Eighteen regional projects, which will be implemented in the next 48 months with financial support from the European Union within its Civil Society Facility Partnership Programmes Support to Regional Thematic Networks, were presented to the wider public in Sarajevo today.
“We were acquainted with all 18 approved projects. 18 non-governmental organisations from across BiH participate in these projects, and in fact that is also the largest number of participating organisations from one country,” said the Task Manager for Civil Society projects at the European Union Delegation to BiH Dzemal Hodzic.
Mr. Hodzic stressed the importance of the non-governmental sector in the general development of democratic society. The sector represents an important factor in the reforms required for Bosnia and Herzegovina to realise its aspirations for EU membership, with its activities being highly complementary to the activities of the European Union Delegation to BiH and those of the EU Special Representative Office.
In addition to financial support, the European Union provides technical assistance to civil society development through the Regional project Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations (TACSO). The technical assistance provided by the TACSO Project Office in BiH was also presented at this event.
“TACSO project provides assistance to all projects which require expert assistance in relation to partnerships, human resources, procedures of the European Union, visibility of projects, procurement and most importantly, there are experts who can respond to the needs of people and organizations implementing projects, ” said TACSO BiH Resident Advisor Slavica Draskovic.
Through affirming the role of the non-governmental sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is envisaged that the role of civil society will develop so that it is able to be an active (and not only declarative) player and in all upcoming social and civic processes both in the country and the region.
