MOSTAR: CARITAS SWITZERLAND INVESTS 250,000 SWISS FRANCIS IN FRAMEWORK OF FIRST PHASE OF PROJECT PROMOTING INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS THROUGH SYSTEMIC TRANSITION IN BIH – GROWTH

MOSTAR, NOVEMBER 8 (ONASA) – In Mostar, a partnership agreement signing ceremony was held between Caritas Switzerland and seven municipalities/cities from Herzegovina (Konjic, Jablanica, Prozor-Rama, Mostar, Stolac, Ljubinje and Trebinje).
Caritas Switzerland and the partner organization LiNK-Mostar Entrepreneurship Association are implementing a three-year project with a total value of 2 million Swiss francs.
Contracts that the director of Caritas Switzerland Mr. Daniel Bronkal signed with representatives of municipalities/cities, refer to partnership within the project “Promotion of inclusive development of rural areas through systemic transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina – RAST” and define principles and cooperation on inclusive development of rural areas through systemic changes.
Deputy Mayor of Trebinje Dražen Bošković emphasized that the implementation of this project will create new jobs through systemic development, which is of great importance for the development of rural areas with the aim of inclusively creating opportunities for the sustainability of households and creating jobs through systemic development.
Bronkal from Caritas Switzerland referred to the MSD (Market Systems Development) approach, where he pointed out that all municipalities and cities with financial and professional assistance will have the opportunity to implement the MSD approach in the sectors of tourism, rural tourism, food processing, packaging, marketing, handicrafts , old crafts, aromatic herbs, cultural and creative industries, renewable energy (solar energy) and recycling.
During the ceremony itself, he emphasized the importance of further regional inter-municipal cooperation, as an important segment in the implementation of the mentioned activities.
A special focus will be placed on determining the fundamental causes that limit the economic development of the local community and the general well-being, especially of women, young people and other vulnerable groups.
Within the first phase of project implementation, seven partner municipalities and cities for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina have the opportunity to, with the financial and professional support of Caritas Switzerland, implement a systemic approach to the development of local communities, contributing to greater inclusivity and employability at the local level.
“We expect that the implementation of the project will lead to the establishment of a coordination mechanism at the local level, which will lead to the improvement of public-private consultations, greater involvement of actors at the local level, and multiplying the effects on other local communities, said Alisa Gekić, executive director of LiNK Mostar.
The funds intended for municipalities and cities within this first phase amount to 250,000 Swiss francs.