Call for tenderers Consultant for mentoring PDT SRB 1801 -017

IRIS Network is publishing a call for the tenderers for the service of “Consultant for mentoring – assisting CSOs in the acquirement of licenses for provision of social services (fulfillment of quality standards) and mentoring in the overall strategic development of the CSO in question”. Tender is open in the framework of the project: “IRIS NETWORKing – CSOs for protection sensitive migration management“.
The Contracting Authority is tasked to organise the Capacity Building of CSOs providing social services activities. One of the measures is Mentoring program – Assisting CSOs in the acquirement of licenses for the provision of social services, fulfillment of quality standards, and Mentoring in the overall strategic development of the CSO in question.
Please find more information on the following link.

“Click to support” – Plavi Telefon BIH

Did you know that there are people who make FALSE PROFILES on social networks and present themselves as children, when in fact they are adults and have bad intentions?

That is why it is very important to be very careful when strangers approach you via the Internet and start communicating with you.

About how to protect yourself on the Internet, and why there are fake profiles – read in the text on Plavi Telefon BIH website.

*This text was created within the project “Click to support” implemented by the Blue Phone with the financial support of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and under the coordination of the IRIS network. Thanks to the company M: tel, calls to the Blue Phone are free regardless of the network from which children call.

Plavi Telefon BIH

Call for Peer Review Best Practices for Iris Network members

Regional IRIS Network, in cooperation with National IRIS Networks from Albania (National Coordinator Initiative for Social Change Arsis), Bosnia and Herzegovina (National Coordinator LIR CD), North Macedonia (National Coordinator La Strada), Montenegro (National Coordinator SOS Telephone), and Serbia (National Coordinator IDC) and ASB as Regional Iris Network Coordinator, is announcing a Call for Peer Review Best Practices that will be presented to Regional Iris Network members and other relevant stakeholders at the Online Regional Peer Review Best Practices Conference that will be organized on May 27, 2021.

The deadline for submission of your proposals is May 10, 2021, to email: iris@iris-see.eu. Please find additional information about the Call below.

Iris Network support for members – “Volunteer active – socially aware”, Alfa Centar Nikšić

Volunteers of the ALFA Center handed out aid packages to the seven-member family Mandić from Nikšić.

The action was organized as the first activity of the newly established Social Service ALFA Center, formed with the support of the IRIS network within the project “Volunteer active – socially aware”

Through the work of the Social Service, we aim to provide assistance in the form of basic foodstuffs, food products and hygiene products to vulnerable categories of citizens of Nikšić.

Info session – “𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗖𝗦𝗢)”

An info session was held today within small grant scheme “𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗖𝗦𝗢)” in the scope of the project „IRIS NETWORKing – CSOs for protection sensitive migration management“- Financial support to the member organizations in Albania, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

The framework of the grant scheme was presented, reporting as well as working procedures were explained.

We hope for good initiatives and the development of supported organizations!

Enhancing resilience for 14 local service providers in SEE

IRIS Network awarded 14 small grants under CfP “Enhancing resilience of Civil Society Organizations (CSO)”  in scope of the project „IRIS NETWORKing – CSOs for protection sensitive migration management“. IRIS network Project Evaluation Committee decided to support 14 out of  32 received applications in 5 project countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. 

Implementation of all supported projects starts on 5th March 2021 with a duration of two months. The grants aim to support IRIS members in capacity-building actions for the purpose of enhancing the organization’s abilities to develop adequate services, capabilities, and skills as a response to the pandemic crisis.

As IRIS Network members are facing unprecedented challenges from COVID-19 and the strain on the services and resources they provide is tremendous, this Grant Scheme is taking proactive steps to protect the Network members, support their ongoing activities and assist them to cope with current hardships as much as possible. Project proposals shall aim to produce an added value to the “IRIS Networking” project’s efforts in this domain.

Iris network would like to congratulate all of its member organizations who received grants, but also to thank all applicants who sent us their proposals. The final list of all organizations that received grants can be found in the following table.

Third Iris Network Regional Social Academy follow up

It has been two weeks since the IRIS Network Social Academy was conducted. What have we learned? Has agile already become a part of our business or at least our mindset?

Participants and trainers gathered once again to reflect on lessons learned and exchange feedback.  

Teo Petricevic, Director of the ACT Group, highlighted that in agile management, one should lead by example. He emphasized that the transition process from traditional to agile takes time and patience. Teo and the entire team of trainers are satisfied with the performance and exchange of knowledge and experiences.

  • Nearly all participants expressed the willingness and readiness to incorporate agile management tools and methodologies into their everyday operations and organizations.
  • Some IRIS Network members shared that after the Academy they have recognized aspects of agile within their business culture and organizations.
  • The majority of participants are ready to embrace the changes and challenges that come with agile management

Third Iris Network Regional Social Academy is finished!

Third Iris Network Regional Social Academy is finished!

The Third Iris Network Regional Social Academy successfully completed – three days, 36 participants, exchange of experiences, and shared know-how for the benefit of all participants and their organizations.

We talked about the application of agile methods in management, as well as the structural changes that this way of management brings.

Trainers from the Third Iris Network Academy guided the participants through the sessions:

  • Impact Focused Strategy
  • Agile Project Management; Agile Methodologies
  • Combining traditional top-down and agile bottom-up approach
  • Planning, Tracking, and Monitoring 
  • Ensuring Delivery of Value and Quality in Agile Projects; Risk Management
  • Budgeting agile projects and budget management
  • Leading an Agile Team
  • Managing Stakeholder Engagement
  • Agile Project Management Tools and Technologies
  • Leading the Agile Organisation
  • Measuring & Managing Impact
  • Communicating Impact Effectively

Representatives of organizations from five countries – members of the Iris Network had the opportunity to discuss the transition from traditional project management to agile methodology, hear the experiences of others, and increase their knowledge on the issue.

Academy aroused many discussions with several messages for the future:

  • We are not here just to deliver service, but to produce systematic change by maximizing our impact
  • Stakeholders have rights, but also responsibilities in an agile environment. We have to work to involve them much stronger in the process
  • We are organizations that have a say in designing financial instruments to achieve the change we want to see.
  • We are practicing openness to learn and adjust, mastering the art of letting go of old
  • Celebrate your many successes to become more motivated, it empowers your organization. Simplicity is an important part of the agile approach, do not be afraid to fail, embrace failures

In the coming period, the Iris Network will strive to apply the transferred knowledge and thus improve the functioning of the only regional network in the Western Balkans of CSOs providers of social services.

Under the framework of IRIS Networking CSOs for protection sensitive migration management, the project is funded by European Commission and implemented through joined forces of 6 NGOs from 5WB countries: IDC Serbia, ASB South East Europe, SOS Podgorica, LIR Civil Society from B&H, ARSIS Albania and La Strada North Macedonia.

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

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.