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Housing, psycho-social and medical Support for most vulnerable Refugees in Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-76 Housing, psycho-social and medical support for most vulnerable refugees in Montenegro

:: DONOR

UNHCR

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

January 2011 – December 2011 :: 735.725.00 EUR

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

…

Firewood for Families in Plav and Berane affected by Flooding

:: PROJECT

Mon-75 Assistance: firewood for families in Plavand Berane affected by flooding

:: DONOR

Caritas Luxembourg

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

December 2010 – February 2011. :: 24.960 EUR

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

…

Construction of a Children’s Playground in Konik, Vrela Ribnièka, Podgorica

:: PROJECT

Mon-71 Construction of a children’s playground in Konik, VrelaRibnièka, Podgorica

:: DONOR

US Embassy in Podgorica

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

October – November 2010. :: 25.000 USD

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

…

Flood Relief Assistance in the North of Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-74 Flood relief assistance in the North of Montenegro

:: DONOR

German Embassy in Podgorica

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

December 2010 – February 2011. :: 11.300 EUR

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

…

Improvement of living Conditions for RAE Population in Berane

:: PROJECT

Mon-70 Improvement of living conditions for RAE population in Berane

:: DONOR

German Embassy Podgorica

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

July – November 2010. :: 12.500,00 EUR

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Self-help Housing Construction for Refugees and Flood Relief Assistance in North of Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-68 Self-help housing construction for refugees and flood relief assistance in North of Montenegro

:: DONOR

UNHCR

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

January – December 2010. :: 652.656,49 EUR

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

…

Comprehensive Support for Refugees and displaced Persons in Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-64 Comprehensive support for refugees and displaced persons in Montenegro

:: DONOR

Delegation of the European Commission to Montenegro

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

15.09.2009 – 14.02.2011

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

The Delegation of the European Commission to Montenegro and German NGO HELP-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe in Montenegro, have signed a contract for the implementation of the project „Comprehensive support to refugees and displaced persons in Montenegro“. The total value of the donation provided by the European Commission for this project is € 1,5 million, while the project is co-financed by UNHCR with € 40.268 and Caritas Luxembourg with € 30.000, making the total value of the project of
€ 1.570.268.

The project has several components that aim to support both refugees and DPs living under difficult conditions, as well as a number of local socially vulnerable households in Montenegro. The project is in line with the National Strategy for Solving Issues of Refugees and DPs in Montenegro, which has been adopted by the Montenegrin Government in 2005, and is covering two aspects stated in this document as guidelines for efficient solving of the problelms for these populations – integration into Montenegrin society and sustainable return of DP population to Kosovo.

Under the terms of this project, refugees and displaced persons will be assisted through donations for providing necessary inputs for starting/upgrading small businesses combined with basic business training, as well as through providing building materials for construction of new and adaptation of existing housing objects on self-help basis.
HELP`s international project partner, the Danish Refugee Council, will organize visits in municipalities in Kosovo and information meetings for the displaced persons, in order to provide them with accurate information about the conditions for their sustainable return to their places of origin.

The main donor for the project is the European Union, represented by the Delegation of the European Commission to Montenegro. HELP’s partners in the implementation of this project are the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Montenegrin non-governmental organizaton Community Development Center (CDC) which will provide special training for persons with increased problems for employment/self-employment. .

HELP will cooperate with the Montenegrin Bureau for the Care of Refugees, UNHCR, and the Directorate for SME Development in the implementation of this project.

The project starts on 15 September 2009 and will last for 17 months and it is expected that approximately 270 households of refugees and DPs will benefit from the income generation and housing programmes, while approximately 900 persons will participate in cross-border activities that are going to be organized in Kosovo.

Construction of 15 pre-fabricated Houses for Refugees in Plav

:: PROJECT

Mon-63 Construction of 15 pre-fabricated houses for refugees in Plav

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry through the Stability Pact for South East Europe

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

15.04.2009 to 15.02.20010; € 336,385.00

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

8% of the population of the Montenegrin city of Plav are refugees (1,156 persons) and displaced persons (2,045 persons). The municipality of Bar thus has one of the highest quotas of refugees/DPs in Montenegro. There are a number of informal collective settlements where vulnerable refugees/DPS have found temporary accommodation; however, many of them are threatened by compulsory eviction or the living conditions in these settlements are of substandard quality that is not fit for human housing.

In addition there is a larger number of refugee/displaced families who face increasing difficulties of paying rent for private accommodation or whose private accommodation falls into the category of substandard housing not fit for human housing.

With the funding made available by the German Foreign Ministry HELP will be able to construct 15 pre-fabricated houses with an average size of 40m² each on a plot of land to be made available by the municipality of Bar. The average cost per m² amounts to approximately Euro 385. The municipality has also pledged to cover all the cost of infrastructure connections.

The selection of beneficiaries will be carried out by a joint commission consisting of representatives of UNHCR, the Montenegrin Bureau for the Care of Refugees and HELP.

Contribution to Housing Construction in Pursuit of local Refugee Integration

:: PROJECT

Mon-61 Contribution to Housing Construction in Pursuit of local Refugee Integration

:: DONOR

U(nited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

01.01.2009 to 31.12.2009; € 112,800.00

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

During the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, Montenegro set an example when it provided refuge within its borders to persons in need of international protection. Since 1992, UNHCR has been funding a local shelter project in Montenegro in order to provide emergency accommodation in the initial phases of influxes from Croatia, BH and Kosovo, rehabilitation and maintenance of collective accommodation facilities, construction of family settlements and assistance to ref/DPs constructing their own individual housing.

Today, more than seventeen years later, Montenegro is still home to 8,529 refugees from BH and Croatia and 16,210 refugees from Kosovo, and at this point, voluntary repatriation is no longer a realistic option for the majority of refugees who remain on the Montenegrin territory, as most of them opted for local integration.

Following the Sarajevo Declaration, Montenegro committed to facilitating the local integration of refugees from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina by adopting a “Strategy for Resolving the Issues of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Montenegro, 2005.” Unfortunately the Strategy did not get the expected international funding and support, mainly because it lacked provisions that would allow for proper legal integration, and the timeframe elapsed without producing the sought-after results.

In addition to proper legal status, which would enable refugees full access to basic rights, including health care, social welfare, employment, education opportunities and property ownership; equally important pre-condition for successful integration and one of the most acute needs among refugee population remains to be the adequate individual housing. The only remaining official collective centre funded by UNHCR has been closed in 2008. The vast majority of refugees continue to live in sub-standard dwellings, strive with rental payments in private accommodation, and fear eviction from informal collective centers that they illegally occupy.

The Law on Employment of Aliens was adopted in March 2008 and is implemented as from January 2009. Under this new law, both the post-Dayton and Kosovo refugees will de-facto fall under a pre-defined stringent foreign workers quota, which will further limit their access to gainful employment.

During the last decade no systematic social housing schemes and activities were pursed in Montenegro by the Government, due to economic changes and privatisation process, and at the moment there is no state social housing policy or programme that even the most vulnerable refugees could benefit from.

UNHCR and HELP have been successful over the years in advocating for and implementing bi-lateral funding for refugee housing, through social apartments construction for most vulnerable refugees and through delivery of building materials to refugee families who own a plot of land and can manage construction works themselves.

In 2009 HELP will be applying for IPA 2008 funding for refugee shelter activities, targeting municipalities of Bar, Plav and Herceg Novi who have allocated land for construction of housing units for refugees.

This sub-project is a continuation of UNHCR and HELP partnership in mobilizing complementary international funding for housing component of local integration activities in Montenegro. UNHCR will continue providing matching funding and operational support to HELP through co-funding for staff and shelter activities.

Construction of 12 prefabricated Houses for displaced Roma in Pljevlja

:: PROJECT

Mon-57 Construction of 12 prefabricated houses for displaced Roma in Pljevlja

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

01.03.2008 – 30.09.2008; € 180.760

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

10 families of displaced Roma with 42 family members are currently accomodated in makeshift wooden and cardbox huts. Neither electricity nor water are available to these families. Toilest do not exist either.

At the request of the host municipality of Pljevlja HELP has designed this project that will provide to this group of unfortunate displaced a sustainable and durable housing solution. the municipality itself will also make a considerable contribution by allocating a sizeable plot for the construction of the 12 houses as well as a stable for the horses that the Roma use for earning their meager incomes. In addition the municipality will cover the cost of connecting the new settlement to the electricity grid and costs for the construction of water tanks.

Poverty Reduction through Support for income-generation Activities / Startup Businesses

:: PROJECT

Mon-43 :: Mon-44 Poverty Reduction through Support for income-generation Activities / Startup Businesses

:: DONOR

German, Swiss and Luxembourg governments

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

2006; Budget € 245.500,-

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Programme funding

The programme “Poverty Reduction through Support to Income-generating Activities/Start-up Businesses and Socio-economic Integration of Refugees and IDPs in Montenegro” started on 5 April 2005 with the signing of the project agreement with SDC in the amount of € 100.000. Subsequently further co-financing agreements for this programme were concluded with the German Foreign Ministry and with the State of the Netherlands, represented by the Minister for Development Cooperation, legally represented by the Dutch Ambassador in Belgrade in the same amounts.

Finally a separate agreement was signed on 19 October 2005 with Caritas Luxembourg in the amount of € 10.000 for an identical project focusing on the North of the country. This programme will be continued until December 2006 with a new infusion of € 170.000 by the German Foreign Ministry within the framework of the Stability Pact for South East Europe. In August 2006 the government of Luxembourg approved additional funds to continue with this type of interventions in five northern municipalities. Until the end of 2008 a total amount of € 150.000 will be available to support income generating activities and/or start-up businesses in Bijelo Polje, Berane, Andrijevica, Plav and Rozaje.

Reflecting the commitment to socio-economic integration of the vulnerable population, poverty reduction and economic development HELP has designed and implemented various programmes to support self-employment of displaced persons, refugees and able domicile poor. The specific objective of these programmes is to improve the living conditions of the said caseload. Through the intervention of the project (in-kind grants) the beneficiaries are able to start an economically viable activity and are thus able to sustain their livelihood without further humanitarian assistance.

Scope of Assistance

Between April and December 2005 158 refugees, internally displaced persons and socially vulnerable persons among the local population have benefited from these projects in the municipalities of Podgorica (27 beneficiaries), Cetinje (16 beneficiaries), Niksic (12 beneficiaries), Danilovgrad (10 beneficiary), Mojkovac (3 beneficiaries), Kolasin (7 beneficiaries), Berane (36 beneficiaries), Bijelo Polje (15 beneficiaries), Rozaje (17 beneficiaries), Plav (5 beneficiaries), Andrijevica (3 beneficiaries) and Herceg Novi (7 beneficiaries). HELP has provided the selected beneficiaries with the equipment/services required to start-up and/or expand their economic activities. The average value of material inputs was set at € 1.250. With the funds made available for 2006 another 150 persons can be supported in the same way. By August 2006 some 125 applications have been approved for assistance within the programme.

All material and financial inputs are being provided as grants, but HELP includes a strong ‘social repayment’ component. Beneficiaries are obliged to repay 15 % of the value of the grant in cash and to donate 10 hours of labour for communal works.

Communal works were defined in co-operation with local partners and municipality representatives. Community projects were implemented in Berane, Kolasin, Cetinje and Kujava (municipality of Danilovgrad) respectively. In Berane the building of the National Archives was renovated and in Kolasin a small mountain river was cleared which previously had threatened to flood a low lying settlement area. In Cetinje a playground for handicapped children was equipped and in Kujava HELP organized the upgrading of the local school yard and repairs of the school building. For the four community projects together € 22,104,- were spent from the cash repayment contributions.

The “Directorate for the Development Of Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises” has provided training inputs foreseen within the framework of this programme and continues to do so.

For more details please see also web entries under MON-36.

Contribution to Housing Construction in Pursuit of Ref/IDPs local Integration in Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-56 Contribution to Housing Construction in Pursuit of Ref/DPs local Integration in Montenegro

:: DONOR

United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR)

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

01.01.2008 -31.12.2008, € 168.345

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

This project is a continuation of shelter/housing activities in the Republic of Montenegro referring to collective accommodation and local integration projects for refugees and DPs. Since 1992, UNHCR has been funding a local shelter project in Montenegro in order to provide emergency accommodation in the initial phases of influxes from Croatia, BH and Kosovo; rehabilitation and maintenance of collective accommodation facilities; construction of family settlements and assistance to ref/DPs constructing their own individual housing.

