Help for people in Bosnia and Herzegovina | ASB Foreign Aid

Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a significant challenge in reducing unemployment, particularly among women and young people. ASB is taking action. In partnership with LIR Civil Society, we are integrating vulnerable people into the local labour market. Our approach is two-fold: business training and vocational training programmes, coupled with the provision of equipment. This is creating new companies and jobs in existing companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, we are strengthening cooperation between public, private and civil society actors through newly established municipal committees for socio-economic development.

Project title: Joining forces for jobs and stability: Support for vulnerable people in BIH through public-private-civil partnerships
Project region: 6 municipalities in the south-eastern and central regions of BIH
Project volume: 1,600,000 euros
Funding: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), ASB, municipalities in BIH
Duration: 2023 - 2026

Unfortunately, domestic violence is a widespread social problem in the Balkans. ASB supports shelters and women's refuges for victims of domestic violence by providing the necessary construction and refurbishment work, specialised training for staff and transnational exchanges. In this way, ASB contributes to regional cooperation and improved safety for victims of domestic violence in the Western Balkans.

Project title: United against domestic violence in the Western Balkans - Regional cooperation and support for shelters for victims of domestic violence
Project region: Western Balkans (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia)
Project volume: 577,000 euros
Funding: Federal Foreign Office and 11 project municipalities in Western Balkan countries
Duration: 2024

ASB helps to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations in BIH (15 grants for pilot projects in advocacy, social entrepreneurship, mentoring for 10 organisations, training for 60 members of the IRIS network in organisational planning, networking, fundraising, social enterprise...) and to improve dialogue between public and civil society actors.

Project title: Improving social inclusion by strengthening the IRIS network of civil society organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Project region: BiH
Project volume: EUR 544,823.00
Funding: European Commission
Duration: 2021 - 2023

ASB and its local partners have set up the IRIS network, the only network in the Western Balkans linking small local organisations and social service providers. ASB provides training for NGO representatives, mentors them and supports them financially. In this way, ASB is committed to the development of the communities and helps them with issues related to social policy and integration.

Project title: IRIS Network of Civil Society Organisations in South Eastern Europe (several project phases)
Project region: Western Balkans
Project volume: 822,000 euros (current phase); 3,620,000 euros (total)
Funding: European Commission
Duration: 2012 - 2026

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ASB supports public and civil society representatives in the social field to strengthen the social dimension of EU integration.

Project title: Social Dimension Initiative
Project region: 6 Western Balkan countries
Project volume: EUR 210,000.00
Funding: ASB
Duration: 2018-2022

ASB is providing immediate relief and strengthening long-term resilience against COVID-19 in BIH by providing 142 beds for isolation facilities to receive COVID-19 patients in 5 municipalities, 152 packs of the COVID treatment drug Tocilizmab for the Sarajevo State Hospital, 50. 000 surgical masks for the medical staff of the Sarajevo State Hospital, medical equipment and supplies for 5 public hospitals in Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Bihac, Mostar (2 hospitals), and medical equipment for 7 local health centres.

Project title: Medical equipment against the COVID-19 pandemic in the Western Balkans (various projects)
Project region: BiH
Project volume: EUR 324,000.00
Funding: Federal Foreign Office, Aktion-Deutschland-Hilft, German Embassy in BiH, ASB
Duration: 2020-2022

ASB is committed to helping the most vulnerable people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It supports over 20 public and private social service providers that help children, young people, women, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Project title: Better social services for vulnerable people in BiH
Project region: BiH
Project volume: EUR 520,000 (several phases)
Funding: Federal Foreign Office, local municipalities in BIH
Duration: 2022, 2023

448 vulnerable families and social service providers from 30 communities received greenhouses and agricultural training.

Project title: Socio-economic support for vulnerable families in 30 cities / municipalities in BiH (several projects)
Project region: BiH
Project volume: EUR 795,454.00
Funding: Federal Foreign Office, local municipalities in BiH
Duration: 2014 - 2021

Socially and economically disadvantaged, vulnerable households were provided with new homes and shelters by ASB following the 2014 floods, as well as support in agriculture, business start-ups and vocational training.

Project title: Reconstruction after the 2014 floods - housing and economic aid for vulnerable families
Project region: BiH
Project volume: EUR 6,786,945
Funding: European Commission, Federal Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, local municipalities
Duration: 2017 - 2021

Following the 2014 floods, ASB provided at least 6,000 people with purified drinking water for 15 days and distributed food/cleaning kits and beds directly to flood victims. It also helped 500 flood-affected families to prepare technical specifications for their homes.

Project title: Emergency aid after the 2014 floods in BiH
Project region: BiH
Project volume: EUR 680,715.00
Funding: European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office, ASB, UNDP
Duration: 2014 - 2016

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610 mine victims or their family members were able to improve their entrepreneurial skills through targeted training. 306 economically disadvantaged mine victims or their family members received grants for job creation.

Project title: Socio-economic empowerment of mine victims and their families
Project region: BIH
Project volume: EUR 1,550,000.00
Funding: European Commission, local municipalities in BIH
Duration: 2013 - 2015, 2018 - 2020

ASB supported 290 vulnerable Roma families with housing, social and economic integration through economic and social measures.

Project title: Supporting the socio-economic inclusion of the Roma population in BiH
Project region: BiH
Projektvolumen: 5.864.083,00EUR
Funding: European Commission, local municipalities in BIH
Duration: 2013 - 2017

10 civil society organisations received training and small grants to strengthen their advocacy and promotion of children's rights. The authorities were supported to engage in structured civil dialogue with civil society organisations at all levels, to promote human rights policies and to establish mechanisms to promote anti-discrimination issues.

Project title: Promotion and protection of the rights of vulnerable children
Project region: BiH
Project volume: 192.507,00EUR
Funding: European Commission
Duration: 2019 - 2020

Children in the municipalities of Donji Lapac and Srb (Gračac Municipality) in Croatia and Kulen Vakuf (Bihac Municipality) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the surrounding area will be helped through improved social services.

Project title: Support for civil society organisations to improve social cohesion in the border region of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Project region: BiH and Croatia
Project volume: 115.977,00EUR
Funding: European Commission
Duration: 2013 - 2014

Refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable families, as well as local communities, are supported through the reconstruction of infrastructure and the establishment of a sustainable waste management system.

Project title: Return and reconstruction
Project region: BiH
Project volume: EUR 1,300,000.00
Funding: European Commission, Sarajevo Canton
Duration: 2010 - 2014