Current projects – Help Montenegro – Towards self-reliance

A New EU Project: Support for Vulnerable Groups through education and employment

Title of the project: Socio-economic support of vulnerable groups through education and employment in Montenegro (Enhancing employability and social inclusion of vulnerable groups through education and training in Montenegro)

Implementation period : 36 months, June 2025 – June 2028

Region/ Cities : Montenegro, with a particular focus on the northern region

Donor: EU

Help's implementation partner: NGO Phiren Amenca

Budget: 599,807.01

Description:

The project address unemployment and employability challenges among vulnerable groups in Montenegro, with a focus on the northern region. As of March 2024, the country's unemployment rate is 12.88%, with vulnerable groups facing significant barriers. With the activities – Help and Pirena Amenca will provide education and skills training through a sub-grantee scheme, supporting 21 organizations to improve human rights and employability.

Aligning with national strategies, our aims are to empower civil society actors, particularly in the northern region, to support local development and reduce regional disparities. Through capacity -building and sub-grants for local initiatives, the project will be a showcase of civil society's role in advancing socio-economic inclusion and supporting small rural businesses.

Ultimately, it seeks to foster a more inclusive economy in Montenegro, by addressing unemployment challenges and enhancing employability among vulnerable populations.

Key approaches include:

Empowering civil society organizations through capacity building
Supporting vulnerable groups with education and skills training
Funding local initiatives via a sub-grant scheme
Fostering collaboration among stakeholders
Advocating for policy changes

The project seeks to create a more inclusive economy by reducing regional disparities, improving employment opportunities for vulnerable groups, and strengthening civil society's role in local development.

The results will contribute to a more inclusive economy, reduced regional disparities, and improved quality of life for vulnerable populations in Montenegro.

Key message is addressing Unemployment and Enhancing Employability, Empowering Civil Society, Comprehensive Approach with sustainable impact, Alignment with National and EU Priorities.

RECONOMY: Inclusive jobs in ICT sector for Eastern Partnership countries

SOE-12

Name of The Project : Inclusive jobs in ICT

Donor: Helvetas

Budget: Euro 618.999,88

Area: Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Georgia and Moldova

Duration: 01.04.2023 to 31.12.2026

General Objective:

To achieve sustainable, large-scale and socially inclusive impact through systemic change and acting in a facilitative role towards stakeholders and beneficiaries. Women and youth, including the most disadvantaged and excluded, will benefit from improved economic opportunities (better income and green and decent jobs). The aim is inclusively and sustainably contribution to an increased level of regional cooperation among the EaP countries.

Description:

Help has been working in Western Balkan to enhance living conditions and support social inclusion of marginalized population groups. In 2022 a pilot project was implemented in Moldova, aimed at providing tech training and creating career advancement opportunities to Ukrainian refugees and local youth, and women, with the objective of enabling them to work remotely from Eastern Partnership countries as freelancers for ICT/BPO companies in the global marketplace. As part of the cooperation with HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation the Regional Programme “Inclusive jobs in ICT” in Easter Partnership countries which is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) was launched.

Helvetas and Help are committed to leveraging their organizational capacities and resources to the best possible manner and supporting each other in fulfilling the stated objectives and obligations towards Sida. They are guided by the shared ambition to achieve sustainable, large-scale and socially inclusive impact through systemic change and acting in a facilitative role towards stakeholders and beneficiaries. The partnership adheres to principles of good governance (transparency, accountability, participation, non-discrimination, efficiency) and builds on mutual trust and respect.

The vision statement of the joint activity is for sector representatives to benefit from economic opportunities and contribute to local economic development by advancing knowledge and skills, increasing market access, sales and income.

The project has three main pillars: skills, business intermediation and advocacy. Its goal is to facilitate the development of demand-driven products and services that will increase the target group’s participation in the labor market and enable them to take advantage of decent job opportunities. The project is focused on stimulating systemic changes in the ICT-BPO sector. This involves working with various stakeholders, including private sector companies, industry associations and government agencies, to identify and address key challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Working in partnership with local stakeholders, the project aims to facilitate new behaviors that contribute to regional transformations in systems. These behaviors are designed to:

Address common problems, such as unemployment, exclusion of opportunity and climate change;
Are common across types of market actors; and,
Are common within one regional market system actor, across different countries.