At present, there are 8,527 refugees from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia and 16,155 DPs from Kosovo, still living in Montenegro. Out of these numbers most refugees and DPs live in private accommodation and family settlements, while 1,507 RAE DPs are living in Konik camps in Podgorica. The only remaining official CC funded by UNHCR is scheduled for closure in March 2008, when 66 tenants will move to newly constructed apartments funded by EAR and UNHCR.

UNHCR, in its support to the National Strategy, supported HELP NGO’s applications to the European Agency for Reconstruction and EU Aid, resulting in a total of 2.536 million Euro grants for local integration activities in 2007-2008. In 2007 UNHCR provided the required financial contribution of up to five percent, and will in 2008 continue co-operation in project design and implementation as well as funding for staff and shelter activities.

In 2008, EAR and EU aid projects will be completed, with 78 ref/displaced families finalizing construction/rehabilitation of their individual houses. The works on the construction of the new pavilion of the only geriatric ward in Montenegro will be completed. Through completion of new building in Niksic and new pre-fab settlement in Berane, more durable accommodation will be provided for tenants of official CC Trudbenik and RAE settlement Riverside. 70 refugee/DP families will be assisted through micro-enterprise development, business training and guidance supporting the development of sustainable livelihoods.

In 2007 UNHCR has pre-positioned through sub–agreement with HELP, the non food assistance needed to respond to possible population movements from Kosovo. In case of need, in addition to items available for 4,000 people for 1 month, new items will be purchased through this sub-agreement. The lease agreement for the use of Reception transit centre, so called Way station, has been extended for entire 2008.

Through this sub-project UNHCR will contribute financial means for:
– operational costs to HELP’s office
– salaries for 6 staff members
– construction works and delivery of building materials

Social Housing Berane

:: PROJECT

Mon-55 Social Housing Berane

:: DONOR

Dutch International Guarantees for Housing Foundation (DGHI) in cooperation with Stichting Garanties Huisvesting International (SGHI)

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

15.1.2008 – 15.2.2009; € 25.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Affordable housing is in major demand. The combination of the wars and the falling apart of socialist housing policies has created a situation in which even a well functioning housing market would only be able to cater to parts of the needs, as purely market-based solutions are bound to be unaffordable to some 25-30% of the population. The thus suppressed excess demand is physically articulated by the emergence of informal settlements at the fringes of the town.

No housing and spatial planning policies for economic growth, social cohesion and poverty reduction exist yet. This is even more relevant after the practically complete privatization of public housing stock. The existing stock is deteriorating rapidly as it has changed hands from largely public to private ownership.

The project’s primary objective is to provide sustainable and affordable housing solutions for socially vulnerable and low income groups in Berane. The concrete action consists of the construction of 1 building with 24 apartments.

Winterisation Assistance for 255 families

:: PROJECT

Mon-54 Winterisation Assistance for 254 families

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

15.11.2007 – 28.02.2008; € 45.440

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Winterisation deals with ensuring that people will survive the harsh weather conditions of winter. Within the scope of this project 255 families received firewood, 300 children of displaced Roma living in the Roma camps Konik I and II received food during school and kindergarten working hours.

Construction of 12 prefabricated Houses in Andrijevica

:: PROJECT

Mon-53 Construction of 12 prefabricated houses in Andrijevica

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

01.09.2007 – 31.01.2008; € 164.750

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Within the framework of the Stability Pact for South East Europe the German Foreign Ministry has made available to HELP a donation of € 148.275. This amount complemented by own funds is sufficient to procure and erect 12 prefabricated houses. After the expected completion of these houses at the latest in January 2008 12 families of displaced persons who are now living under miserable conditions in the so-called “Mountain View Cottages” will receive a new home.

Andrijevica is a small mountain rsort wit a 25 km border with Albania. A total of 5.700 persons live in this municipality; among these are some 400 displaced persons from Kosovo and 50 refugees from Bosnia and Hercegovina and Croatia. In the main town live some 1.000 persons. The economic situation in the municipality is rather bad. In the last 2 years alone 4 companies have closed their doors. Hundreds of jobs were lost. The more than 700 pensioners fall in the category of pensioners with the lowest pensions.

Andrijevica is one of the poorest and most backward municipalities in Montenegro. Industrial production has basically come to a standstill and the road network is of low quality. The municipality is unable to provide from its own meager budget durable and sustainable solutions for the refugee and displaced persons living on its territory.

15 displaced families with 52 persons live in temporary wooden cottages, called “Mountain View Cottages.” Another family whose cottage had burnt down a few months ago had to rent a private accommodation. The cottages with a ground floor of just 16 m² have outlived their lifespan. They do not dispose of any isolation leaving them exposed to the winds and cold during the winter months. Some of the residents have filled the gaps between the wooden beams with pieces of cloth in order to protect themselves from the outside temperatures and rain.

After completion of the 12 houses expected at the latest in January 2008 the 12 beneficiary families will have found a durable solution for their housing problems and another of Montenegro`s inofficial collective center may be closed.

Contribution to Housing Construction in Pursuit of Ref/DPs local integration in Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-49 Contribution to housing construction in pursuit of Ref/DPs local integration in Montenegro

:: DONOR

United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR)

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

01.01.2007 to 31.12.2007

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

The self-help programme assisted refugees and DPs in private accommodation and/or unofficial collective centres in the municipality of Herceg Novi and other municipalities who opted for integration into the local society by acquiring land, and needed support in construction of durable housing units.

Assistance was also provided for the remaining residents in the last official collective centre Trudbenik in Niksic by contributing to the cost of the construction of an apartment building that will house the vulnerable residents of this CC.

The construction component also contributed to eventually alleviating the situation of elderly residents including refugees and displaced persons in the elderly home “Grabovac” in Risan.

Winterisation Assistance for 580 Families, Refugees and displaced Persons

:: PROJECT

Mon-48 Winterisation assistance for 580 families in need/ refugees and displaced persons in collective centers and private accommodation

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

02.11.2006 – 31.12.2006 € 61,415

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

580 families in collective centers, refugees and displaced persons (including displaced Roma from Kosovo in the Roma camps Konik I and II, Podgorica, and Riverside in Berane) as well as especially vulnerable displaced persons in private accommodation are provided with urgently needed winterization assistance like firewood, hygienic items and fresh food items. The 580 families each are provided with 3 cubic meters of firewood.

People still accommodated in collective centers live under very difficult living conditions. This is especially true for the displaced Roma from Kosovo. At the periphery of Podgorica live some 283 Roma families in the camps Konik I and Konik II – in the immediate vicinity of the urban garbage dump. The Roma still remaining in Konik are the most vulnerable among the displaced persons in Montenegro; indeed they are the most deprived group of people in the entire country. From approximately 4.000 persons originally they are the ones who lack any kind of alternative. Many of them are not in a position to cater for all their basic needs.

Equally critical is the situation for the Roma in the camp “Riverside” in Berane. The 26 families with a total of 182 family members live with the permanent fear to be forced out of their barracks due to disputes concerning the ownership of the land and their barracks.

Supporting National Strategy for Resolving Issues of Refugees and IDPs

:: PROJECT

Mon-46 Supporting the National Strategy for Resolving the Issues of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Montenegro through support for Individual Living and Economic Livelihood Enhancement in Herceg Novi/Republic of Montenegro

:: DONOR

European Union

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

1 February 2007 – 30 January 2008

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Scope of Assistance

Within the scope of this programme

• 7 families received a pre-fabricated house and 12 families received building materials for the adaptation of their housing units in the municipality of Herceg Novi and
• 32 refugee families were supported with individual income-generating grants.

Herceg Novi, a municipality with some 30.000 inhabitants, is home to 1.892 refugees from former Yugoslav republics. 749 have their own house or an apartment, 540 persons live in rented houses or apartments, 330 persons live with their relatives and friends. Refugees who are living in camp settlements along the Herceg Novi coast are in the worst position as they do not fulfill basic living conditions. Hence, a large number of refugees in Herceg Novi have not solved their housing problems.
In cooperation with UNHCR Montenegro and the Bureau for the Care of Refugees the HELP housing team evaluated the pending requests for housing assistance and assessed the required material needs for the adaptation of existing housing units. The private housing adaptation has focused on the following components:
Outside repair works to protect against the weather: repairs on roof, windows and outer doors, and improvement of insulation.
Inside repair works as flooring, partition walls, doors, and sanitary installations.
In those cases where the beneficiaries were not able to carry out the repair works themselves the works were supported by local contractors, selected and appointed by HELP.

The criteria for selection of beneficiaries gave priority to vulnerable refugees such as single heads of household; elderly and disabled persons and those with larger families.

Support to income-generating activities

32 refugee families have benefited from this project in the municipalities of Herceg Novi. HELP has provided the selected beneficiaries with the equipment/services required to start-up and/or expand their economic activities. The average value of material inputs was set at € 1,200. Apart from the financial benefits this component contributed to the beneficiary’s satisfaction and self-confidence by starting a “new life” and feeling again as a valuable member of their communities.

The biggest interest of beneficiaries was for investment in crafts (15 cases), followed by services (10 cases) agriculture (5 cases) and tourism (2 cases)

All material and financial inputs were provided as grants, but HELP included a strong ‘social repayment’ component. Beneficiaries were obliged to repay 15 % of the value of the grant in cash. The 15% cash repayment was used to finance a children’s playground in the municipality of Herceg Novi.

Local Integration Programme in Support of the national Strategy for Resolving Issues of Refugees and IDPs

:: PROJECT

Mon-45 Local integration programme for the displaced through housing and economic livelihood assistance in support of the National Strategy for Resolving the Issues of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Montenegro

:: DONOR

Europan Union (European Agency for Reconstruction)

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

06.12.2006 – 31.12.2008, € 2.536.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

This project aims at the local integration of displaced persons thus enabling this population group and their households to live an independent life, socially and economically comparable to the life of other citizens. The action addresses one of the basic conditions for the integration of the displaced in Montenegro. These are the unsatisfied needs for adequate housing! Provision of adequate housing is also needed for the ever more numerous number of elderly displaced. So far the only institution providing assistance to the elderly in Montenegro is the old people’s home “Grabovac” in Risan. In addition there is the need to assist the displaced population in finding permanent and sustainable solutions through enhancing its economic capacities.

The main project objective is to facilitate access of vulnerable displaced and domicile poor to:
• Secure, affordable and appropriate housing solutions
• Income generation support through micro-enterprise development, business training and guidance supporting the development of sustainable livelihoods

The proposed action specifically comprises the

a) construction of 1 apartment building in Niksic to house the remaining residents of the last official collective centre in Montenegro.
b)´construction of prefabricated housing units for 25 displaced Roma families in Berane
c) construction of 1 housing object (92 beds, bathrooms and other service rooms) in elderly home Risan
d) the provision of building material for the adaptation of 40 displaced housing units in those municipalities hosting displaced
e) the provision of building materials for the construction of 30 individual housing units (on self-help basis) for displaced in various municipalities of Montenegro
f) the creation of a data bank covering the applicants for housing assistance
g) provision of individual income-generating grants to 62 displaced persons and domicile poor

New construction of housing objects is foreseen for the displaced living in collective centres with no means to find durable individual housing solutions as well as for extremely vulnerable residents of the elderly home in Risan.

The living conditions of many displaced in private accommodation are very often miserable and require urgent repair and/or upgrading in order to establish normal conditions. A large number of the houses are without insulation of roofs which causes water seepages and wet walls, most have of a cement floor only. Many of the houses have no or no adequate toilet facilities and others are unfinished and in a state that does not yet allow people to move in at all. These problems compel the most vulnerable among the displaced to a life under very unhealthy conditions or remain in collective centres. Within the framework of this action it is foreseen to provide 40 families with urgently needed construction materials in order to upgrade their living space and/or to complete their unfinished houses in the target municipalities. In addition 30 families who have managed to secure an adequate building plot will receive construction materials to build their own houses (size of house depends on number of family members).

The proposed action will support 62 displaced persons and domicile poor with sound business ideas to start-up/improve or resume economic activities that are suitable to provide them with a regular income. These may be small repair work shops (for all kind of craftsmen’s trades such as metal work, carpentry, electricians and the like), fishing, tailor workshops, green houses, production of cheese, drying of herbs, small bakeries, and the like. HELP will provide the selected beneficiaries with the equipment/services required to start-up and/or expand their economic activities. The average value of material inputs is set at € 1.200.
All material and financial inputs will be provided as grants, but HELP foresees to include a social repayment component. For the implementation of the income-generation component of this action HELP will cooperate with the Directorate for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and its network of Local Business Centres which will provide required business services and basic business training. HELP disposes already of a Memorandum of Understanding for the cooperation with this agency for the implementation of income-generating activities.

