SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 5, 2006 – The World Bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina today organized a meeting with representatives of more than 30 NGOs and youth associations who have cooperated with the World Bank in various activities oriented towards development of civil society in the country. On this occasion, the World Bank signed contracts to distribute small grant awards to 13 local non-governmental organizations who won in this year’s Small Grants Program competition. Winning projects were selected among some 200 applications by a commission made of representatives of NGO, youth associations and the World Bank. Today’s meeting included representatives of these 13 NGOs, as well as representatives of 11 finalist civic organizations and companies that will represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Regional Development Marketplace program for job-creation grants in Belgrade later this month. The meeting also gathered representatives of media, as well as youth associations who will represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in the upcoming regional youth conference which will be organized by the World Bank in Belgrade. During the meeting participants discussed about the current situation and upcoming challenges for BH and its civil society. “Under these two programs, focused on development of local civil society and entrepreneurship, we have received over 500 project applications. Their quality and number testifies to the significant and continuous development of civil society and private sector in this country.” said the World Bank Country Manager in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dirk Reinermann, during the meeting. Created in 1983, the Small Grants Program is one of the few global programs of the World Bank that directly funds civil society organizations. The aim of this program, which is funded from the Development Grants Facility and administered through the Country Offices, is to strengthen the voice and influence of poor and marginalized groups in the development processes. This is the seventh consecutive year in which the World Bank awards these small grants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The total amount of grant funding available for Bosnia and Herzegovina for this year was US$ 34,000, and the main focus was on providing support to NGOs representing the most vulnerable groups, including youth, disabled, Roma. After careful evaluation of all applications, the Selection Committee – which included representatives of the NGO network ICVA, Youth Information Service, Youth Voices and the World Bank – decided to award grants to the following organizations: Alfa humanitarian organization Bihac – educational workshops for Roma women – 4680 KM Association of mothers and children with special needs “Radost zivota” Sarajevo – inclusion project – 3500 KM Association Svjetlo Sarajevo – educational workshops for youth with special needs – 2800 KM Association “Zena BiH”, Mostar – daycare program for elderly people – 4551 KM Center for promotion of European Standards CES Banja Luka – EU school – 4600KM International Forum Bosnia Sarajevo – student programs – 3500 KM NGO DOBRO Sarajevo – inclusion programs for blind people through reading and artifact production – 3500 KM Roma association “Euro Rom” Tuzla – Roma inclusion project – 4450 KM Student organization “Student” Tuzla – info service for youth – 4530 KM Via kult Sarajevo – kids film festival –5000 KM Women’s association “NADA” Prijedor – work with delinquent children – 4950 KM Youth Against AIDS Sarajevo – school for educators about HIV/AIDS protection and prevention – 4000 KM Youth organization Vlasenica – youth inclusion project – KM 3550
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