Main activities:

Implementation of Market System Analysis
Identification of potential cooperating partners (Market Actors)
Identification of appropriate interventions
Monitoring of interventions implemented by selected Market actors
Reporting to Helvetas

RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with Help and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans.

RECONOMY – Digitalization of sectors with growth potential for better economic opportunities

SOE 11

NAME OF THE PROJECT : RECONOMY Digitalization of sectors with growth potential for better economic opportunities

Donor: Helvetas

Area: Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

Duration: 1.07.2023 to 31.12.2026

Budget: Euro 1.980.258,55

General Objective: to achieve sustainable, large-scale and socially inclusive impact through systemic change and acting in a facilitative role towards stakeholders and beneficiaries:

Women and youth, including the most disadvantaged and excluded, benefit from improved economic opportunities (better income and green and decent jobs) inclusively and sustainably
to contribute to an increased level of regional cooperation among the WB countries

Description:

Help has been working in Western Balkan to enhance living conditions and support social inclusion of marginalized population groups. As part of the cooperation with HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation the Regional Programme Digitalization of sectors with growth potential for better economic opportunities” in Western Balkans which is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) was launched.

The lack of cooperation between ICT companies and other industries is hindering the development of new products and services in the Western Balkans. This problem is compounded by technological underdevelopment, low investment in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing, and limited digitalization skills among the workforce.

Climate-dependent industries, such as agriculture and tourism, face significant challenges due to climate change, unsustainable natural resource management, and energy issues. Households engaged in these industries are particularly vulnerable to such events. Failure to meet environmental standards in the supply chain and adapt to growing consumer demand for sustainability may lead to lower household income and further impoverishment of small family businesses.

To address these challenges, it is important to promote greater cooperation between the ICT industry and other sectors, as well as to invest in technological development and digitalization skills. Furthermore, efforts should be made to build resilience in climate-dependent industries through the adoption of climate-resilient practices and resource-efficient production methods.

Main activities:

Implementation of Market System Analysis
Identification of potential cooperating partners (Market Actors)
Identification of appropriate interventions
Monitoring of interventions implemented by selected Market actors
Reporting to Helvetas

Social and child protection for Ukrainian refugees in Montenegro

MNE 180

PROJECT TITLE : Social and child protection for Ukrainian refugees in Montenegro

DONOR: ADH (Aktion Deutschland Hilft)

PARTNER: NGO Good Deed

REGION: Montenegro; Budva, Bar, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, and in the capital Podgorica.

BUDGET: 322,043.01 € (ADH 160,000.00 €, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare 150,000.00 €)

PROJECT DURATION: 01.05.2023-31.03.2024

DESCRIPTION :

Overall objective: It aims at the the provision of adequate accommodation capacity for emergency response in cases where this is necessary, such as the emergency accommodation of unaccompanied children through the renovation of existing facilities in Podgorica.

Specific objective: Providing adequate accommodation for Ukrainian refugees with focus on vulnerable categories such as children, women, persons older than 67 years, children unaccompanied by parents or legal guardians as well as persons with disabilities, children with disabilities as well as adults.

Expected results:

As of 1999, Help has been providing support to vulnerable groups (minorities, refugees, women, youth) in Montenegro, in line with its mission “to enable people to take charge of their own life and live self-determined in dignity, peace and security.” Help has been recognized in Montenegro as well as internationally as a reliable and experienced partner in implementing humanitarian relief measures in support of the most vulnerable population groups.

Although Montenegro does not share borders with Ukraine more than 49,000 Ukrainians entered Montenegro after 24 February, and start of war in Ukraine. At the moment, 33.739 Ukrainians stay in the country which is 5,4% of the overall population of Montenegro. While in absolute figures the numbers are relatively low, it must be taken into consideration that Montenegro has a population of only 628.276. With the damages done to Ukraine’s infrastructure returns to Ukraine have literally become impossible and numbers of refugees arriving are slated to increase even further.