Poverty Reduction through Support for income-generation Activities in Northern Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-44 Poverty reduction through support for income-generation activities in Northern Montenegro

:: DONOR

Caritas Luxembourg

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

01.07.2006 – until 31.12.2008; € 150.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

The objective of the project is poverty reduction in Montenegro. This will be achieved through material and other support for income-generating activities and start-up businesses. The provision of material inputs in combination with appropriate vocational and business trainings and legal advice will create much needed job opportunities for the impoverished segments of the population in Montenegro. The programme is directed towards the most vulnerable population groups (the rural population and uneducated persons, refugees, internally displaced persons, disabled persons, Roma,) who want to become the owners of their own development with a clearly specified vision of their own future and a specific plan for the achievement of this goal. Enabling selected beneficiaries to better positioning themselves on the labour market and earning an income will boost employment opportunities and eventually reduce the level of poverty in Montenegro.

Potential beneficiaries of this programme will be channelled and dealt with within an existing network of the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and Local Business Centers which are operated by public institutions (municipalities).

The most successful participants of the programme will eventually hire more employees thus creating new jobs and providing a positive socio-economic impact to a larger number of indirect project beneficiaries. Eventually this will contribute to the overall reduction of poverty within the country.

This project is based on the experience of a number of income-generation projects implemented by HELP in the last years in Montenegro as well as in Serbia and BiH. The demand for income-generation projects in Montenegro remains high given the present socio-economic situation in the country. Experience in the past years shows that demand by far exceeds available resources.

Selected beneficiaries will be supported with an average amount of in-kind grants in the form of material inputs valued at EUR 1.200.

The target group comprises socially vulnerable people, unemployed refugees and IDPs with sound income-generating ideas, motivation, basic skills and other necessary preconditions to start up or develop economic activities in order to become self-employed and this way provide a regular income for their families. Selected beneficiaries will be provided with material inputs; it is also intended to provide for specific groups of beneficiaries business training as well as professional advice and guidance. Expertise and support will also be provided with a view to legalisation of their activities helping them to choose the right mode of registration to best fit their specific situation. Special attention will be given to education on legal aspects of business – starting with registration, taxation duties, employment regulations etc.

All material inputs will be provided as grants, but HELP includes a strong ‘social repayment’ component. Beneficiaries will be obliged to repay 15 % of the value of the grant in cash. This repayment is generally to be done upon handing over of the material assistance provided within the framework of this programme. The funds thus generated will be treated as local contributions for the Community Development Project implemented by Caritas Luxemburg . Additionally, beneficiaries will donate labour inputs of 10 hours to communal works. Communal works will be defined in co-operation with the municipalities and other public institutions; they may include small repairs in public buildings such as schools, cleaning of communal areas, donation of certain products to institutions of public interest etc. Thus this project connects in an exemplary manner economic assistance for able and motivated persons with social involvement for those who can not help themselves any longer due to handicaps or for reasons of age or other reasons.

Poverty Reduction through Support for income-generation Activities in Northern Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-59 Poverty reduction through support for income-generation activities in Northern Montenegro

:: DONOR

Caritas Luxembourg

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

01.01.2009 to 31.12.2010; € 240,000.00

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

The objective of the project is poverty reduction in Montenegro. This will be achieved through material and other support for income-generating activities and start-up businesses. The provision of material inputs in combination with appropriate vocational and business trainings and legal advice will create much needed job opportunities for the impoverished segments of the population in Montenegro. The programme is directed towards the most vulnerable population groups (the rural population and uneducated persons, refugees, internally displaced persons, disabled persons, Roma,) who want to become the owners of their own development with a clearly specified vision of their own future and a specific plan for the achievement of this goal. Enabling selected beneficiaries to better positioning themselves on the labour market and earning an income will boost employment opportunities and eventually reduce the level of poverty in Montenegro.

Potential beneficiaries of this programme will be channelled and dealt with within an existing network of the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and Local Business Centers which are operated by public institutions (municipalities).

The most successful participants of the programme will eventually hire more employees thus creating new jobs and providing a positive socio-economic impact to a larger number of indirect project beneficiaries. Eventually this will contribute to the overall reduction of poverty within the country.

This project is based on the experience of a number of income-generation projects implemented by HELP in the last years in Montenegro as well as in Serbia and BiH. A previous project phase was evaluated in 2008 and based on the positive outcome of this evaluation the programme will be continued for the next two years.

One of the principles of HELP’s work is to offer equal opportunities for both women and men. Whereas usually more men apply for these grants we paid special attention to the participation of women in the income generation component. A research undertaken in April 2008 on the potential and constraints of women’s participation in HELP’s programmes showed that “ The agencies and programmes that provide assistance to the women in the North for start-up businesses already made a significant change with their initiatives. The programmes for start-up businesses implemented by HELP provide for participation of women in a way that was never implemented in Montenegro before.”

The demand for income-generation projects in Montenegro remains high given the present socio-economic situation in the country. Experience in the past years shows that demand by far exceeds available resources.

Selected beneficiaries will be supported with an average amount of in-kind grants in the form of material inputs valued at EUR 1.500.

The target group comprises socially vulnerable people, unemployed refugees and IDPs with sound income-generating ideas, motivation, basic skills and other necessary preconditions to start up or develop economic activities in order to become self-employed and this way provide a regular income for their families. Selected beneficiaries will be provided with material inputs; it is also intended to provide for specific groups of beneficiaries business training as well as professional advice and guidance. Expertise and support will also be provided with a view to legalisation of their activities helping them to choose the right mode of registration to best fit their specific situation. Special attention will be given to education on legal aspects of business – starting with registration, taxation duties, employment regulations etc.

All material inputs will be provided as grants, but HELP includes a strong ‘social repayment’ component. Beneficiaries will be obliged to repay 15 % of the value of the grant in cash. This repayment is generally to be done upon handing over of the material assistance provided within the framework of this programme. The funds thus generated will be treated as local contributions for the Community Development Project implemented by Caritas Luxemburg .

Self-help Construction Assistance for Refugees and IDPs and urgent Repairs/Maintenance of official CCs

:: PROJECT

Mon –41 Self-help construction assistance for Refugees and IDPs and urgent repairs/maintenance of official CCs

:: DONOR

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

January to December 2006/ € 174.200

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Since 1992, UNHCR has been funding a local shelter project in Montenegro, which included construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of collective accommodation facilities, used to house refugees fleeing from BiH and Croatia. In 1997, UNHCR started pilot projects to provide more durable accommodation to refugees from the 1992-1995 conflict in the former Yugoslavia. A total of 9 refugee settlements in the municipalities of Kolasin, Niksic, Podgorica, Berane, Plav, Rozaje, Herceg Novi and Tivat were constructed for the refugee caseload by 1999. During the year 1999 and 2000 the most urgent accommodation needs for IDP influx from Kosovo were met through camps, and private motels and hotels and in existing collective centers for refugees.

At present, there are 8,381 refugees from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia and 17,864 IDPs from Kosovo, still living in Montenegro. Out of this number 1,590 Refugees and 1,252 IDPs live in official collective centres, family settlements and 1 camp.

In January 2005 HELP has taken over a part of self help construction programme for a durable/ permanent accommodation solution.

Due to lack of alternative accommodation and other durable solutions, a number of sub-standard infrastructure facilities continue to accommodate refugees and IDPs, thus basic maintenance and repair works on the selected collective centres will be aiming ensuring physical safety of facilities and their residents.

All concerned projects are done as per the request of UNHCR and in close co-ordination with the local authorities.

Description of Beneficiaries:

a) General Background on Beneficiary Population

Demographic Data by Beneficiary Population (Current Situation)

According to the official registration records, Montenegro hosts some 8,381 refugees from BiH and Croatia and some 17,864 internally displaced persons from Kosovo consisting of Montenegrins, RAE, Serbs, Muslims, and Albanians (in numerical order). The numbers are updated by MCDP on monthly Refugees and IDPs reside in all 21 municipalities of Montenegro, with larger concentrations in Podgorica, Herceg Novi, Bar, and Berane municipalities.

Name of Beneficiary Population: Refugees from Croatia and BH
In Montenegro

Male Female Total
Age Group (in absolute numbers) (in %) (in absolute numbers) (in %) (in absolute numbers) (in %)
0-4 70 0.8% 49 0.6% 119 1.4%
5-17 675 8.1% 630 7.5% 1,305 15.6%
18-59 2,340 27.9% 3,030 36.1% 5,370 64.0%
60 and > 666 8.0% 921 11.0% 1,587 19.0%
Total: 3,751 44.8% 4,630 55.2% 8,381 100.0%
Major locations: Podgorica, Herceg Novi, Bar

Name of Beneficiary Population: Internally Displaced Persons from Kosovo in Montenegro

Male Female Total
Age Group (in absolute numbers) (in %) (in absolute numbers) (in %) (in absolute numbers) (in %)
0-4 544 3.0% 483 2.7% 1,027 5.7%
5-17 2,941 16.5% 2,662 14.9% 5,603 31.4%
18-59 4,283 24.0% 4,724 26.4% 9,007 50.4%
60 and > 929 5.2% 1,298 7.3% 2,227 12.5%
Total: 8,697 48. 7% 9,167 51.3% 17,864 100.0%
Major locations: Podgorica, Berane, Bar

Demographic Projection: The number of refugees and IDPs currently living in Montenegro decreased slightly in the last two years. Present situation in Kosovo implies that it is unlikely that a substantial number of IDPs will return home. The majority of refugees who wanted to repatriate to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have already returned to their place of origin while most of the remaining have opted for the local integration.

b) Specific Information on the Project

HELP assesses the different requests from UNHCR and findings from the assessment visits and prioritises order of works execution, regarding sanitation, water, heating, electricity, roofs and windows in official CCs and family settlements. For each proposed activity, HELP is making a technical outline of the works required and estimates the costs of required material and labour. According to the most urgent needs as identified and agreed upon by MCDP and UNHCR, HELP organises necessary steps to be undertaken.
For self-help construction programme HELP provides assistance in delivery of building material either for construction of new housing units on a land in the beneficiary’s ownership. Materials are provided for a house measuring to ~35 m2 with a value of approximately EUR 10,500. Beneficiaries are expected to provide construction labour on their own, as well as to take care of storage of building material, all necessary permits, and water, electricity and sewage (infrastructure) connections.

HELP will procure basic furniture for families constructing individual housing through self-help programme.

HELP will be supervising continuation of construction works on accommodation pavilion of Asylum reception Centre.

Impact on Protection Issues and Policy Priorities

Basic maintenance of official Collective centres has a positive impact on living conditions of Refugees and IDPs residing in those centres, most of who are vulnerable.

Self help construction programme is targeting official Collective centres and vulnerable Refugees/IDPS living in them .The precariousness of their legal and residential status and that of their accommodation is a major cause of their feeling of uncertainty and it does not provide a stable environment for bringing up of children. With the self help assistance refugees/IDPs will provide a permanent individual accommodation for their families, and a healthy ground for other aspects of socio-economic integration.

Self help construction programme will facilitate the closure of CCs, providing assistance to eligible refugees/IDPs.

Income-generating Activities in the North of Montenegro

:: PROJECT

Mon-40 Income-generating Activities in the North of Montenegro

:: DONOR

Caritas Luxembourg

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

15.10.2005 to 31.12.2005 / € 10.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

please see Mon-36 for details

Winterisation Assistance for 856 Families

:: PROJECT

Mon-39 Winterisation assistance for 856 families in need in collective centres and private accomodation

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

25.10.2005 to28.02.2006 / € 177.514,30

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Winterization assistance for 856 families in need/ refugees and displaced persons in collective centers and private accommodation

856 families in collective centers, refugees and displaced persons (including displaced Roma from Kosovo in the Roma camps Konik I and II, Podgorica, and Riverside in Berane) as well as especially vulnerable displaced persons in private accommodation are provided with urgently needed winterization assistance like firewood, hygienic items and fresh food items.

People still accommodated in collective centers live under very difficult living conditions. This is especially true for the displaced Roma from Kosovo. At the periphery of Podgorica live some 296 Roma families in the camps Konik I and Konik II – in the immediate vicinity of the urban garbage dump. Another 238 families live in the area surrounding the camps in mostly very primitive houses. Those Roma still remaining in Konik are the most vulnerable among the displaced persons in Montenegro; indeed they are the most deprived group of people in the entire country. From approximately 4.000 persons originally they are the ones who lack any kind of alternative. Many of them are not in a position to cater for all their basic needs.

Equally critical is the situation for the Roma in the camp “Riverside” in Berane. The 29 families with a total of 198 family members had to leave their barracks during several months and camp in the open field due to disputes concerning the ownership of the land on which their temporary shelters were built. At the beginning of September the Roma could return to their wooden barracks; however the conflict with the owners of land and barracks still smolders.

