1. Comparative Analysis of the Role of Civil Society in Providing Social Welfare Services in the Western Balkans
One of the first activities in the project was to develop a baseline study which will present legal and institutional framework for the provision of social welfare services by civil society organizations and their role in providing these services in the region of the Western Balkans.The study is based on desk-analysis and series of semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders from CSOs and public institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia.
2. SOLIDAR publication – European semester 2014: Ensure Social Progress
The Annual Growth Survey 2014 shows that unemployment has reached unprecedented levels in the European Union, while inequalities are steadily growing. In order to achieve the Europe 2020 targets of a 75% employment rate, increasing the number of adults completing third level education to at least 40% and reducing the number of people living in poverty by 20 million, the EU has to step up efforts to promote of a high level of employment, guarantee adequate social protection, combat social exclusion, promote access to education and increase participation in lifelong learning.
3. SOLIDAR publication – Promoting the social economy as a driver for inclusive growth and social progress
The social economy is an essential pillar of the European social model and its actors play an important role in maintaining social services and in overcoming economic and social crises; in recent years 3.5 million new jobs have been created in the social economy. The social economy accounts for 10-12% of the European economy and its actors constitute an important economic force, stimulating innovation by pointing out existing deficiencies and inconvenient truths. By their nature and by the work they do, they contribute to establishing a more cohesive, democratic and active society, and often with favorable working conditions.
publication.pdf
4. SOLIDAR publication – Europe 2020: how to spur social progress for a more inclusive Europe?
In 2010 – when the Europe 2020 Strategy was agreed – European economies were experiencing low growth and productivity. In many countries the situation steadily deteriorated, leading to a severe financial crisis. The immediate response of the EU was to focus on fiscal and financial consolidation through austerity plans which resulted in even more inequality for poor and vulnerable people.
publication.pdf
5. Mapping social welfare services within the mandate of local governments in the Republic of Serbia
Mapping Social Welfare Services, initiated by the Government of Serbia Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit and UNICEF Serbia in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, was implemented between September 2012 and February 2013. The survey was carried out by the Centre for Liberal Democratic Studies (CLDS).
7. FROM INACTIVITY TO EMPLOYMENT: Recommendations
Analysis of the impact of public policies and factors affecting inactivity: Opportunities for raising activity and employment in Serbia.
8. BOOSTING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CREATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
This report has been prepared as part of the OECD LEED Programme “Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Creation”. A team comprising members of the OECD LEED Secretariat and an external expert visited Serbia in February/March 2012 for a study visit to examine the role, both actual and potential, of social entrepreneurship, and the support which could be given to social enterprise to boost its potential performance. This report is based significantly on the preliminary report prepared by the local experts, the available statistics and on material gathered from the study visit, as well as research conducted both prior to, and after, the study visit.
9. STUDY: Challenges of the new social policy – social inclusion in the EU and Serbia
The purpose of the Study is to present to the general public in Serbia in a relatively systematized way the knowledge regarding the social process in the EU, as well as to open a debate on the possible ways to improve the level of social integration in Serbia through political process. The Study was produced as a part of the project „Promotion of Social Inclusion Debate in Serbia“, supported by the EU’s Employment and Social Solidarity Programme PROGRESS (2007–2013) that was managed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Aff airs and Equal Opportunities, and realized in the period from February 2009 to July 2010.
Publications
/0 Comments/in Documents /by1. Comparative Analysis of the Role of Civil Society in Providing Social Welfare Services in the Western Balkans
Versions: English, Montenegrin, Croatian, Albanian, Bosnian, Serbian
2. SOLIDAR publication – European semester 2014: Ensure Social Progress
The Annual Growth Survey 2014 shows that unemployment has reached unprecedented levels in the European Union, while inequalities are steadily growing. In order to achieve the Europe 2020 targets of a 75% employment rate, increasing the number of adults completing third level education to at least 40% and reducing the number of people living in poverty by 20 million, the EU has to step up efforts to promote of a high level of employment, guarantee adequate social protection, combat social exclusion, promote access to education and increase participation in lifelong learning.
