second Call for Proposals – Small Grants Facility soon to be launched

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The IRIS Network informs its membership that the Second Call for Proposals will be launched in October 2015.

The Small Grants Facility will be organised according to the lessons learned from the First Call SGF, focusing on: greater involvement of the stakeholders in discussion on provision of social services, partnerships promoting innovative services, analyses, advocacy and monitoring of social sector reforms.

The SGF will be open only to Network member organizations, especially those who show initiative in active approach in implementing quality standards in their work. Priority will also be given to joint initiatives between two or more Network member organisations.

Application documentation will be distributed through National Networks and available on the web site of the IRIS Network.