The 856 families each are provided with 3 cubic meters of firewood, hygienic parcels for adults (washing powder, soap, dishwashing liquid, shampoo, tooth paste, tooth brushes), hygienic parcels for babies (diapers, baby shampoo, baby bath, soap, cream) as well as fresh food items (potatoes, vegetable oil, cabbage, onions, carrots, ajvar, apples, oranges, milk).

Support for Social Housing Programme of the Municipality of Podgorica

:: PROJECT

Mon -38 Support for Social Housing Programme of the Municipality of Podgorica. Construction of two buildings with 24 apartments each for 48 low-income families

:: DONOR

Municipality of Podgorica in cooperation with Dutch International Guarantees for Housing Foundation (DGHI)

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

May until December 2005

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

The project’s primary objective is to provide sustainable and affordable housing solutions for vulnerable social and low income groups in Podgorica.

A first step towards achieving this objective is the construction of two apartment buildings with 24 flats each of an average size of 38.5 sqm.

The project’s secondary objective is to establish a model for the development of a municipal housing association for the purpose of managing Podgorica’s social housing stock.

In its 2004 strategy paper “The Housing Sector – Access to Affordable Housing” the Housing Action Plan of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe points out that housing needs in South Eastern Europe need to be addressed urgently, in particular of low-income groups, refugees, displaced persons and other vulnerable social groups in oder to ensure social and political stability!

General background

Podgorica, the capital of the Republic Montenegro houses approx. one third of Montenegro’s population, which is estimated at 650.000 people. Due to the instability in the region Montenegro has had to shelter a large number (44,103 persons) of refugees and IDPs from the surrounding areas. One third of these refugees and IDPs (12,130) have found shelter in Podgorica, but also a large number of economic rural migrants from the north of the country have moved to the capital. As a result the present population of Podgorica is expected to have passed the 200,000 inhabitants threshold.

The population growth has been very fast and the municipality has had great difficulties to keep up with the growth by providing serviced land and apartments at affordable prices. Quite a number of Podgarica’s inhabitants therefore had to move onto public land and construct illegal dwellings. The number of illegal buildings (both those without building permit and those occupying public land) is said to have reached 20,000 units.

Also some of the elderly/ retired Montenegrin people who have seen their income/ pension/ savings being reduced to almost nothing and other poor and destitute families either from Podgorica or from other parts of Montenegro, especially from the north, have found refuge in the illegal settlements.

The municipality of Podgorica has now begun to restore law and is preventing the construction of new illegal buildings without the required permits and documentation. At the same time efforts are undertaken to legalize illegal constructions that were built earlier and to provide new opportunities for the construction of urgently needed social and private housing by adopting new urban and special plans.

Affordable housing is in major demand. The combination of the wars and the falling apart of socialist housing policies has created a situation in which even a well functioning housing market would only be able to cater to parts of the needs, as purely market-based solutions are bound to be unaffordable to some 25-30% of the population. The thus suppressed excess demand is physically articulated by the emergence of informal settlements at the fringes of the town.

No housing and spatial planning policies for economic growth, social cohesion and poverty reduction exist yet. This is even more relevant after the practically complete privatization of public housing stock. The existing stock is deteriorating rapidly as it has changed hands from largely public to private ownership.

Project components
Construction of 2 apartment buildings

Based on the positive experiences made with the construction of to date 2 apartment building with 24 flats each for refugees and displaced persons in Podgorica by the German NGO HELP the municipality has entrusted to HELP the commissioning of the construction of two similar buildings which will be made available for housing a number of Podgorica’s social vulnerable population. The buildings with some 950 m² each of net living space will be erected in the suburb of Zagoric on a plot of land made available by the municipality of Podgorica. The plot chosen is bordering the plot on which HELP in 2003 had already erected a similar building with 24 flats.

Each flat will have an average living space of 39.5 m² consisting of a combined kitchen and living room, a separate bedroom and a bathroom. In view of the climatic conditions prevailing in Podgorica all flats will also have a small balcony.

Award of contracts for the construction will be done by the municipality’s implementing partner, HELP, on the basis of tendering according to international standards. HELP has committed itself to monitor all works and the timely implementation of the works through experienced personnel at all stages of the project.

Development of management structure for social housing stock

With the completed construction of an apartment building for refugees in Zagoric and the construction of an apartment building for Roma in a separate part of the town as well as the construction of the two buildings for social vulnerable persons Podgorica will already dispose of a core social housing stock. However, questions remain open as to the actual management of this stock and any future additions to it. Hence it has become a matter of urgency to obtain as soon as possible a sustainable structural management proposal. On the basis of clear guidelines and recommendations mechanisms will be introduced to ensure that investments are made into the public part of the buildings, i.e. staircases, roofs, entrance areas, water, electricity etc.

It has therefore been agreed that institutional housing expert(s) assist the city of Podgorica and its implementing partner with reviewing the options for establishing a nucleus management structure for its housing
development with the potential to develop it into a (municipal) housing
association for the purpose of managing social (municipal) housing stock (initially
in Zagoric/Zlatica), ensuring not only that the units are built at
appropriate standards affordable to the target group, that tenants are selected in
accordance with clear and equitable criteria to be agreed with the municipality,
but also that the housing complex is operated and maintained properly, that rent
is collected at agreed intervals, and more generally that good relationships
are maintained between management and the tenants.

The Dutch International Guarantees for Housing Foundation (DGHI) in cooperation with Stichting Garanties Huisvesting International (SGHI) has provided the funding for this programme. Contruction of the two buildings is effected on the basis of a credit arrangement with the said organizations while the technical assistance component has been provided on a grant basis.

Construction of 21 Apartments for Refugees and locals in Berane and 18 Apartments for Refugees and locals in Kolasin

:: PROJECT

Mon –37 Construction of 21 apartments for 53 refugees and local persons in Berane and 18 apartments for 45 refugees and local persons in Kolasin

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry/UNHCR

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

April 2005 until January 2006:: € 506.375

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Background

Unsatisfied needs for adequate housing were identified by the Stability Pact’s Regional Return Initiative to be one of the most serious impediments to the implementation of sustainable solutions for displaced populations in South Eastern Europe. Lack of public and social housing was found to be equally affecting the stability of poor local populations slowing the overall socia-economic recovery process and hampering integration efforts. However, solving this problem is one of the substantial conditons for stability in the region. According to the newly adopted National Strategy for Resolving the Issues of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons solutions for the problems of refugees and displaced persons should be found within a 3 years period. The first permanent solution is to initiate the repatriation process for refugees and return of internally displaced persons to Kosovo. Local integration would provide basic rights for refugees permanently settled in Montenegro as well as protection and help for internally displaced persons. Living in third countries is another option mentioned in this strategy.

At the initiative of the EU, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the OSCE on 31 January 2005 a ministerial conference was held in Sarajevo. At this occasion Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegowina as well as Croatia signed a tri-lateral agreement through which the parties agreed to pass all required laws in order to facilitate the return of refugees or enable local integration on a non-discriminatory manner based on the free will of the refugees.

As reported the right on return shall in no way be compromised. However, after a decade of living in the countries of asylum integration into the local society appears to be the solution of first choice for the bulk of the refugees. To this end the country of asylum will enable local integration for those refugees who have opted for this solution in accordance with their jurisdiction. The international community, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the EU as well as the OSCE was requested to support the respective governments for the return as well as for the local integration of refugees financially as well as in any other form. After their return respectively upon their local integration refugees will enjoy the same rights as any other citizen. Among these are the rights for education, social care, health and pension insurance.

The agreement of Sarajevo refers to persons whose status is characterised as refugees. However, the Montenegrin Commissioner for Refugees and Displaced Persons, Mr. Zeljko Sofranac, indicated already that the stay of the remaining 18.000 displaced persons from Kosovo has the same consequences as the one of the remaining 8.400 refugees. He suggested that Serbia and Montegro should adopt a similar agreement with UNMIK for the sake of the displaced persons.

The National Strategy mentions as one priority intervention the provision of living space for refugees who have opted for local integration. The strategy aims at finding permanent solutions for the socially most vulnerable persons and those accomodated in collective centres that are earmarked for closure. Projects providing living space for refugees should at the same time also include local social cases and displaced persons from Kosovo. Given the severe limitation of national resources implementation of the national strategy depends to a great deal on external support.

According to the national strategy living space is required for a total of 6.700 households: among those 2.100 are refugee, 3.300 displaced persons from Kosovo and 1.300 local social cases households.

With the provision of alternative living space the strategy aims at eventually closing all collective centres in the country.

Berane

Berane, situated in the North of the country, is a former industrial town and was once one of the most developed centres of the region with a prosperous cellulose and paper production. It is now, more or less, a “lost place”, with a high number of refugees per capita. The population is 35.000 persons; apart from 239 refugees from BiH and Croatia there remain 2.434 displaced persons from Kosovo in this municipality. This corresponds to 7.6% of refugees and displaced persons compared with the overall population.

Among the refugees and displaced persons the inhabitants of two collective centres “Adra Containers” and “Monastery Cottages” live under extremely bad conditions. They are mainly elderly, single persons. Their living units are of particularly bad quality: the Adra Containers are simple transport containers without isolation turned into emergeny shelters. The people live in simple rooms with common facilities but without kitchen.

The Monastery Cottages are simple prefab houses of poor quality that years ago were meant as short time temporary solutions. Now they are no more than dilapidated shacks.

It is foreseen to close down and demolish these two collective centres once a new building with 21 units has been constructed.

Kolasin

Kolasin is situated in the Tara valley in the North of the country. Its population comprises 10.000 persons; the town of Kolasin itself has 6.000 including 151 displaced persons from Kosovo and 133 refugees. They live in a collective centre of inferior quality called “Dom Ucenika.” The municipality has been undertaking efforts to solve the problems of shelter for these persons.

The inhabitants in the collective centre “Dom Ucenika” are also mainly elderly and single persons. They are the socially most vulnerable group of people in need of alternative living space as it is foreseen to close down this dilapidated collective centre.

Additional information on the target groups of the project

Berane
23 persons who have been living as displaced persons in the collective centre “Adra Containers”, 20 persons who have been living in CC “Monastery Cottages”, 2 persons accomodated in a simple container in the vicinity of the Adra Containers as well as 2 local families from Berane with up to 8 members.

There are 18 single persons, 7 couples, 2 families with 4 members each as well as 1 family with 5 members.

Kolasin
35 persons who have been living in CC “Dom Ucenika” and two local families with up to 8 persons.

The persons in the collective centre are mainly elderly singles many of them suffering from chronic illnesses.

There are 16 singles, 5 couples as well as 3 families with 3 members each.

Project description

Berane
Construction of one building with 633 m² living space for a total of 53 persons. Apartments of different size in accordance with the size of the families will be built. Each apartment will dispose of a living room and a small bathroom. Two elderly singles will be requested to share one apartment of 23 m². Sharing arrangements shall be done in a socially compatibel manner.

The municipality of Berane is fully committed for the implemenation of this project. In agreement with the municipality the local non-governmental organization “Kolo Srpskih Sestara” has provided a plot which was connected to the local infrastructure last year. Water, canalisation and electricty are available and there are two access roads from both sides of the plot. The plot which was originally made available to Kolo Srpskih Sestara by the Orthodox Church is in the immediate vicinity of an existing settlement. The aforementioned “Monastery Cottages” are located on one side of this plot. The partly handicapped or chronically ill inhabitants of the Monastery Cottages are taken care of by Kolo Srpskih Sestara (KSS). KSS has committed itself to maintain the new building and provide home care for its elderly and needy population. This is important as to date there is but one social instiution in Montenegro looking after eldery persons – and that one is situated in the coastal region.

Kolasin
Construction of a building with 529 m² living space for a total of 35 persons. Apartments of different size in accordance with the size of the families will be built. Each apartment will dispose of a living room and a small bathroom.

The municipality of Kolasin has made available a plot for the construction of the building and connection to infrastructure (water, electricity).

After completion of the construction and after all the selected beneficiaries have moved into the buildings these will be handed over to the municipality of Kolasin and to the local NGO Kolo Srpskih Sestara in Berane. The two partners have committed themselves to guarantee the right of living in these premises for a minimum of 15 years. There is a common understanding that apartments that will become vacant will be made available to other vulnerable persons.

Income-generating activities

As a complimentary measure the project design includes a component for the promotion of income-generating activities. The support for income-generation activities is meant to strengthen the financial situation of the benefiaries and to generate the means required for the maintenance and operation of the two buildings. As most of the future beneficiaries are old or chronically ill income-generating activities it is foreseen to implement this component in cooperation with local NGOs.