European semester 2014: Ensure Social Progress.pdf
3. SOLIDAR publication – Promoting the social economy as a driver for inclusive growth and social progress
The social economy is an essential pillar of the European social model and its actors play an important role in maintaining social services and in overcoming economic and social crises; in recent years 3.5 million new jobs have been created in the social economy. The social economy accounts for 10-12% of the European economy and its actors constitute an important economic force, stimulating innovation by pointing out existing deficiencies and inconvenient truths. By their nature and by the work they do, they contribute to establishing a more cohesive, democratic and active society, and often with favorable working conditions.
publication.pdf
4. SOLIDAR publication – Europe 2020: how to spur social progress for a more inclusive Europe?
In 2010 – when the Europe 2020 Strategy was agreed – European economies were experiencing low growth and productivity. In many countries the situation steadily deteriorated, leading to a severe financial crisis. The immediate response of the EU was to focus on fiscal and financial consolidation through austerity plans which resulted in even more inequality for poor and vulnerable people.
publication.pdf
5. Mapping social welfare services within the mandate of local governments in the Republic of Serbia
Mapping Social Welfare Services, initiated by the Government of Serbia Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit and UNICEF Serbia in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, was implemented between September 2012 and February 2013. The survey was carried out by the Centre for Liberal Democratic Studies (CLDS).
Publication.pdf
7. FROM INACTIVITY TO EMPLOYMENT: Recommendations
Analysis of the impact of public policies and factors affecting inactivity: Opportunities for raising activity and employment in Serbia.
publication.pdf
8. BOOSTING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CREATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
This report has been prepared as part of the OECD LEED Programme “Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Creation”. A team comprising members of the OECD LEED Secretariat and an external expert visited Serbia in February/March 2012 for a study visit to examine the role, both actual and potential, of social entrepreneurship, and the support which could be given to social enterprise to boost its potential performance. This report is based significantly on the preliminary report prepared by the local experts, the available statistics and on material gathered from the study visit, as well as research conducted both prior to, and after, the study visit.
publication.pdf
9. STUDY: Challenges of the new social policy – social inclusion in the EU and Serbia
The purpose of the Study is to present to the general public in Serbia in a relatively systematized way the knowledge regarding the social process in the EU, as well as to open a debate on the possible ways to improve the level of social integration in Serbia through political process. The Study was produced as a part of the project „Promotion of Social Inclusion Debate in Serbia“, supported by the EU’s Employment and Social Solidarity Programme PROGRESS (2007–2013) that was managed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Aff airs and Equal Opportunities, and realized in the period from February 2009 to July 2010.
study.pdf
ADVOCACY
/in ADVOCACY /byNational networks of CSOs providing social services and the regional network IRIS supported by the Brussels based SOLIDAR network provide a strong platform for advocacy actions in Western Balkans and monitoring of key social welfare reforms. During the first phase of the project national networks strengthened their capacity to provide analysis and established channel of communication with state stakeholders. As such they are ready to advocate for revision of existing legislation, adoption of new legislation and/or drafting different policy or legislation recommendations.
CAPACITY BUILDING
/in CAPACITY BUILDING /byASB and its partners SOLIDAR, OGI, LIR CD, SOS Telephone, CLARD, EDC, ASYD and ARSIS will conduct strategic planning of the regional and national networks.. After the initial joint summer school, the partners will focus much more on specific CSOs providing social services and their development in terms of building human resources and quality standards for the services they are providing. In that manner, ASB will initiate a Traineeship program, Mentoring program, ISO 9001:2008 certification process, support to the licensing process and a grant scheme.
