Project Description

The project “COOPERATION FOR BETTER COMPETITIVENESS – SBK” implemented by the Local Employment Partnership of SBK/KSB (LPZ SBK) aims to improve the local support system to reduce unemployment and enhance activation in the labor market, focusing on hard-to-employ groups.

Project

Cooperation for better competitiveness – SBK

Financed by

  • Funds for the implementation of the project are provided under the call “European Union Support to Local Employment Partnerships – Phase II” (LEP II), financed by the European Union and implemented by the International Labour Organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ILO).

Location

  • Central Bosnia Canton
  • Municipalities of Vitez, Travnik, Novi Travnik, and Jajce.

Project implemented by

REZ Agency (Regional Development Agency for Central BiH Region) – Lead Partner

Partners

  • Employment Service of SBK/KSB,
  • Ministry of Economy of SBK/KSB,
  • University “Vitez” in Travnik,
  • Mixed Secondary Technical School Travnik,
  • Center for Youth Education CEM,
  • Municipality of Vitez,
  • Municipality of Novi Travnik,
  • Municipality of Jajce,
  • Municipality of Travnik,
  • GS-TMT d.o.o. Travnik,
  • A&F d.o.o. Jajce,
  • MAKS d.o.o. Vitez, and
  • NGO “Line of Life” Donji Vakuf.

Duration of the project

27 months – from 22.03.2022 to 20.06.2024.

Overall objective

The general objective of the project “COOPERATION FOR BETTER COMPETITIVENESS – SBK” is to integrate lifelong learning and entrepreneurial education policies with the goals of social, economic, and regional development, and employment policies, and the needs of employers in the SBK/KSB area.

Specific objectives

The specific objective is to reduce the number of unemployed individuals from hard-to-employ categories by expanding and improving the local support system and activating them in the labor market, with a special emphasis on the role of the Local Employment Partnership of Central Bosnia Canton/Canton of Central Bosnia.

The implementation of the project will:

  • Formalization of the LPZ at the cantonal level using positive practices from the LPZ Travnik with professional support from ILO;
  • Preparation and adoption of a gender-sensitive Human Resources Development Strategy 2022-2026 at the cantonal level;
  • Certification and accreditation of 2 new vocational training modules;
  • Implementation of at least two certified training programs for a minimum of 60 unemployed persons;
  • Employment of at least 35 unemployed persons in local companies after certified training and/or self-employment;
  • Building of entrepreneurial support capacities in 3 local communities and strengthening the capacity of 1 incubator;
  • Implementation of an entrepreneurial education program for at least 40 unemployed young people to realize business ideas;
  • Provision of financial and mentoring support for the launch of 12 new businesses by unemployed persons;
  • Continuous promotion of project activities and results.

The final beneficiaries of the project “COOPERATION FOR BETTER COMPETITIVENESS – SBK” are unemployed persons registered in the records of the Employment Services with equal representation of both genders, unemployed and inactive youth, and long-term unemployed women. The beneficiaries will be motivated to participate actively through motivational and entrepreneurial education, technical assistance, training, retraining, and financial support for establishing businesses through a start-up fund, as well as employment with known employers.

About EU4Business project

The project “COOPERATION FOR BETTER COMPETITIVENESS – SBK” implemented by the Local Employment Partnership of SBK/KSB (LPZ SBK) aimed to improve the local support system to reduce unemployment and enhance activation in the labor market, focusing on hard-to-employ groups.

The project “COOPERATION FOR BETTER COMPETITIVENESS – SBK” was implemented by the Local Employment Partnership of SBK/KSB (LPZ SBK), consisting of: Regional Economic Community “REZ” d.o.o., Employment Service of SBK/KSB, Ministry of Economy of SBK/KSB, University “Vitez”, Mixed Secondary Technical School Travnik, Center for Youth Education CEM, Municipality of Vitez, Municipality of Novi Travnik, Municipality of Jajce, Municipality of Travnik, GS-TMT d.o.o. Travnik, A&F d.o.o. Jajce, MAKS d.o.o. Vitez, and NGO “Line of Life” Donji Vakuf.

The Local Employment Partnership of SBK/KSB is one of 20 partnerships established in BiH under the project “European Union Support to Local Employment Partnerships – Phase II” (LEP II), funded by the European Union with 4 million euros and implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This project aims to contribute to improving employment in local communities and enhancing skills and employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups in the labor market through local employment partnerships.

For more information about the LEP II project, visit www.partnerstvo.ba and social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube).

Achieved Results

  • Two new vocational training modules were prepared and implemented, for caregivers (University Vitez) and CNC operators (Mixed Secondary Technical School Travnik – MSTŠ), approved by the Ministry of Education, Science, Youth, Culture, and Sports of SBK.
  • For the realization of the training of unemployed persons, the CNC cabinet in MSTŠ and the entrepreneurial infrastructure centers in Travnik and Novi Travnik were equipped.
  • More than 70 young unemployed persons actively participated through motivational and entrepreneurial education, technical assistance, training, and retraining, and received financial support for business establishment through a start-up fund and employment with known employers.
  • A total of 35 unemployed persons were employed after certified training (17) and self-employment (18).