Cooperation with UNHCR and the Montenegrin Commissariat for Displaced Persons and Refugees (MCDP)

HELP has established very close cooperation with the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Podgorica and MCDP. Contributing financially for the elaboration of building plans (€ 11.375) UNHCR has also become a formal project partner in this project. Close cooperation with the respective partners ensures targetting of beneficiaries reaches those who most need external assistance.

Poverty Reduction through Support for income-generating Activities/Startup Businesses and socio-economic Integration of Refugees

:: PROJECT

Mon –36 Poverty Reduction through support for income-generating activities/start-up businesses and socio-economic integration of Refugees

:: DONOR

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation/German Foreign Ministry/The Netherlands’ Ministry for Development Cooperation :: € 620.000

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

April 2005 until December 2006

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Background

The economical development of Montenegro shows first signs of improvement; in 2002 the gross national product reached again 63 % of the level before war (in 2000 it amount to 60 %), after a decade of regression. The real economical growth for 2003 is estimated at about 1,5 %. Among other things, beside a big budget deficit and high foreign debts inflation and unemployment are problems, which handicap economical development.

According to Montenegro’s Employment the number of people registered as unemployed amounted to 72.544 in November 2003 and 68.990 in May 2004, a quite important decline in contrast to the situation in 2000. In 2003, according to Montenegro’s Employment Office, 25.130 new jobs have been added. However, due to the change of law concerning the payment of social insurance contribution, independent observers are of the opinion that in most of the cases it is a legalization of already existing jobs of people, who used to be employed in the non-official sector before. The institution for strategic studies names the unemployment rate for the year 2002 with 23,25 and for 2003 with 21 %.

All in all in spite of the positive signals referred to above one can say that the economy of Montenegro is still in a critical situation. Especially the fact that most of the unemployed are young people, who are the most productive elements of the society, causes concern. The independent Research Institute for Strategic Study and Prognosis has found out that 70 % of the unemployed in Montenegro are younger than 30 years. The number of unemployed, born after the 08.12.1973, presently amounts to 29.610 according to the current figures of the Employment of Montenegro.

The critical economical situation of the country has also an effect on the living conditions of the population. According to the Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognosis (ISSP) poverty assessment, the national rate of poverty including, Roma, Askalia and Egyptians, refugees and IDPs, is 12.2%, while among the resident population it is somewhat lower (9.6%). The poverty rate is several times higher among RAE (up to 60%), refugees (up to 48%), and displaced persons (up to 46%) as compared to the resident population. Fully one-third of the Montenegrin population is very close to the poverty line. The percentage of economically endangered and those who are not materially provided for is significantly higher among RAE, refugees, and displaced persons (up to 69% for refugees to 76% for RAE).

Since the end of the war on the Balkans and the return of the Kosovo-Albanians to Kosovo altogether 13.000 refugees from Bosnia and Croatia still live in the Republic of Montenegro, as well as 18.000 persons who fled from Kosovo. Under the present conditions a return of the displaced persons from Kosovo is not feasible. Also, it is very likely that the bulk of the refugees will not return back to their homes. Therefore, especially the displaced Serbian part of the population tries to integrate itself into the Montenegrin society.

A Feasibility study realized by HELP Montenegro in January 2001 showed that employment opportunities and income generating activities are the most important chance to improve the socio-economic situation of refugees and IDP`s. This type of activities neetly fits into the strategy as outlined in the draft “Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy for Montenegro”, which the Government of Montenegro is about to finalise. The total costs for the realization of this plan amount to € 440 millions for the next three years!

Among other the strategic approach to poverty reduction in Montenegro envisages to create the preconditions for self-sustainable and balanced economic development that will reduce the rate of the economically endangered population and to ensure social stability. It also aims to reduce the poverty among the refugees and internally displaces persons, as well as the Roma population which as shown above is clearly above the rates of the native population.

Finding permanent and sustainable solutions for refugees and IDPs thus becomes one of the government’s objectives. Income generation projects constitute the most promising way to help their integration in Montenegro as already pointed out in the feasibility study carried out by HELP in January 2001 since they address one of the most urgent problems – employment. They enhance the self-reliance capabilities of people who in the worst case have been dependent on assistance for more than a decade.

Furthermore, orientation towards income-generating projects as one of the most important and feasible means to fight poverty is in line with the key UN Millennium Development Goals aiming to eradicate the worst forms of poverty by creating employment opportunities, improving health care, education, housing, and environmental protection, promoting gender equality, dealing with regional, rural and urban aspects of poverty, and by working towards the realization of basic human rights.

Project description

The objective of the project is poverty reduction in Montenegro. This will be achieved through material and other support for income-generating activies and start-up businesses. The provision of material inputs in combination with appropriate vocational and business trainings and legal advice will create much needed job opportunities for the impoverished segments of the population in Montenegro. The programme is directed towards the most vulnerable population groups (refugees, internally displaced persons, disabled persons, Roma, the rural population and uneducated persons) who want to become the owners of their own development with a clearly specified vision of their own future and a specific plan for the achievement of this goal. Enabling selected beneficiaries to better positioning themselves on the labour market and earning an income will boost employment opportunities and eventually reduce the level of poverty in Montenegro.

Due to the transition processes, tax burden, and other obstacles the gray economy in Montenegro is widespread and accounts now for some 30% of GDP in the country. The informal economy has taken almost all the possible forms characterising economies in transition and the underdeveloped economies. It is estimated that at least 50.000 to 70.000 persons are working illegally or in the sphere of the informal economy. While the gray economy has negative effects on the overall economic development with those participating in the informal sector directly reducing the competitiveness of those who are operating in the formal sector it must also be recognised that the gray economy provides the easiest (and in the case of refugees the only) access to the labour marked for the most deprived segments of the society. The challenge is therefore to bring the two sides together by convincing the newly-employed to eventually operate within the formal economy. For this reason all potential beneficiaries of this programme will be channeled and dealt with within an existing network of the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and Local Business Centers which are operated by public institutions (municipalities).

The most successful participants of the programme will eventually hire more employees thus creating new jobs and providing a positive socio-economic impact to a larger number of indirect project beneficiaries. Eventually this will contribute to the overall reduction of poverty within the country.

This project is based on the experience of a number of income-generation projects implemented by HELP in the last three years in Montenegro as well as in Serbia and BiH. Most of those projects targeted individual beneficiaries, while an ECHO funded project implemented in 2002/2003 in Serbia targeted social institutions. The motivation and willingness expressed by the beneficiaries to take part in such projects proved to be extraordinarily high. The strategy to support their own income-generating ideas in order to enable them to become independent from governmental or humanitarian relief support proved to be viable and successful as was confirmed by the results of own and independent evaluations performed at the end of those projects. Additional multiple impacts were achieved on the municipal level, through the implementation of small-scale municipal projects and socio-economic integration of selected beneficiaries into the local community.

The demand for income-generation projects in Montenegro remains high given the present socio-economic situation in the country. Experience in the past years shows that demand by far exceeds available resources.

Implementation of this programme will draw on the experiences made by HELP supporting income-generating activities in countries of the Western Balkan as mentioned above. However, this does not imply that same activities will be carried out exactly the same way as in the past. Drawing on lessons learnt and changing conditions the strategy will be adapted and a system will evolve over time that best suits the needs of both beneficiaries and national development.

Most importantly, as already referred to above, is to bring the socially disadvantaged groups who want to become economically active closer and eventually within the formal economy. Exclusive access to the benefits of this programme is through the Local Business Centers in the respective municipalities. This provides a unique opportunity of first contact with the formal system and a platform for propagating formalisation and legalisation of economic activities as well as other business services available within the formal sector. Most important among those are information on credit/micro-credit facilities for successful participants of this programme as well as training opportunities.

Selected beneficiaries will be supported with an average amount of in-kind grants in the form of material inputs valued at EUR 1.200.

The target group comprises unemployed refugees, IDPs and other socially vulnerable people with sound income-generating ideas, motivation, basic skills and other necessary preconditions to start up or develop economic activities in order to become self-employed and this way provide a regular income for their families. Selected beneficiaries will be provided with material inputs; it is also intended to provide for specific groups of beneficiaries vocational and business training as well as professional advice and guidance through the form of one-on-one tailor made individual counselling. Expertise and support will also be provided with a view to legalisation of their activities helping them to choose the right mode of registration to best fit their specific situation. Special attention will be given to education on legal aspects of business – starting with registration, taxation duties, employment regulations etc.

All material inputs will be provided as grants, but HELP includes a strong ‘social repayment’ component. Beneficiaries will be obliged to repay 15 % of the value of the grant in cash. This repayment is generally to be done upon handing over of the material assistance provided within the framework of this programme. Part of the funds thus generated will be used for various training activities while the remaining funds will be used for the implementation of small-scale socio-economic municipal projects. Additionally, beneficiaries will donate labour inputs of 10 hours to communal works. Communal works will be defined in co-operation with the municipalities and other public institutions; they may include small repairs in public buildings such as schools, cleaning of communal areas, donation of certain products to institutions of public interest etc. Thus this project connects in an exemplary manner economic assistance for able and motivated persons with social involvement for those who can not help themselves any longer due to handicaps or for reasons of age or other reasons.

In general, all income generating activities (crafts and trade, services, agriculture) can be supported depending on the available resources and the economical potential in each individual case. Women-headed households with children will be treated as priority cases.
The programme will support persons with sound business ideas to start up or resume economic activities that are suitable to provide them with a regular income. These may be small repair work shops (for all kind of craftsmen’s trades such as metal work, carpentry, electricians and the like), fishing, tailor workshops, minifarms, production of cheese, drying of herbs, small bakeries, packaging and the like. A total of 200 beneficiaries, including refugees, internally displaced persons and socially vulnerable people in the local population will benefit from this project.

Beneficiary selection

Beneficiaries will be selected in two steps. All applications are reviewed by the “Agency For the Development Of Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises.” This agency evalutates the viability of proposed economic activities from a purely economic perspective and also whether they are in line with national development perspectives for the respective areas. In a second step, HELP staff together with representatives of Local Business Centers makes home visits to those beneficiaires selected by the agency – assessing the household situation and further claryfing the proposed economic activity.

Cooperation with other partners

A close cooperation has been established with the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises as well as the Local Business Centers in the municipalities covered. However, cooperation has been mainly limited to the selection process of beneficiaries as well as certain monitoring exercises towards the end of the project cycle. HELP proposes now to intensify this cooperation and include other partners in order to provide further assistance to its beneficiaries such as advisory assistance and guidance in order to empower them to eventually become sustainable and independent by developing to the maximum of their capacities.

Some of the additional services to be offered within the framework of this project are:
– Provide various vocational and business trainings designed in such a way to best suit the individual needs and capabilities of each beneficiary included in the project, based on an in-depth beneficiary assessment and knowledge on local business and market trends.
– Provide assistance in individual marketing operations and creation of market studies undertaken by beneficiaries who have registered their start-up businesses or developed existing ones.
– Help the start-up businesses to get a better insight and understanding of the local economy, as it will focus on the services from individuals to individuals, as well as general economic trends.
– Organise follow-up assistance for the businesses that encounter specific problems during the implementation of their activities.
– Study the conditions for the beneficiaries to register legally their activities and give them all the possible help and guidance through this process.
– Study the possibility for beneficiaries to access micro loans, if the development of their activities requires an additional investment.

Self-help Construction Assistance for Refugees and IDPs

:: PROJECT

Mon – 35  Self-help construction assistance for Refugees and IDPs

:: DONOR

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

January 2005 until June 2005 :: € 155.350

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Since 1992, UNHCR has been funding a local shelter project in Montenegro , which included construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of collective accommodation facilities, used to house refugees fleeing from BiH and Croatia . In 1997, UNHCR started pilot projects to provide more durable accommodation to refugees from the 1992-1995 conflict in the former Yugoslavia . A total of 9 refugee settlements in the municipalities of Kolasin, Niksic, Podgorica, Berane, Plav, Rozaje, Herceg Novi and Tivat were constructed for the refugee caseload by 1999. During the year 1999 and 2000 the most urgent accommodation needs for IDP influx from Kosovo were met through camps, and private motels and hotels and in existing collective centres for refugees.

At present, there are 8,474 refugees from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia and 18,019 IDPs from Kosovo, still living in Montenegro . Out of this number 1,621 Refugees and 1,949 IDPs live in official collective centres, family settlements and 1 camp.

In January 2005 HELP has taken over a part of self help construction programme for a durable/ permanent accommodation solution, and will in 2005 focus on refugees/IDPs living in collective centre “ Dom Ucenika” in Kolasin , which is planned for closure as of 1 July 2005.

