Technical Assistance to
Civil Society Organisations
Bosnia and Herzegovina Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TACSO BIH LOCAL ADVISORY GROUP (LAG)
Date: 10. 03.2015.
Place: Hotel Bosnia, Sarajevo
Present LAG members:
Mr. Midhat Dzemic, Directorate for European Integration
Mrs. Selma Sijercic, USAID
Mr. Goran Kucera, Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mr. Vladan Vasilic, Teledom Sekovici
Ms. Snezana Misic Mihajlovic, MDP Initiatives
Mr. Alija Remzo Baksic, BiH Association of Employers
Mr. Jasmin Jasarevic, PRONI Brcko
Mrs. Dobrila Mocevic, PRIME Communications
Mrs. Sanja Stanic, VICTORIA
Absent LAG members:
Mr. Dzemal Hodzic, the EU Delegation to BiH
Mr. Darko Vucenovic, Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of the RS
Mrs. Dragana Selmanagic, COOR
TACSO BH
Mrs. Slavica Draskovic, Residentni advisor
Ms. Deniz Sovtic, Officer for Administration and Finance
VESTA RC supported by TACSO
Mrs. Amra Seleskovic, Director of the Association VESTA
Mrs. Indira Prljaca, Development director of the Association VESTA
Mrs. Berin Bukva, VESTA RC Project coordinator
Meeting Agenda:
 Welcome and introduction of the meeting agenda by Deputy Chairman of the TACSO BIH LAG.
 Presentation of TACSO BIH key activities in 2015, and involvement of LAG members in the action
realization.
 Vesta RC supported by TASCO – Presentation of the results of the process of organizational
assessment and support activities of technical assistance to CSOs.
 Open discussion about the follow-up activities and the presentation of the priorities defined by the
CSOs through online questionnaires for future P2P events.
 Conclusions and closing remarks, by the Deputy Chairman of the TACSO LAG BH.
Ad.1.
The meeting was opened by the Deputy Chairman of the TACSO BH LAG, Mr. Vladan Vasilic, who welcomed
participants and introduced the agenda of the meeting. After welcoming remarks Mr. Vasilic kindly invited
Mrs. Draskovic to address the current state of the program and up-coming TACSO activities.
TACSO Bosnia and Herzegovina Office • Obala Kulina Bana 2 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 (0)33 834 717; + 387 (0) 33 834 726 • e-mail: info.ba@tacso.org
FCG SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Association for Civil Society Development (SMART)
International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC) • Partners Foundation for Local Development (FPDL) • Euclid Network
Technical Assistance to
Civil Society Organisations
Bosnia and Herzegovina Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Ad.2.
TACSO BH Resident advisor after the opening remarks, informed the members of the LAG, that she will in
her speech present key achievements and action undertaken in the previous period, as well as plans of
TACSO BH for the next period in 2015.
Within the institutional development of CSOs so far the following initiatives, networks, coalition and /or
platform of civil society organizations were supported; Citizens for Europe Network in organising the multisectoral workshop on "Progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards the European Union" and SECO ETE
within the workshop on mechanisms for sectoral consultations of civil society in the sectors of Energy,
Transport and the Environment, both held in December 2014, as well as the conference "Women with
disabilities global women's movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ organized in March 2015. Institutional
support in the period May-July 2015, will be provided too, for initiatives and networks; LAG Devetak and
Drina, Agreement Plus-CPCD and BH NGO Council.
At the level of organizational development and strategic positioning of the CSO TACSO BH will ensure the
support in capacity building of 4 (four) networks and coalitions in the preparation of the "Policy Brief" in
compliance with the missions of organizations, networks and coalitions, in the second half of April,
according the schedule presented in the working materials, distributed to members of the LAG.
Full set of support measures is accessible in TACSO BH program for the next period in the components
People to People (P2P) in the field of social entrepreneurship and is reflected in the following: the
organization of study visits to Croatia, Slovenia and Austria, planned in May 2015; preparation and
realization of the conference "Social entrepreneurship as incentive instrument for sustainability of
organizations", end of June 2015 and the development of e-catalogue targeting core issues of social
entrepreneurship to be produced till September 2015. As a final in a series of related activities „CSO Business forum", on the subject of corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship is planned in
November 2015.
Mrs. Draskovic pointed out that regular activities on promotion of CSO will be continued through issuing of
the newsletters, and provision of educational content through a bulletin dedicated to social
entrepreneurship. In this regard, representative of the TACSO BH LAG Mrs. Dobrila Mocevic, with her great
experience in the field of communications, will contribute to the preparation of thematic newsletters, as one
of the study visit participants.
Particularly significant activities of TACSO anticipate the process of monitoring of the "Guidelines of the
European Union for civil society in the enlargement countries 2014-2020". The actions in this respect will be
agreed upon during the regional TACSO conference to be held in Belgrade end of April, 2015, and will be
responsibilities of the selected Resource centres in the Region (VESTA RC in BiH), as instructed by Brussels.
Mrs. Draskovic ended her presentation by saying that these very intense activities foresee significant
participation and Vesta RC team in the process of realization.
Ad.3.