Most people from Ukraine are present in the coastal cities: Budva, Bar, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, and in the capital Podgorica.

Inclusion and Economic Empowerment in the States of the Western Balkans

SOE 10

PROJECT TITLE : Inclusion and Economic Empowerment in the States of the Western Balkans

DONOR: German Foreign Ministry

PROJECT REGION : Western Balkans

BUDGET: 2.300.000 EUR

PROJECT DURATION : March 2023 – December 2024

DESCRIPTION

Overall objective: The living conditions of marginalized, vulnerable Groups in the Western Balkan countries have improved. Jobs have been created, cross-border exchange and learning initiatives have been strengthened and cooperation for social inclusion has been supported.

Specific objective(s): Regional Goal, Western Balkans: Cross-border Dialog, Exchange and Learning is improved.

Expected results: Green Growth Grants create jobs for marginalized groups through a competitive procedure, training and advisory support;

The re-socialization of convicts and former convicts in is improved in all Western Balkan States: Local civil society has better access to and use of municipal services in all Western Balkan States; Regional exchange, learning and dialogue events take place in all participating countries.

Main activities:

Specialized Training in prisons for convicts and prison staff in cooperation with the Centre for Human Rights ; Events and symposia with at least 50 participants from all participating states in cooperation with the Balkan Women Association; Publicly promoted support (PR visibility) for participating municipalities, successful start-up entrepreneurs and first-time employed persons: Micro-enterprises are created with Green Growth Grants and appropriate training measures ; “Green Growth Grants Scheme“ are launched and implemented; Vocational training measures are implemented ; Training measures for micro-enterprises and small businesses are implemented ; Improved re-socialization of former convicts through income generating measures and training; Implementation of support for former convicts : Equipping workshops of selected prisons; Training for staff of selected prisons ; Participative development initiatives provide improved access to municipal services and further the inclusion of marginalized or disadvantaged population groups ; Selection of participative projects to be supported; Procurement of the required equipment or and services ; Publicly promoted support (PR visibility) for participation as a method of engagement and the results achieved.

Support to human rights defenders and CSOs in the area of promotion of human rights and development

MNE 169

PROJECT TITLE : Right on time – Support to human rights defenders and CSOs in the area of promotion of human rights and development of democratic political culture

DONOR : European Union through program EU and Montenegro Government for employment, education and social welfare

PARTNER: NGO JUVENTAS

BUDGET: 625,016.00 € (EU 500,000.00 – Government of Montenegro 125,016.00 €)

DURATION : December 2022 – May 2025

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

Overall objective of the project is contribution to the protection and promotion of the human rights and democratic political participation through the support of the civil society organizations and the development of the enabling environment for their work. Specific objective is to increase the role and strengthen capacities of the CSOs active in the human rights protection and democratic political participation

Expected results: Strengthened capacities of at least 20 CSOs through the implementation of the sub-granting scheme; increased capacities of the CSOs through a series of trainings and other capacity building activities; Increased cooperation between CSOs, state bodies, local bodies, donors, media and other stakeholders in relation to human rights and democratic participation.

Main activities : Establishment of the Technical Committee; Designing of the sub-granting scheme; Development of the Application Package; Development of the Grant Management Package; Publishing and promoting the open call; Organization of info sessions; Providing written feedback to applicant`s project proposals; Providing continuous mentorship to the supported organizations; Organization of in-house trainings for each grantee; Assessing the needs of the CSOs working in the area of human rights protection and the democratic political participation; Organization of three training courses for at least 24 organizations followed by intensive mentorship; Follow up to trainings.
Establishment of the Platform of CSOs active in human rights protection and democratic political participation; Continuous meetings and the advocacy activities of the Platform; Organization of one Donor Forum; Organization of the Human Rights Day celebration; Implementation of the raising awareness campaign

New program: Increasing socio-economic inclusion for vulnerable groups with tailored made assistance

24. 08. 2023

Over the next 12 months, Help will implement a new project to support children and families at risk of separation, funded by the EU through the Montenegro-EU Program for Employment, Education, and Social Welfare.

