SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 19, 2010 – The World Bank office in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) awarded grants to seven local non-governmental organizations as a part of the annual Civil Society Fund competition. The theme of the program this year was to promote employability of persons with disabilities, and raise awareness about the necessity of reform of the social protection system.
Out of 38 applications received this year, proposals by the following organizations stood out for innovation in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable categories:
“SUMERO” Sarajevo – Disability assessment system;
Landmine Survivors Initiative “LSI” Tuzla – Socially responsible employment of the disabled;
Women Association “NADA” Prijedor – Vocational training and employment for re-socialization of drug addicts;
Association “PROI” Sarajevo - Support to socially vulnerable children through scholarship program;
Women Association “IMPULS” Bijeljina – Entrepreneurship among the disabled;
Humanitarian Organization “PARTNER” Banja Luka – Overcoming stereotypes about the disabled through a theatre performance;
Association of Blind and Partially Sighted Kozarska Dubica – Computer training using a speech software.
The total amount of grant funding awarded to these seven organizations is US$ 35,000.
This was the eleventh consecutive year in which the World Bank awards small grants to civil society organizations in BH to strengthen civic engagement in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable categories of population.
“This year, our goal was to promote employability of the disabled and continue the public debate about the reform of the social protection system to meet the needs of the most vulnerable categories including the disabled. We are confident that this goal will be achieved through partnership with BH authorities and domestic NGOs with proven track record in addressing the needs of persons with disabilities.” stated Marco Mantovanelli – World Bank Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