VESTA RC representative Mrs. Amra Seleskovic briefly presented the key activities of VESTA RC in the
previous period. Special emphasis was placed on the process of a comprehensive assessment of VESTA RC
organizational capacity that took place in the period December - February, according to the instructions and
the methodology developed by the Regional TACSO office in cooperation with the national TACSO offices.
TACSO Bosnia and Herzegovina Office • Obala Kulina Bana 2 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 (0)33 834 717; + 387 (0) 33 834 726 • e-mail: info.ba@tacso.org
FCG SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Association for Civil Society Development (SMART)
International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC) • Partners Foundation for Local Development (FPDL) • Euclid Network
Technical Assistance to
Civil Society Organisations
Bosnia and Herzegovina Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
The process of assessment was successfully finalized in February, significantly before the set deadline (end of
March 2015) and presented to TASCO RA and TACSO Team leader. VESTA RC assessment team prepared the
Capacity building plan as a follow up to the assessment process and introduced it as an integral part of the
activities to be implemented by the VESTA RC as requested. The first two activities foreseen within the
capacity building plan for the coming period refer to revision of the strategic plan of the Association VESTA,
which will as one of the core intervention of the organization incorporate the goals and activities of VESTA
RC supported by TASCO. The second activity relates to the strengthening of capacities in the field of
management and leadership of networks, which will ensure updated knowledge and skills of VESTA RC team,
but will also enable follow-up activities on the preparation and implementation of tailor made training for
the BH networks by the end of the year. As highlighted in the presentation of the Resident advisors in
accordance with the instructions given at the recent meeting in Brussels, Resource centres will take
responsibility for monitoring activities of the "Guidelines of the European Union for civil society in the
enlargement countries 2014-2020".
Mrs. Seleskovic highlighted too, that VESTA RC team has already begun to work together with TACSO BH on
the implementation of technical assistance in accordance with the jointly defined TACSO VESTA RC work
plan and will take part in number of the upcoming activities of TACSO program through the ensured TACSO
mentoring support. It was emphasized that VESTA RC has one full-time employed person as project
coordinator at the Sarajevo office and ensured presence of one of the senior experts in the office in Sarajevo
3 day a week. In addition support from the VESTA office in Tuzla for the activities that do not require the
presence in Sarajevo, are available. As agreed with the Resident advisor VESTA RC will take additional action
to strengthen the capacity of CSOs in different parts of the country, in accordance with the expressed needs
of CSOs during the Needs Assessment TACSO BH 2013-2015 and findings of the organizational assessment
process related to the recommendations given by external stakeholders interviewed.
Ad.4.
Before discussion was open, Resident advisor presented the results of the survey conducted via an online
questionnaire filled in by CSO and related to the topics of interest for the organisation of events P2P. The
frame of priorities was defined by the CSO, and will be the subject of further consultation and agreement
with TACSO BH LAG and the DEU BH. Mrs. Draskovic asked LAG members to provide their comments on the
priorities identified through on-line consultations.
Mrs. Sijercic first expressed interest in the upcoming study visit to good practices of social entrepreneurship
and sought clarification on how CSOs involved in the project "Sustainability of civil society" supported by
USAID, may apply for participation in the upcoming study visit. Mrs. Draskovic stressed that and open call is
about to be advertised and all those who meet the criteria are invited to apply.
Mrs. Sijercic also commented one of the P2P identified CSO priorities related to anti-corruption and stressed
its link to transparency in funding of CSOs from public sources and that P2P event in this course would be a
useful experience for CSOs in BIH.
Mr Dzemic in his discussion pointed out that TASCO must act in accordance with its objectives and mandate
and ensure that new series of P2P events correspond to the same. He strongly supported one of the
established priorities relating to cross-border initiatives and cooperation, in particular highlighting the
numerous initiatives that have already been implemented and in which CSOs can take part, such as the
Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, which set strategy provides a platform for participation of CSOs; ORF-Open
TACSO Bosnia and Herzegovina Office • Obala Kulina Bana 2 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 (0)33 834 717; + 387 (0) 33 834 726 • e-mail: info.ba@tacso.org
FCG SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Association for Civil Society Development (SMART)
International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC) • Partners Foundation for Local Development (FPDL) • Euclid Network
Technical Assistance to
Civil Society Organisations
Bosnia and Herzegovina Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Regional Fund, supported by GiZ, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia and
Bosnia and Herzegovina). All the presented strategies involve the use of available EU assistance.
Ad.5.
In the concluding speech, Mr. Vasilic suggested that the results of on line research on the framework
priorities for future events of P2P should be sent to LAG members, for the possible further comments.
Participants and organizers where thanked for the active participation and in consultation with TACSO BH
Resident advisor, provisional date for the next meeting of the TACSO BH Advisory Group was proposed for
the 24 of June 2015.
Sarajevo, 11.03. 2015
Minutes of meeting prepared by
Indira Prljaca, VESTA RC supported by TACSO
TACSO Bosnia and Herzegovina Office • Obala Kulina Bana 2 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 (0)33 834 717; + 387 (0) 33 834 726 • e-mail: info.ba@tacso.org
FCG SIPU International AB Sweden • Ecorys International • Association for Civil Society Development (SMART)
International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC) • Partners Foundation for Local Development (FPDL) • Euclid Network