Czech Development Agency and Consul Šantrůček Satisfied with the Implementation of the Socio-Economic Inclusion Project in Brčko
The project “Socio-Economic Inclusion in the Brčko District of BiH,” funded by the Government of the Czech Republic through the Czech Development Agency and implemented by CARE International Balkans and the Development and Guarantee Fund of the Brčko District of BiH, was the focus of the Project Steering Committee meeting. The discussion covered the project’s implementation last year in terms of supporting the employment of marginalized groups in the District, as well as the action program for 2025.
The meeting was attended by members of the Project Team, as well as the Consul and Head of the Development Cooperation Department of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in BiH, Štěpán Šantrůček. Representatives of the Czech Development Agency joined the meeting online. The discussion focused on the results achieved in 2024, particularly in relation to the employment of marginalized groups, as well as plans for continuing the activities in 2025, including the opening of the first social enterprise in the District.
Representatives of the Czech Development Agency, Anna Dostalova and Zbynek Wojkowski, along with Ludmila Kucer from Czech CARE, expressed great interest in the details of the project implementation over the past year and did not hide their satisfaction with the activities carried out. Consul Štěpán Šantrůček shared the same opinion.
(Photo: SEI Center)
“I am pleased with what I heard from our hosts in Brčko regarding the implementation of the Socio-Economic Inclusion project in the Brčko District of BiH. A key part of the plan for this year is the establishment of the first social enterprise in the District, and I believe that through joint efforts, and with the full support of decision-makers in the District, we will achieve this goal,” said Šantrůček.
During the past year, support was provided to strengthen the NGO sector in Brčko, as well as to employ marginalized groups, including youth, women, persons with developmental disabilities, and members of the Roma minority. The project launched nine start-ups and employed a number of interns, as emphasized by Željko Novaković, entrepreneurship expert from the SEI Center.
(Photo: SEI Center)
“This year, alongside our maximum commitment to opening the social enterprise, we will also continue with other planned initiatives. This includes support for launching eleven start-ups and co-financing the employment of five new interns,” said Novaković.
Project Manager Branislav Tanasijević emphasized that besides implementing the planned projects this year, it is crucial to support the opening of a social enterprise aimed at those who are most socially excluded.
“I am confident that it is in the interest of all stakeholders to establish the future social enterprise on the best organizational and economic, i.e., sustainable, foundation, and I believe that all necessary prerequisites will be met in this regard,” Tanasijević pointed out.
The key conclusion of the meeting was the belief that following these detailed reports, the Government of the Czech Republic will give the green light by the end of the month for the continuation of this three-year project in the District, with a total value of 2.7 BAM.
(Photo: SEI Center)
