The Swiss PRO program has announced two new public calls for which the Government of Switzerland will provide 435 thousand euros and thus support up to 30 projects to mitigate the impact of the corona crisis in local communities in Serbia.
Through these two calls, the Swiss government will increase the availability of social protection services for at least 1,000 users from vulnerable social groups, but also improve access to rights and basic needs for at least 300 citizens living in substandard Roma settlements, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) said.
“Up to 20 local governments will receive support for the implementation of social protection services aimed at mitigating the effects of Covid 19. The total value of this call is 312 euros, and the project will last from 10 to 12 months, with the possibility of partnership with the Center for Social Work,” it is said in a statement.
Also, support is intended for the establishment of a new standardized social protection service that is not currently provided.
They announce that project proposals based on a previously conducted needs assessment of vulnerable groups in terms of the impact of the consequences of Covid 19, as well as projects establishing inter-municipal cooperation and cross-sectoral approach, would be evaluated.
“The public call is open until tomorrow, and 96 cities and municipalities from Sumadija, western, eastern and southern Serbia have the right to participate, from the second, third and fourth development groups, which currently provide up to three social protection services in the local community. Another 10 local projects will be supported as part of a public call to support the response to the consequences of Covid 19 in substandard Roma settlements,” the statement said.
They point out that the total value of this call is 123 thousand euros, and the project will last from eight to ten months, and local governments have the right to apply with a mandatory partnership with civil society organizations, which can also apply independently.
The support is intended for better implementation of policies and practices of social inclusion of citizens living in substandard Roma settlements through improving the availability of health services and sanitation.
They emphasize support for children in education, vocational training for young people up to the age of 30, improvement of safety at work, support for recovery of living conditions or income generation, as well as raising awareness of Covid 19 and encouraging behavior change.
Also, civil society organizations that have at least two years of experience, especially in working to improve the status of the Roma national minority, it was explained in the statement, RTV reports.