Publications
/0 Comments/in Documents /by1. Comparative Analysis of the Role of Civil Society in Providing Social Welfare Services in the Western Balkans
Versions: English, Montenegrin, Croatian, Albanian, Bosnian, Serbian
2. SOLIDAR publication – European semester 2014: Ensure Social Progress
The Annual Growth Survey 2014 shows that unemployment has reached unprecedented levels in the European Union, while inequalities are steadily growing. In order to achieve the Europe 2020 targets of a 75% employment rate, increasing the number of adults completing third level education to at least 40% and reducing the number of people living in poverty by 20 million, the EU has to step up efforts to promote of a high level of employment, guarantee adequate social protection, combat social exclusion, promote access to education and increase participation in lifelong learning.
European semester 2014: Ensure Social Progress.pdf
3. SOLIDAR publication – Promoting the social economy as a driver for inclusive growth and social progress
The social economy is an essential pillar of the European social model and its actors play an important role in maintaining social services and in overcoming economic and social crises; in recent years 3.5 million new jobs have been created in the social economy. The social economy accounts for 10-12% of the European economy and its actors constitute an important economic force, stimulating innovation by pointing out existing deficiencies and inconvenient truths. By their nature and by the work they do, they contribute to establishing a more cohesive, democratic and active society, and often with favorable working conditions.
publication.pdf
4. SOLIDAR publication – Europe 2020: how to spur social progress for a more inclusive Europe?
In 2010 – when the Europe 2020 Strategy was agreed – European economies were experiencing low growth and productivity. In many countries the situation steadily deteriorated, leading to a severe financial crisis. The immediate response of the EU was to focus on fiscal and financial consolidation through austerity plans which resulted in even more inequality for poor and vulnerable people.
publication.pdf
5. Mapping social welfare services within the mandate of local governments in the Republic of Serbia
Mapping Social Welfare Services, initiated by the Government of Serbia Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit and UNICEF Serbia in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, was implemented between September 2012 and February 2013. The survey was carried out by the Centre for Liberal Democratic Studies (CLDS).
Publication.pdf
7. FROM INACTIVITY TO EMPLOYMENT: Recommendations
Analysis of the impact of public policies and factors affecting inactivity: Opportunities for raising activity and employment in Serbia.
publication.pdf
8. BOOSTING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CREATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
This report has been prepared as part of the OECD LEED Programme “Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Creation”. A team comprising members of the OECD LEED Secretariat and an external expert visited Serbia in February/March 2012 for a study visit to examine the role, both actual and potential, of social entrepreneurship, and the support which could be given to social enterprise to boost its potential performance. This report is based significantly on the preliminary report prepared by the local experts, the available statistics and on material gathered from the study visit, as well as research conducted both prior to, and after, the study visit.
publication.pdf
9. STUDY: Challenges of the new social policy – social inclusion in the EU and Serbia
The purpose of the Study is to present to the general public in Serbia in a relatively systematized way the knowledge regarding the social process in the EU, as well as to open a debate on the possible ways to improve the level of social integration in Serbia through political process. The Study was produced as a part of the project „Promotion of Social Inclusion Debate in Serbia“, supported by the EU’s Employment and Social Solidarity Programme PROGRESS (2007–2013) that was managed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Aff airs and Equal Opportunities, and realized in the period from February 2009 to July 2010.
study.pdf
New SOLIDAR publications
/in News /byPartner of IRIS network SOLIDAR published two new publications:
– Supporting Social Investment in the Western Balkans:European Enlargement Monitoring Report 2014
– The social dimensions of EU enlargement
Both publications are available on our website on the following links:
– Supporting Social Investment in the Western Balkans:European Enlargement Monitoring Report 2014.pdf– The social dimensions of EU enlargement.pdf
IRIS NETWORK FOR BEGINNERS
/in News /byWho are we?
What IRIS network accomplished?
Who are our members?
What is our aim?
If you have trouble in answering any of these question, click on this PRESENTATION to find out.
Round table “Supporting Social Investments; The Enlargement Perspective”
/0 Comments/in News /byOn Thursday 6 November, the round table : “Supporting Social Investments; The Enlargement Perspective” organised by the IRIS Network, SOLIDAR, ASB South East Europe (SEE) took place in the European Parliament involving MEPs Knut Fleckenstein (S&D), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), and Eduard Kukan (EPP), representatives of DG Employment and Social Affairs Thomas Bender and DG Enlargement – Henk Visser, and the representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee – Ariane Rodert and Social Services Europe – Luk Zelderloo.
