Belgrade – Branko Ruzic, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, and Arne Sannes Bjornstad, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Serbia, marked the commencement of public calls for funding the development of local infrastructure and the implementation of vocational training in accordance with local action plans for employment. The Kingdom of Norway, through the "Norway for You" project, allocated one million euros for the financing of these projects, while eligible to apply for the funds are 91 local self-governments in Serbia in the third and fourth category of development, which include the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja as well.   

The local self-governments will, through these calls, be able to apply for the Norwegian financial assistance to fund at least eight projects for improving the living conditions and for developing local infrastructure, as well as to provide the training for at least 250 beneficiaries from vulnerable groups, which would enable the employment of at least 100 people.

“We are grateful to Norway because it focused on the support to the local self-governments from the third and fourth categories of development and because it paid attention to their needs. I urge local self-governments to participate in the call for grants and to apply with their priority projects, "said Branko Ruzic, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government.

Detailed information on the calls and the application forms can be downloaded on  www.norveskazavas.org.rs

In accordance with the terms of the calls, the filled-in application forms and supporting documentation should be e-mailed to rsoc.applications@unops.org by December 20, 2018. 

Should you have any questions, please send your requests for clarifications to   rsoc.cfp.clarifications@unops.org by December 6, 2018, at the latest.

The public calls are posted on the project website www.norveskazavas.org.rs , where local self-governments can get all the information about all the details of the calls for grants.

"Serbia is developing rapidly, but there are also those who are legging behind. We will, through this project, help those who need help the most – the unemployed to find jobs, and local self-governments to improve their services, "said Arne Sannes Bjørnstad, the Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia.

In November 2018, the project "Norway for You" will issue a public call for increasing employment opportunities by supporting the establishment of new businesses, improving the productivity of the existing ones and creating new jobs. One of the priorities of the project is the analysis of the organization and functionality of the centers for social work and professional skills of the staff in five local self-governments. Based on the analysis, recommendations for the reorganization of these services will be made, which will provide backing to the Government of Serbia’s reform of the social welfare system in Serbia.   

Source: Norway for You and Coordination Body