NATO PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE
Trust Fund Project for Assistance to
Discharged Defence Personnel in the Republic of Serbia
Background Info
 |
| Locations of IOM-NTF/PfP offices |
Within the scope of Defence Sector Reform in Serbia, the Ministry of Defence and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have been implementing a Project for Assistance to Discharged Defence Personnel in the process of their reintegration to civilian life (IOM-NTF project).
This project aims at complementing the activities already implemented by national PRISMA Program (Program for Resettlement in the Serbian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces) increasing the opportunities of the target groups to successfully return to a civilian life. The project is designed for a period of 5 years, targeting 1,850 discharged defence personnel, categorized as ‘high risk’ by the Ministry of Defence of Serbia, as well as their families and dependencies during the first two-year phase, 1,250 during the third year, 932 for the fourth and 464 during the fifth year with a view to potentially enlarging the target group up to a total of 5,100 people by the end of the fifth year of activities.
The project is financed by eighteen donor countries through a NATO/PfP Trust Fund: Norway as the lead country, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, UK, Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, as well Switzerland as external donor.
Following up on a recommendation of the external the criteria for accessing the NTF assistance have been revised. According to the current eligibility criteria a former defence personnel from the whole territory of the Republic of Serbia dismissed since 1st January2007 and registered with PRISMA have been offered an opportunity to access the following types of financial assistance:
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Grants in the amount up to €1,500 that are available for generating self-employment opportunities in start-up businesses, salary support and financing courses; |
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Micro-loans with no interest in the amount up to €3,000 available for generating self-employment opportunities in existing businesses or start up businesses with 12 months repayment period (two months of grace period and 10 equal instalments). IN LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE EXIT STRATEGY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT CEASED ON 31 DECEMBER 2010. |
Four main types of activities are envisaged to be financed through the above mentioned financial assistance:
| Business Creation |
Any type of new business activity could be financed with a grant for an amount up to €1,500.
No cash is provided to the applicant (All payments are made by IOM directly to suppliers for goods or services).
Feasibility and sustainability check of the proposed business as well as evaluation of skills and expertise of the applicant are conducted before approving the application.
The NTF assistance needs to be combined with in-kind or in cash contributions for a value that is equal to the received NTF contribution (this practice is aimed at maximizing beneficiary ownership and commitment to his/her business endeavour).
Business grants can be combined with a loan that will provide the applicant with an additional €3,000 (maximum amount) |
| Business Expansion |
Any type of business expansion could be financed with a loan with an amount up to €3,000.
No cash is provided to the applicant (All payments are made by IOM directly to suppliers for goods or services).
Feasibility and sustainability check of the proposed business as well as evaluation of skills and expertise of the applicant are conducted before approving the application.
The NTF assistance needs to be combined with in-kind or in cash contributions for a value that is equal to the received NTF contribution (this practice is aimed at maximizing beneficiary ownership and commitment to his/her business endeavour). |
| Salary Support |
Salary support can be provided for employment in any type of business for an amount up to €1,500.
No cash is provided to the applicant (All payments are made by IOM directly to the employer in quarterly instalments).
Sustainability check of the proposed employment is conducted before approving the request. A contract for a minimum duration of 12 months is requested; proof of salary as well as taxes and contributions payment is also asked to the employer.
Salary support can be combined with a grant to be used to finance training courses (the total amount of the subsidy and the training cannot exceed the sum of €1,500).
ACCORDING TO THE EXIT STRATEGY AND THE NEED TO ENSURE THE ADEQUATE MONITORING OF THE GRANTS, THE SALARY SUPPORT ASSISTANCE WAS AVAILABLE TO PROJECT BENEFICIARIES ONLY UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER 2010. |
| Financing training/vocational courses that will increase employment opportunities |
Financial support can be provided for any type of training/vocational courses other than those already provided by PRISMA and up to an amount of €1,500.
No cash is provided to the applicant (All payments are made by IOM directly to the school/institution organizing the course).
The school/institution organizing the course is identified by the applicant.
Financing training/vocational courses can be combined with a grant to be used to finance salary support and/or business creation (the total amount of subsidy, training and business grant cannot exceed the sum of €1,500). |
IOM client advisors in the four Regional Resettlement Centres (RRCs) in Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad and Kraljevo are responsible to provide assistance and counselling to all project beneficiaries in the process of accessing the NTF assistance. Applications are prepared at the RCCs and include outline of the assistance required including business ideas, business plans and/or cash flows.
Approval of each application is determined by the Joint Review Panel consisted of experts from IOM and Ministry of Defence, according to the project criteria. Information about the approval/rejection of an application is given to the beneficiaries through the RRCs.
Contact details for PRISMA/IOM-NTF regional offices
Monday to Friday
9:00 - 17:00
Location |
Address |
Phone/Fax |
BELGRADE |
13 Kruska St. ground floor |
011/33-40-464 |
NIŠ |
Army Club, Sinđelićev trg bb (3rd floor) |
018/516-600 |
NOVI SAD |
4 Braće Jovandić St. (3rd floor) |
021/65-46-564 |
| KRALJEVO |
1 Vojvode Stepe St. |
036/322-128 |
E-mail for all offices: office.ntf@iom.int
Internet: www.iomntfserbia.org |
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