The main questions for debate concerned the EU Enlargement strategy and its contribution to the creation of the necessary legal frameworks for civil society organisations providing social services in the Accession Countries. Knut Fleckenstein, MEP and President of ASB, stressed that Western Balkans countries will need strong EU support to introduce the necessary reforms in preparing for EU membership.
Participants from the IRIS Network highlighted the measures that will need to be put in place, in order to strengthen the social dimension of the EU Enlargement process and to enhance the socio-economic transformation of Accession Countries. Good practices were presented that showcase how civil society organisations are working to advance social cohesion and active inclusion in the Western Balkans. As a reflection on this Ms Ariane Rodert emphasised the importance of the accessibility of funding programmes earmarked for the region.
In addition, SOLIDAR Annual Monitoring report on the EU enlargement was launched where SOLIDAR presents policy recommendations on how to foster social inclusion and support social investment in the Western Balkans region. The following recommendations have been designed in response to the European Commission’s Progress reports on the Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2014 – 2015, on October 8.
Personal assistance service for students with disabilities in Montenegro
/0 Comments/in News /byThe long-standing use of the medical model in the approach towards persons with disabilities (PWDs) in which they are passive observers of their lives, people in need of protection, care and concern has led to a large number of problems that these people encounter, as well as with high level of discrimination toward them. This kind of comprehensive protection usually means that these persons are constantly in isolation depending on others, or in some special institutions.
IRIS network member Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro is dedicated to providing support, opportunities and programs to strengthen the personal, educational and professional development of young people with disabilities. Their mission is to provide these young people a chance to become independent members of the society. Throughout the received grant form IRIS and in cooperation with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. they developed practical policy for implementation, financing and improvement of personal assistance service. This will be used in future as a tool for addressing the needs of students and persons with disability and their quality support through the PA service in Montenegro.
Step of hope for people with disabilities
/0 Comments/in News /byGovernment institutions of Brcko district are providing most of their services to children and youth (25%) and people with disability (20%) and only 10 % of these institutions are providing help to senior citizens without family care.
In the case of civil sector, organisations are mostly focused on providing services to persons with disability which is the case for around half of the CSO, and only 17% of them are dealing with children and youth.
These are just some findings of the project implemented by IRIS network members Youth Center “Vermont”, an association for helping mentally undeveloped people and „Step of hope“ Brod during September and October 2014. The focus of the action was mapping and finding best ways for the use of mutual resources and partner in delivering social services in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the main activities was the research which will be the basic tool in creating conditions for the establishment of day care centers for people with disabilities in Brcko District and Brod, BiH.
Day care centre for children and youth with disabilities in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia
/0 Comments/in News /byChildren and youth with disabilities in small communities all over Serbia are doomed to spend much of their free time inside their homes, depending totally on their parents and other family members. Day care centres where they can socialize, learn and play are very expensive, so not many small municipalities have financial recourses and human capacity to establish these kinds of centres.
In municipality Vrnjacka Banja, Iris member organization “The Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities” is the only organization that gathers and addresses to this specified social group. They were founded in 2011, with financial support of the EU Delegation, first Day care centre in Vrnjacka Banja which provides care of the children during the weekdays, for a period of eight hours, with the provided transportation and meals.
At the moment Day care has 20 beneficiaries with physical, mental and development problems, with light, moderate and multiple disabilities, autism and Down syndrome. However, at the moment the service does not have a license that is defined by law as precondition for selection of the Association as the provider of social services. With the project supported by the IRIS network, this organization succeeded to adapt and renovate the space, rooms for personal hygiene and also to improve infrastructural conditions. These repairs made possible for the Association to meet minimum standards for licensing, so now finally children in Vrnjacka Banja will have a place for themselves.