InTER’s results in 2013

InTER’s results in 2013:

The most significant result is the hiring of three researchers this year (Vesela Ćurković, PhD, Irena Fiket, PhD and Jelena Šapić) and five project officers (Radojko Vlašković, Veroljub Galjak, Dragiša Kostić, Jovana Obradović and Željko Dobrić). We have also provided an opportunity for an intern (Enes Dinić). This year, InTER moved in the new premises in Vlajkovićeva 29 in Belgrade.

This year, we started with implementation of two EU projects: OUTDOOR In – Tourism Development in Zubin Potok Municipality, financed with EURED 3 grant scheme in Kosovo, and implemented in cooperation with the Municipality of Zubin Potok and NGO NVO KRC and Sustainable Cross-border Development of Foča and Plužine Municipalities, financed within the second call of EU CBC BiH-MNE, and implemented in cooperation with Foča (BiH) and Plužine (MNE) Municipalities.

In the course of this year, we also initiated the work on development of the Hungary – Serbia Cross-Border Cooperation Program for the period 2014-2020, and we are also a part of the consortium for the On-going programme evaluation of the Hungary - Serbia IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013.

We started the year with the evaluation of economic sector of Caritas Luxembourg Program for South Serbia, and later during the year we conducted evaluations of the Education sector and Housing sector within the same program. In cooperation with CEED from Montenegro we carried out the evaluation of the project “Nature for Future” financed within EU CBC CRO-MNE program, and implemented by the public company JP “NP Crne Gore”. In consortium with MAXIMA Consulting from Belgrade we did the Evaluation of Effectiveness and Efficiency of Development Assistance to the Republic of Serbia per Sector, which is a unique document in the field of independent evaluation of effects of development assistance in the Western Balkans countries. InTER also entered the international market through the evaluation of the project dealing with edible oils value chain enhancement in Ethiopia. Between July and December we worked on the assessment of the quality of proposals submitted within the 3rd and 4th PAR PROFID calls for public administration institutions. Within the cooperation with Ulof Palme Centre from Stockholm the new system for Monitoring and Evaluation was developed, as well as two monitoring reports and a mid-term evaluation of OPC Program for Serbia 2012-2014. This year, the Development Strategy of Zubin Potok Municipality was also developed, with coordination from InTER within the Entrepreneurship Initiative Support project financed by EU.

In June 2013, InTER organized a specialized seminar for operational and management structured of the EU Cross-border Cooperation Program between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia which deals with problems in the assessment of project proposals and development of instructions for assessors in accordance with PRAG rules for 2013, and which will be an integral part of the application package within the Program. We also organized two seminars on preparation of IPA projects with special emphasis on IPA CBC calls, of which the first seminar was organized for students of the University Sinergija in Bijeljina, and the second for students of the University Singidunum in Belgrade. InTER participated in the workshop “Policy Research, Technology and Advocacy Converge” organized in Prague by OSF Think Tank Fund, as well as in the 5-day training on Evaluation in Research, Technology and Innovation, organized in Podgorica by EVAL-INNO program. InTER also supported the initiative for establishment of the network of evaluators in the Western Balkans.

This year, we also implemented several researches. Within the SEENET program, we published a research on experiences and possibilities for cooperation in the field of local development in Vojvodina. Within the TRAIN ALUMNI program we did a research on implementation of the agreements on bilateral trade and free movement signed between Priština and Belgrade. This research was conducted together with GLPS from Priština, and research results were presented to the EU officials in Brussels, as well as the key stakeholders in Serbia. We also did a research on development aid of the Republic of Slovakia to Serbia, presented on the conference “10 Years of SlovakAid” in Bratislava. InTER also started the research on crowded outdoor cafes in Belgrade during the working hours, and the results will be published in January 2014. Within the support from OSF TTF Junior Professional Program, InTER started the research on the impact of donor assistance on local development. This research was started in December 2013, and the results will be published during the summer 2014.

InTER also published four issues of InTER Newsletter, containing eight papers on different topics. Next issue is expected in January 2014. Two press releases were also published.

We are using this opportunity to thank you for cooperation, to wish happy holidays and plenty of success in the following year.

InTER