The enhancement of socio-economic inclusion for vulnerable groups will be carried out in accordance with an innovative method – individualized tailored made assistance.

Dijana Anđelić, the Director of Help Montenegro, stated during the signing of the contract that this is another program that continues Help’s longstanding work with the most vulnerable communities and groups in Montenegro, with the aim of improving their socio-economic status and providing protection for the most sensitive groups.

According to Anđelić, this project will place special emphasis on supporting children at risk of separation from their families, which we have identified as a specific need in our previous work with vulnerable citizen groups.

The support for families and children at risk will be carried out in the municipalities of Berane, Bijelo Polje, Nikšić, and Podgorica over the next 12 months, in collaboration with social welfare centers, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, as well as other relevant institutions.

Help’s partner in the project is the NGO Family Center Kotor.

During this period, support is planned to be provided for around 50 families at risk in the mentioned four municipalities.

MNE 173

Strengthening Civil Society to Support Sustainable Socio-Economic Development in Montenegro

MNE – 167

TITLE – Strengthening Civil Society to Support Sustainable Socio-Economic Development in Montenegro

DONOR – European Union, Ministry of Public Administration

IMPLEMENTATION – January 2023 – June 2025

BUDGET– 608,503.60 Euro

The project description:

The project focuses on strengthening civil society’s roles in supporting the social & economic development of Montenegro by supporting local interventions that address a range of issues from youth employment & digital skills & informal education & vocational training of youth to local youth participation & dialogue as well as supporting small business development & cultural & tourism initiatives. Its specific priority will be to support local CSOs to contribute to local development by building their organisational & project development capacities through training programmes, individualised mentoring support & tailored technical assistance & by increasing civil society’s ability to be key players in local development through subgrants for local socio-economic initiatives & programmes. The Action will build the effectiveness of civil society’s programmes through networking & engagement with relevant stakeholders.

This Action will focus on the northern region of Montenegro. For decades the Montenegrin economy has been marked by large regional disparities that have negatively affected the socio-economic development of the north of the country. Regional disparities have a deep impact on the socio-economic conditions of the local population as reflected in a range of indicators such as low growth rates & high rates of unemployment. An unbalanced economy leads to the population in northern region having lower standards of living, there are fewer employment opportunities especially for women & youth. This support to civil society will contribute the local development of the northern region building a stronger more inclusive economy which has more skilled employment for vulnerable groups & supports the growth of small rural businesses.

The Action will be in alignment & have synergy with the national strategies for sustainable development & tourism development which foresee a key role for civil society as well as strategies which focus on employment & skills & youth. The Action will be an exemplar of civil society in action advancing the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable groups living in remote rural areas, particularly youth & women. It will also have synergy with other national & regional initiatives to improve socio-economic conditions in rural communities in Montenegro & Western Balkans which are being implemented by national & international NGOs with EU, UN, foreign government & other donor support.

The goal is to empower and support:

Civil society organizations, NGOs focused on local communities, vulnerable categories of citizens (young people and women), small associations of farmers and agricultural producers, local municipalities with a focus on the north, institutions for adult education, youth services, regional development agencies.

Grant schemes will be implemented in two cycles: Category 1: min 5000 max 10,000

Category 2: min 20,000 max 25,000

The following activities will be supported: promotion of female entrepreneurship, organization of events and promotion of eco and mountain tourism, business advice for the development of agriculture -tourism, training for women and young entrepreneurs, strengthening of the capacity of small farms through training on modern methods in agriculture and market placement, organizational training for market opening for traditional craft products (Made in Montenegro), support for village initiatives for recycling and organic compost schemes, mobile and internet career counseling services, career counseling in schools, career training in digital fields – freelance work, advisory service for professional training, services for psychological support for starting work, support for the development of creative skills, training and basic activities for women and young people, a program of on-the-job training.

The project is being implemented by Help in cooperation with Juventas, in the time frame from January 2023 to June 2025, i.e. 30 months.

It is financed by the EU within the European Aid – Support to Civil Society Organizations project and the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy (EIDHR) in the amount of 608,503.60 Euro