Due to lack of alternative accommodation and other durable solutions, a number of sub-standard infrastructure facilities continue to accommodate refugees and IDPs, thus basic maintenance and repair works on the selected collective centres will be aiming ensuring physical safety of facilities and their residents.

All concerned projects are done as per the request of UNHCR and in close co-ordination with the local authorities.

This sub-project is planned to last 6 months.

Description of Beneficiaries

a) General Background on Beneficiary Population

Demographic Data by Beneficiary Population (Current Situation)

According to the official registration records, Montenegro hosts some 8,474 refugees from BiH and Croatia and some 18,019 internally displaced persons from Kosovo consisting of Montenegrins, RAE, Serbs, Muslims, and Albanians (in numerical order). The numbers are updated by MCDP on monthly Refugees and IDPs reside in all 21 municipalities of Montenegro , with larger concentrations in Podgorica, Herceg Novi, Bar, and Berane municipalities.

Demographic Projection : Current number of Refugees present in Montenegro is expected to be verified once the status revision exercise is completed mid 2005. Out of the total refugees and IDPs, 7.5% (approximately 2,317 persons) are accommodated in official collective centres, in specialised institutions, family settlements which receive varying amounts of support for running costs from UNHCR. The number of beneficiaries is subject to reduction according to the availability of funds. Some 5% are expected to continue to illegally occupy unofficial sites/buildings pending legal action from the owners. The remaining 87.5% reside in private accommodation, which includes a mixture of rental payments, family support and host families.

b) Specific Information on the Beneficiaries of the Project

Collective centres care and maintenance programme has approximately 1,000 direct beneficiaries in about 3 official collective centres and 9 Family settlements in Montenegro.

In 2005 self-help construction programme will aim at assisting Refugees and IDPs, residing in CC Dom Ucenika in Kolasin who opted for integration into the local society, by acquiring land, and need support in construction of durable housing units.

Implementation Arrangements

HELP has its office in Podgorica, holding international and national personnel who implements projects in Montenegro . HELP employs technical part-time consultants specialised in civil engineering, electrical works, and water and sewage construction to cover the technical monitoring, evaluation and control of the works’ execution.

HELP assesses the different requests from UNHCR and findings from the assessment visits and prioritises order of works execution, regarding sanitation, water, heating, electricity, roofs and windows in official CCs and family settlements. For each proposed activity, HELP is making a technical outline of the works required and estimates the costs of required material and labour. According to the most urgent needs as identified and agreed upon by MCDP and UNHCR, HELP organises necessary steps to be undertaken.

For self-help construction programme HELP provides assistance in delivery of building material either for construction of new housing units on a land in the beneficiary’s ownership. Materials are provided for a house measuring to ~35 m 2 with a value of approximately EUR 10,500. Beneficiaries are expected to provide construction labour on their own, as well as to take care of storage of building material, all necessary permits, and water, electricity and sewage (infrastructure) connections.

Impact on Protection Issues and Policy Priorities

Basic maintenance of official Collective centres has a positive impact on living conditions of Refugees and IDPs residing in those centres, most of who are vulnerable.

Self help construction programme is targeting official Collective centres and vulnerable Refugees/IDPS living in them .The precariousness of their legal and residential status and that of their accommodation is a major cause of their feeling of uncertainty and it does not provide a stable environment for bringing up of children. With the self help assistance refugees/IDPs will provide a permanent individual accommodation for their families, and a healthy ground for other aspects of socio-economic integration.

Self help construction programme will facilitate the closure of CCs, providing assistance to eligible refugees/IDPs.

Support for income-generating Activities for Refugees, IDPs and social Cases

:: PROJECT

Mon – 34 Support for income-generating activities for refugees, IDPs and social cases

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

2004 :: € 71.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

This project covers the extension of activities described under Mon-29 to the municipalities of Danilovgrad, Kolasin, Mojkovac and Berane in the North of the country.

Winterisation Assistance for 988 Refugee and IDP Families in Collective Centres

:: PROJECT

Mon – 33  Winterisation assistance for 988 refugee and IDP families in collective centres

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

November 2004 until February 2005 :: € 193.915

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Presently there are still some 13.000 refugees from Bosnia and Hercegovina and Croatia as well as another 18.000 displaced persons from Kosovo living in Montenegro , i.e. a total of 31.000 persons. 90% of them are of Serbian origin. Under the prevailing circumstances in Kosovo return is not feasible and it is commonly understood that hardly anyone will ever return.

Most displaced persons live in private accommodation, either with friends or relatives or by renting their premises. In comparison with the refugees in the country there is a higher percentage of IDPs living in collective centers. In the North of the country 1.236 persons are still accommodated in this type of accommodation.

People living in collective centers live under most difficult conditions. In particularly this applies to the displaced Roma from Kosovo. At the outskirts of Podgorica a total of 303 Roma families are accommodated in simple camps (14 wooden barracks in Konik I and 4 wooden barracks in Konik II) – in the immediate vicinity of the city dump. Again and again the camps are affected by pests. In the surroundings of the camp another 238 families live in the so called “shanty town.” The remaining population in Konik may well be classified as the most vulnerable group of displaced persons. From the original population of 4.000 they are the ones without any alternatives. Most of them have great difficulties to cater for their daily needs under the given circumstances.

Winterisation assistance provided within the framework of this project aims at securing the health of adults and children of the targeted groups during the cold winter months. A total of 988 families in various collective centers mainly in the North of the country, refugees and displaced persons (including the displaced Roma population of Roma camps I and II in Konik/Podgoirca) as well as residents of the Women Safe House in Podgorica will receive the most urgent relief items required. These are firewood and coal, fresh food items as well as parcels with hygienic items.

Construction of a Kindergarten for Roma Children

:: PROJECT

Mon – 32  Construction of a kindergarten for Roma children

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

November 2004 until February 2005 :: € 207.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Montenegro has become a place of asylum for refugees and displaced persons since the beginning of the collapse of the state of Yugoslavia in 1990. At times some 20% of people living in Montenegro were either refugees or IDPs. The smallest and poorest of the former Yugoslav republics could not bare the cost of accommodating this caseload on its own. Presently there are still some 8.000 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia as well as another 18.000 displaced persons from Kosovo living in Montenegro . 90% of them are of Serbian origin. Under the prevailing circumstances in Kosovo return is not feasible and it is commonly understood that hardly anyone will ever return. Hence, both refugees and displaced persons are undertaking efforts to integrate into the Montenegrin society which appears to be the most likely durable solution for the bulk of them.

The situation of the displaced Roma population is particularly problematic. According to the Commissariat for displaced Persons there were 5.840 Roma among the originally 30.000 persons who had come to Montenegro from Kosovo. Approximately 67% of the Roma settled in the center of the country, mainly in Podgorica, were other members of their ethnic minority were already living. They live mainly under miserable conditions in camps on the periphery of towns. Most of the non-local Roma (93.2%) dispose of the required documentation for refugees and displaced persons. 67.7% of them have the intention to submit a request for Montenegrin citizenship. Therefore integration into the Montenegrin society is the long term solution most wanted by the displaced Roma. However, given the historic and still prevalent attitude of the local population as well as of local authorities towards members of this ethnic minority integration still has a long way to go.

Lack of education is one of the key problems of Roma in Montenegro . More than half of heads of households of displaced Roma does have no or incomplete school education. Most Roma children do not go to school (92.9% according to a study published by the United Nations Development Programme in 2003). There is no problem of legal access to local schools for the Roma children! Many Roma say they cannot afford sending their children to school (37.6%) or they simply lack the motivation to do so (30.9%). Women have no education of formal training for jobs. In the camps Konik I and Konik II in Podgorica there are no women with any kind of formal (or informal) professional training. Women are considered human beings with very few rights and many obligations!

Most Roma children do not attend a kindergarten and can therefore not be prepared for the requirements of regular school attendance. However, programmes directly targeting these children have produced excellent results. The number of Roma children in one kindergarten doubled and many more were interested to go to a kindergarten. Unfortunately the capacities of these kindergartens were limited and they could not accept more children. Such programmes are important as they make parents aware of the importance of preschool education for the primary and secondary school education.

Project description

In the poorest of Podgorica’s city quarters, Konik, HELP will build a kindergarten with a capacity of up to 100 children. The kindergarten (approx. 300 m2) will be open for children from the collective centers Konik I and Konik II and of course also for the children from this suburb. Konik I is the largest camp for displaced Roma in Montenegro ; it was built in 1999 on 34.000 m2 land provided by the municipality of Podgorica . Today there live 253 families with some 1.400 family members, among them more than 300 children und the age of six. Konik is the poorest suburb and borders the large city dump that is in urgent need of sanitation. The two camps are located in the immediate vicinity of the dumpsite. Apart from the displaced Roma, socially weak and poor Bosniaks and Serbs inhabit this area. Konik II is somewhat smaller and hosts 61 families with 340 family members, among them 90 children under the age of six. All residents of Konik II are displaced Roma.

The new kindergarten in Konik will play an important role in the education of the Roma as well as for their integration into the Montenegrin society. Without adequate education the chances of the Roma for a job and social and economic integration remain rather limited. They will remain at the edge of society without hope for improvement of their fate.

The Montenegrin Ministry of Science and Education has adopted the policy that all children have the same rights for education regardless of their social status, religion of ethnic background. The Ministry is ready to actively promote the integration of Roma children into the official education system of Montenegro .

Upon completion the kindergarten will be handed over to the Ministry of Science and Education which will provide the staff and operational costs.

The municipality of Podgorica has provided a building plot for the kindergarten. It must be noted here that until recently the Montenegrin society as well as the local authorities were not very much inclined to engage themselves for the needs of the displaced Roma. The specific problematic of displaced Roma has been ignored by most local authorities (and mostly this is still the case) and it was left to international aid organizations to deal with this particular group. Hence, the readiness of the mayor of Podgorica to participate in this project which will mainly benefit the Roma can be considered as outstanding. In the past efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner’s office for refugees (UNHCR) for improving the living conditions of displaced Roma often failed due to the rigid position and rejection of local authorities.

The cooperation of the municipality of Podgorica is therefore one of the decisive reasons for selecting the project location. The successful realization of this project should have positive effects on the attitude of other municipalities towards the displaced Roma.

The kindergarten is being built in the immediate vicinity of the “German House II” that HELP is presently constructing. This building will comprise 24 apartments, 22 of them for displaced Roma families from Kosovo and 2 of them for local Roma families.

Support for democratic Dialogue and Development of the civil Sector in Ulcinj

:: PROJECT

Mon – 31 Support for democratic dialogue and development of the civil sector in Ulcinj

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry / City of Wülfrath

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

01.09.2004 – 28.02.2005 :: € 15.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

1. Background

Ulcinj is one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic Coast . The old city has been founded in 5 th century B.C. Ulcinj is located right next to the Albanian border. Today the Municipality of Ulcinj amounts to 26.435 inhabitants, 78% of them are Albanians. During the war in Kosovo, the town has become a haven for around 30.000 Albanian refugees from Kosovo. At this moment, there are still 620 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina , as well as 996 IDPs from Kosovo living in Ulcinj. Montenegrins, Roma and ethnic Albanian citizens are living peacefully together in this town. However, the events in the Balkans had a negative influence on Ulcinj regarding to the inter-ethnical relations.

The project was developed within the partnership between the City of Wülfrath and the Municipality of Ulcinj . Thus, this partnership gives an opportunity for upgrading democratic structures and stabile development in Montenegro through friendly relations and cultural exchange. In the previous period, within the partnership, the highly necessary projects for renovation of the high school, primary school and the library were successfully implemented, as well as the providing of equipment for the music school. Delegations from Wülfrath, lead by the Mayor, have several times visited Ulcinj, and in year 2003, the Mayor of Ulcinj has visited Wülfrath.

All the measures were conducted in cooperation with German Charity Organization HELP- in Montenegro – including German Manager.

2. Project description

2.1 The objectives of the activities are to support the democratic and inter-ethnical dialogue and the development of the civil society in Ulcinj. This is going to be accomplished by conducting series of workshops and other events in which the citizens, representatives of NGOs, journalists and politicians are going to participate.

The strengthening of the civilian sector is an important component of society life and at the same time a condition for social changes, which should contribute that in Ulcinj modern and adequate forms of living and working, which correspond with the requirements of today`s life, originate. This requires the inclusion of a wider social class into planning and decision processes.

2.2 Project activities
2.2.1 Selection of the project participants

The first step should be to recruit individuals who are interested in socio-political matters and to motivate them to take action in the social life and motivate others therefore. For this purpose an assistant of the local partner of HELP in Ulcinj, the Nansen Dialog Zentrum (NDZ), will contact local organizations with which they used to work together in former projects. Furthermore, the public should be informed about this activities by the local media and interested circles of people should be gained for collaboration in that way. In that manner approximately 40 persons should be gained for further project activities.

2.2.2 Training

An important aspect of this activities is to enable people, who were identified in the preparatory phase, to fulfill their allocated role with the help of corresponding training strategies. The realization of the training is in charge of the local partner ( Nansen Dialog Center ), within two workshops with twenty participants each. The participants should become familiar with the main issue “Participation of citizen”. A brief description of these workshops is attached (Participation of citizen in the local communities).

The participants for two training strategies for Advanced will be established from the group of participants of the first two workshops. The aim of the first strategy is to qualify up to 15 specially dedicated and motivated persons for the organization of workshops, round tables etc. This group of people will then be at the disposal of other interested citizen and will teach them those methods, if required. Within a process of interactive exchange of experiences, the principle that people should have the courage to take responsibility for their aims and actions should be explained as a principle element.

The main issues of the second training strategy are “capacity building” and “advocacy” and the transfer of basics of the strategic planning.

This group of people (or just a part of them) should finally be able to motivate interested citizen for further dedication and support them to take influence on local decision processes.

2.2.3 Public events

An increasing number of interested citizens in Ulcinj should be reached by the organization of public events and lectures or by the support of public events, other associations, groups, public interest groups etc. The issues of the lectures and events are on the one hand dialog capability, conflict management, communication and participation of citizen and on the other hand also local issues. They citizens should also become familiar with the activities of their representatives of local administrations as well as with the laws and advocacies of this bodies and the local development plans, so that they can establish a panel for the exchange of opinions among citizens and representatives of the Municipality.

Especially events, which deal with the question of local self-government, must be underlined. The concept of participation of citizen in the local self- government of Montenegro and especially in Ulcinj, is still relatively new. So the citizen themselves as well as the local administrations get familiar with this concept. Items like participation, the meaning of it and all types of participation, the institutional and the non-formal form, have to be explained. Beside the factors, which make a participation possible, also the obstacles, which means development and power interests, which handicap an extensive participation of citizen in the decision processes at the local level, have to be discussed

2.2.4 Media

Media act an essential part in each modern society for the forming of a public opinion. Hence, the role of the media has to be specified and the local media have to be involved for a strengthening of the civilian society in Ulcinj, due to the fact that only with the help of the civilian society a huge resonance among the population can be found. For this reason the individual project activities, especially all public events and the guests who have been invited to come should be announced via local media.

2.3 Results

After completing this project activities a group of extremely dedicated citizen should be able to work out an action plan, in which further activities of dedicated citizen, respites, responsible persons, necessary sources as well as other necessary details are defined.

As a result of this activities a net of socially active citizen and representatives of non-government organizations and local media will grow, which will open relevant issues of the Municipality to the public and at the same time involve the public into decision processes. In that way, the Municipality of Ulcinj will show lively discussion culture concerning economic, social and religious topics.

3. Project realization

HELP will realize the activities in cooperation with the local partner. The overall responsibility for the realization and the coordination of all activities with the local partner lies with HELP.

The local partner of HELP is the Nansen Dialogzentrum (NDZ) in Montenegro , a non-government organization, which made it its business to easy the transition process by supporting the dialogue. The NDZ was founded in 2000 and it is part of a network of similar centers in 9 different places on the territory of the former Republic of Yugoslavia .

The objective of NDZs activities is to add to the creation of a transparent civilian society, which is based on democratic principals. The inter-ethnic dialogue is considered as a condition for the reconciliation and the restoring of the broken relations between the ethnic and religious groups.

The total costs of this measure amount to € 15.000.

Support for income-generating Activities for Refugees, IDPs and Social Cases

:: PROJECT

Mon – 29 Support for income-generating activities for refugees, IDPs and social cases

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

10.08.2004 – 28.02.2005 :: € 144.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

The economical development of Montenegro shows the first signs of improvement; in 2002 the gross national product reached again 63 % of the level before war (in 2000 it amount to 60 %), after a decade of regression. The real economical growth for 2003 is estimated at about 1,5 %. Among other things, beside a big budget deficit and high foreign debts inflation and unemployment are problems, which handicap economical development.

According to Montenegro ‘s Employment the number of people registered as unemployed amount to 72.544 in November 2003, a quite important decline in contrast to the situation in 2000. In 2003, according to Montenegro ‘s Employment Office, 25.130 new jobs have been added. However, due to the change of law concerning the payment of social insurance contribution, independent observers are of the opinion that in most of the cases it is a legalization of already existing jobs of people, who used to be employed in the non-official sector before; furthermore, it is questionable, if the legalized employment is planed for a longer period or if the employees will be logged off after a short time. The institution for strategic studies names the unemployment rate for the year 2002 with 23,25 and for 2003 with 21 %.

All in all, one can say that the economy of Montenegro is still in a critical situation. Especially the fact that most of the unemployed are young people, who are the most productive elements of the society, causes concern. So, the inquiries of the independent Research Institutes for Strategic Study and Prognosis result in that 70 % of the unemployed in Montenegro are younger than 30 years. The number of unemployed, born after the 08.12.1973, presently amounts to 29.610 according to the current figures of the Employment of Montenegro.

The bad economical situation of the country has also an effect on the living conditions of the population. According to the Ministry for work and social welfare at the moment 12,2 % of the total population of Montenegro have an income of less than € 116,00 € per month and live under the absolute poverty level. The poverty level is the lowest among the native population (9,6 %), however, much higher among the Roma (52,3 %), refugees (38,8 %) and the IDP `s (38,6). Indeed, one must keep in mind that Roma, refugees and IDP`s account only 27,5 % of the poor in Montenegro, whereas 72,5 % of the poor are natives.

Since the end of the war on the Balkan and the return of the Kosovo-Albanians to Kosovo altogether 14.000 refugees from Bosnia and Croatia still live in the Republic of Montenegro , as well as 18.000 other persons, who fled from Kosovo. Under the present conditions a return of the displaced persons from Kosovo is not realizable. Also, it is very likely that the bigger part of the refugees will not return back to their homes. Therefore, especially the displaced Serbian part of the population tries to get integrated into the society of Montenegro . The Montenegrian government reckons that most of the IDP `s as well as the refugees of the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will remain in the country.

A Feasibility study realized by HELP in January 2001 shows that employment opportunities and income generating activities are the most important chance to improve the socio-economical situation of the refugees and IDP`s.

From July 2001 till January 2002 HELP realized a pilot project where social vulnerable persons, refugees and IDP`s were provided with factors for production (average value per applicant: DM 1.600,00), which allowed them to ensure their livelihood by independent work.

The results of these measures were very encouraging. Beside the economical net receipt the improvement of the social status and the bigger self-confidence of the beneficiaries could be seen as an excellent result. Most of the beneficiaries work in the technical sector, followed by the service and the agricultural sector. Due to the fact that a big part of the beneficiaries live as displaced persons in the collective centers, activities were chosen, which do not depend on a permanent place of employment. This is in so far important as it makes sure that this strategy does not prevent the refugees and IDP`s from a possible return (the whole productive equipment that was bought is small and handy and as a consequence of this it can be taken along).

Another project of this kind was realized in 2003, financed by funds of the Foreign Ministry from the Stability pact for south eastern Europe. The realization of this measure was also very successful and it was finished within the project duration. In the near future the demand for this kind of direct help for economic vulnerable persons and also for social institutions will be very considerable. The project connects in an exemplary manner economical help for able and motivated persons with social involvement for those who can not help themselves any longer due to handicaps or for reasons of age or other reasons.

In so far, such a project can be put in connection with the “Strategy plan for development and reduction of poverty in Montenegro ”, which was passed by the government in November 2003. The total costs for the realization of this plan amount to € 440 millions for the next three years! The Montenegrin Government hopes that approximately 60 % of these costs will be provided by foreign countries, actually one half as a credit and the other half as nonrefundable allowance.

Only for the reduction of poverty of those, who live below the poverty level (12,2 % of the population of Montenegro ) the costs are estimated at € 38 millions per year. Thereby for a lasting improvement of the living conditions in Montenegro also the huge group of people, who live barely above the poverty level, have to be also taken into account.

Even in 2004 HELP realizes therefore further activities, which will enable social vulnerable persons to ensure themselves a source of income by independent work.

In total 100 families will get productive equipment (machines, animals, utensils itd.), which will enable them to boil their pot alone in future. The target group consists of refugees and IDP`s as well as social vulnerable persons. Due to the price increase of the past years the grant for productive equipment should amount to an average of € 950,00.

The beneficiaries have the obligation to pay back in cash 15 % of the value they got in the form of productive equipment and they have to provide 10 hours of social work for community projects. The financial funds are used for community projects respective investments for public institutions.

The total costs for the project amount to € 144.000.

Construction of 24 Housing Units for 24 IDP Roma Families

:: PROJECT

Mon – 30 Construction of 24 housing units for 24 IDP Roma families

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

07.05.2004 – 06.02.2005 :: € 486.901

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

After the disintegration of former Yugoslavia, Montenegro has become a haven for refugees and displaced persons. Sometimes, the number of refugees has was reaching 20% of the total population. It was a great burden for the smallest and poorest republic of the former Yugoslavia which could not have been carried by its own resources. At this moment there are 14.418 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegowina and Croatia, as well as 18.000 displaced persons from Kosovo, still living in Montenegro.

According to this, 32.418 refugees and displaced persons are living in Montenegro today; that is around 5% from the total population. Return to Kosovo is still not possible for most of the displaced persons, due to the critical situation in the region.

Most of the displaced persons came to Montenegro from June to August 1999, right after the Yugoslav army has left Kosovo. Displaced persons have evenly fled to all parts of Montenegro, to the north, the south and the center of the country. According to the data from Montenegrin Commissariat for displaced persons, out of 30.000 displaced persons from Kosovo, 5.840 were Roma. Most of the displaced Roma (67%) are located in the central part of Montenegro, in Podgorica. Displaced Roma from Kosovo have settled themselves in areas where local Roma already live; Those are ghetto-type settlements with poor living conditions in the outskirts of town.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) a survey on living conditions of “Roma, Askelia and Egyptians, refugees and IDPs” has been conducted and the number of Roma in Montenegro is estimated to approximately 20.000.

We might say that the actual number of Roma is much larger, due to discrimination, Roma prefere to be registered as Montenegrins or Muslims. In Montenegro there are local Roma (37.7 %), IDP Roma from Kosovo (58.7 %) as well as refugees from former republics of ex Yugoslavia. All of them live under similar living conditions. The following characteristics are related to all Roma households regardless of their legal status.

37.2 % of the Roma live in settlements exclusively inhabited by Roma, 32.7 % in settlements where other nationalities could be found, but still the Roma are majority. Only the last group mentioned has a real chance to achieve economic and social integration into Montenegrin society.

Average Roma household counts 5.72 persons (compared with: non-Roma household counts 3.7 persons); according to the surveey, 71.9% of the Roma are under 30 years old, and Roma live less then the rest of the population.

Most of the non-local Roma (93.2%) have the necessary documents which identify them as refugees and IDPs. Most of them (67.7%) intend to apply for citinzenship in Serbia & Montenegro, 7.8% have already submitted all the necessary documents and are waiting for the decision, and 1.4% have already got the citizenship, but have not regulated all the necessary documents. Around one quarter (23.1 %) does not intend to apply for citizenship.

36.9% of Roma households are still living in collective centers. One of the crucial factors for social and economic integration is the language: 33.1% can only speak Roma language, while the other third (33.1%) can speak both Roma and Serbian language; 14.1% do not speak neither Serbian nore Roma language (only Albanian); 7.4% can only speak Serbian; 2.6% can speak Roma language and one other language (Albanian). According to this we can come to a conclusion that almost a half of the Roma families in Montenegro cannot speak Serbian. Most of the IDP Roma from Kosovo cannot speak Serbian. That is one of the obstacles for succesful economic and social integration.

Although an average Roma household counts 5.72 persons, a large part of Roma households (61 %) lives in housings of less than 30 m2. More than 80 % of Roma live in housings with less than 10 m2 per person.

Bad living conditions of the Roma are also documented by the fact that 47.5 % of the Roma live near by the city dump, 22.3 % in settlements overflown by wastewater, 17 % live in settlements with air polutions and 12.8 % live in swampy areas.

45.4% have no running water in their settlements, 68.4% do not have their own bathroom.

A large part of Roma households do not have basic equipment: 50.9% have no table, 54.3% have no chairs, 50.2% have no beds!

The lack of education is one of the crucial problems for Roma population in Montenegro.

More than a half of IDP Roma, which are running households, had no school education, or have dropped out of school. The problem is not some limitation from the establishment. On the contrary, the Roma are saying that they cannot afford the school, or that the children are not motivated for being educated (30.9%). Education and the level of education of the women, practically does not exist. There are no educated women in camps Konik I and II in Podgorica! Women are human beings with so little rights, but with so much obligations!

The bad economic situation and the low level of education of the Roma evidently limits their ability to perform economically relevant activities. Most of the Roma work, collect and sell old materials or as manual workers. The Public Utility Company employs around 1/5 of the Roma. In Podgorica, one can see exclusively Roma performing this kind of job.

A surrvey done in 2000. shows the following three options for IDP Roma from Kosovo:

Retourn to Kosovo; an option that did not seem to be possible neither then, nor today.
Emigration to a third country, especially to western Europe. At that time this option was prefered by the Roma but due to the negativ position of these states it did not seem to be possible neither than, nor today.
Staying in Montenegro- temporary or permanently by intergration into the Montenegrin society. This option is not easy to realise, but it is the most probably one because any alternatives do not exist.
Project description:

Costruction of 24 housing units with average 38m2 of living space per housing unit. The beneficiaries of this programme are going to be 24 families with around 132 persons.

Out of that number, 22 families are Roma IDP families with approximately 121 persons, which have proved to be living in Konik in Podgorica, as well as 2 local Roma families with around 11 family members whose living conditions can be compared with the ones that IDP Roma live under.

The Municipality of Podgorica will provide the location including all the connections to the public infrastructure.

The Municipality of Podgorica will provide HELP with a location including the infrastructure connections. The location is in Konik in Podgorica.

The Municipality of Podgorica will be the owner of the buildings and will guarantee not to privatise the structures for 10 years. Residents of the newly built object, selected by HELP, will be guranteed to have the right to live in the apartments for minimum of 15 years.

The tennants will be obliged to pay minimum rent for the apartments.

Moving into the newly built apartments will take place in year 2005.

Basic Household Equipment and Winterisation Assistance for Refugee Families and displaced Persons in Collective Centers

:: PROJECT

Mon-28  Basic household equipment and winterisation assistance for refugee families and displaced persons in collective centers

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

December 2003 – January 2004 :: € 26.735

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Basic household equipment for 24 refugee families in Podgorica and winterization for 370 persons in 3 collective centers in Berane and Andrijevica…

Winterisation Assistance for displaced Persons and Refugees

:: PROJECT

Mon – 27  Winterisation Assistance for displaced Persons and Refugees

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

December 2003 – February 2004 :: € 142.834

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Winterisation assistance for 4.060 displaced persons and refugees in collective centers as well as for 20 women in the “Women’s Safe House” in Podgorica…

Completion of the Primary School in Sukuruc – Tuzi

:: PROJECT

Mon – 26 Completion of the primary school in Sukuruc – Tuzi

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

September 2003 :: € 60.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Basic school education is of utmost importance for the future of children as well as for the future of the country they are living in. This applies for developed countries such as Germany and the like – and even more for countries in transition with rampant economic and social problems. Montenegro, one of the two republics of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, is such a country – split in its desire for independence – where economic problems appear almost insurmountable. The years of war and international sanctions, arrival of refugees and displaced persons in large numbers, emigration of young and well educated people as well as the transition from the socialist to a market oriented economy and the resulting economic degradation have also had a negative impact on the educational system in Montenegro.

Public investment in educational facilities had practically come to a standstill. Urgent measures for the maintenance of existing infrastructure could not be carried out resulting in the degradation of this infrastructure. In recent years some schools were repaired thanks to the support of the international community, among other the German government within the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (HELP has itself repaired a number of schools in the Montenegrin towns of Kotor and Ulcinj which had agreed project partnerships with two German towns). Nether the less, the number of schools awaiting urgent renovation remains so large that to date it cannot be said when but the most urgent repairs can be carried out. However, as already indicated, a functioning educational system is extremely important in order to preserve a professional perspective for the youth of the country and generate the well educated labour force the country needs for its economic recovery.

Montenegro disposes of 212 schools; among these are 167 primary schools attended by 76.000 pupils and 31 secondary schools attended by 31.000 pupils. According to a UNICEF study carried out in December 2001 an estimated 7.9% of pupils has to attend classes in unfinished schools! The Montenegrin Ministry of Education reckons that up to 80% of schools need repairs of one kind or another. Against this background UNICEF advocates for international assistance for the funding of primary education.

National minorities have the right to be taught in their native languages. However, given the dire state of public funding and the large number of schools needing sanitation and further investment it is rather difficult for a minority school to be given priority for the allocation of public funds. Hence no surprise that no public funds were yet made available for the school in Sukuruc. This school, located within a number of villages inhabited by approximately 1.500 people, is attended exclusively by ethnic Albanian pupils. They come from the villages of Sukuruc, Vranj and Vuksanlekici. The villages form an administrative part of Tuzi, a small town on the periphery of Podgorica and bordering directly Albania.

The citizens of the said villages have started with their own means and the support of two American organisations to rebuild their school which until then consisted of two poorly equipped rooms. Under construction are now two more classrooms, a teacher’s room as well as sanitary installations. However, because of lack of funds all construction was halted already at the end of 2002.

HELP wanted to support the exemplary efforts of the citizens and has pledged to assist in the completion of the school in order to enhance the chances of the children for a better future. For this reason HELP had applied for funding from the German Foreign Ministry; in August 2003 HELP’s request was approved allowing HELP to initiate the continuation of works.

The most important works to be done are
• the provision of doors and windows
• floors and ceilings
• carpentry works
• painting
• installation of the heating system
• sanitary installations and
• electrical installations

A total of € 60.000 is available for the completion of the school until the end of December 2003.

Income-generating Activities for Refugees, displaced and socially-disadvantaged Persons

:: PROJECT

Mon – 24  Income-generating activities for refugees, displaced and socially-disadvantaged persons

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

May 2003 :: € 100.000

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Montenegro’s economy is for a number of reasons burdened by enormous problems. More than 40.000 people work in 350 loss-making state companies and 42.000 persons work in the inflated government sector. The total number of the workforce at the end of 1999 was 275.00; in October 2000 more than 80.000 persons were recorded as unemployed. The majority of the unemployed were women (60%). Some of the unemployed are at least partially problably engaged in the grey sector; however a study carried out in June 2000 (by OCHA) still puits the number of unemployed at 68.000. In view of the lack of economic progress one cannot assume a major improvement of of the situation since then.

Since the end of the war(s) in the Balkans and the return of the Kosovo-Albanians into the Kosovo some 14.000 refugees from Bosnia and Hercegowina and Croatia still live in Montenegro as well as 29.000 persons who have fled the Kosovo. Given the prevalent circumstances a return to Kosovo is not feasible. On ecan also assume that most of the refugees still living in Montenegro will never return to their places of origin. Therefore many of the displaced and refugees undertake efforts to integrate into the Montengrin society. The government of Montenegro also assumes that most of the displaced as well as the refugees will remain in the country.

A feasibility study carried out by HELP in January 2001 (Feasibility Study on Income Generating Activities for ECHO-Beneficiaries in Montenegro) has shown that work opportunities and income-generating activities are considered the most appropriate means to improve the socio-economic situation of refugees and displaced persons.

Between July 2001 and January 2002 HELP had implemented a pilot project for income generating activities; socially vulnerable persons, refugees and displaced persons received equipment (on average worth approx. € 800,-) which allowed them to make a living through their own work.

The results of this project were very encouraging. 256 persons had received productive means of all kind (fishing nets, sewing machines, various tools and the like); already at the end of 2001 85% of the beneficiaries had already realised an income, and 60% were making profit through their economic activities which they had started or extended through this programme. 62% of beneficiaries had a net gain under DM 300,- 36% between DM 300 and DM 400 and 5 % between DM 400 and DM 500 per month. Apart from the economic gains the improvement of the social status of the benficiary and the increased self-esteem are the outstanding results of the programme.

The biggest interest of beneficiaries was for investment in craft, followed by the services and agricultural sectors. Mainly living as subtenants or in collective centers beneficiaries choose activities that need no separate permanent locations. Hende, support for this kind of self-reliance activities does not present an obstacle toan eventual return of refugees and displaced persons (whatever kind of equipment was procurement could be taken back in case of return).

On 1 May 2003 HELP continued this programme with a new phase with financial support provided by the German Foreign Ministry as part of the German government’s assistance to the Stability Pact for South East Europe.

The objective of this programme is that people will take care of their own needs and become productive members of society.

Income-generating activities are all those activities with which beneficiaries can generate an income. These may be some kind of small repair shops in all kinds of crafts (metal work, carpentry, electricians) or tailoring, fishing, farming, produciton of food stuffs, drying herbs and so on…

It is the responsibility of the applicants to define the activity in which she/he wants to engage her/himself. The applicant must also identify the type of equipment that she/he needs to start this activity.

Assistance provided by HELP is exclusively in the form of equipment. There will be NO cash payments.

The assistance is provided as a grant worth on average € 800! HELP plans to support up to 85 beneficiaries.

Conditions:

Eligible are socially vulnerable persons who have the required skills to carry out the proposed activity and among this group those persons will be selected which propose sound business ideas. Preference will be given to persons with prior experience in the proposed activities.

Special preference will be given to female headed households with children (up to 14 years of age).

Beneficiaries have the following obligations:

1. repay 15% of grant in cash in one or two instalments
2. donate 10 hours of voluntary works for communal work (where feasible this social repayment may also be done in the form of a donation of items that the beneficiary has produced with the equipment provided by HELP).

Winterisation Assisstance for 2,000 Roma IDPs from Kosovo

:: PROJECT

Mon – 22 Winterisation Assisstance for 2,000 Roma IDPs from Kosovo

:: DONOR

German Foreign Ministry

:: REALISATION / BUDGET

October until December 2002 :: € 72.612

:: SHORT DESCRIPTION

Ever since the former Yugoslavia started to break up in the early 1990s which resulted in enormous movements of its population Montenegro had become a place of refuge and asylum for refugees and displaced persons. There were times that up to 20% of Montenegro’s population consisted of refugees and IDPs. For the smallest and poorest of Yugoslavias former republics this was a burden that it could not possibly shoulder on its own. Presently there are still 14.418 refugees from Bosnia and Hercegowina and Croatia in Montenegro as well as 29.132 persons who had fled from Kosovo. In addition to the 14.418 refugees there exist another 666 persons with the status of “double refugees”. These are Serbs who had first fled from Bosnia and Hercegowina and Croatia to Kosovo and who had to leave their first place of asylum after the retreat of the Yugoslav army from that province. In total there are now 43.820 refugees and IDPs in Montenegro which corresponds to 7.12% of its population. Given the present conditions in Kosovo return is not possible for the bulk of its displaced population.

The majority of the displaced persons now living in Montenegro arrived after the retreat of the Yugoslav army from the Kosovo between June and August 1999. The displaced live in roughly even parts in the North, Center and South of the country. The bulk of the displaced Roma population (67%) settled in the center, mainly in Podgorica. 32% of the displaced identify themselves as Montenegrins, 25% as Roma or Egyptians, approx. 22% as Serbs and 14 % as Moslems.

The displaced live predominantly in private accomodation which is a mixture of friends, relatives and rented housing. However, due to their more recent arrival in Montenegro, a larger proportion (compared with the refugee population) remains in collective centres. Apart from official collective centres there has been the creation of “unofficial” collective centres. Unofficial collective centres are often coastal resort apartment complexes owned by Serbian industries and businesses for their employees, which have been illegally occupied by the displaced persons. In view of the revived tourism pressure is mounting that the displaced persons vacate these former tourist resorts. An estimated 2.204 displaced persons live presently in 29 official collective centers whereas 1.049 displaced live in unrecognised “unofficial2 collective centres.

The most difficult living conditions is encountered by the displaced Roma population. In the immediate vicinity of Podgorica live some 340 families in simple barracks – right next to the municipal dump site! The Roma still living there are among the most needy of the displaced population in Montenegro. From the originally 4.000 inhabitants of the camp they are the ones who lack any alternatives. Given the difficult economic conditions in Montenegro there are hardly any chances of employment which would enable the Roma to cater for their own needs – especially as most of them are without sufficient school education (up to 80% of them are illiterate)!

For this reason HELP will support these persons as well as the 20 women and children who have sought refuge in Podgorica’s women safe house from domestic violence with basic winterisation assistance for the coming months. The financial assistance allocated by the German Foreign Ministry is sufficient to purchase firewood, fresh food items and hygienic products.