The SWG is working on the preparation of a project proposal for implementation of  Area Based development approach in the following selected regions:

• Drina – Sava region (cross – border region between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia)
• Prespa region (cross – border region between Albania and Macedonia) and
• Shara region (cross – border region between Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo*)

The project preparation facility is focused on detailed analysis of the current situation and possibilities for development of the rural areas, as well as development of strategies and action plans for implementation of the Area Based development in the selected cross-border areas.

With this respect, a serial of meetings with interested stakeholders (representing the following sectors: business including agricultural economies and cooperatives, civil/NGO, local self-governments, regional development agencies, local development offices, cultural and environmental organizations, etc) will be organized in the following period.

The 1^st meeting for interested Stakeholders from the cross-border Drina-Sava region is foreseen to be conducted on 5^th of April (Thursday) in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia. The meeting will start at 11:00 and will take part in the Municipality of Sremska Mitrovica, Plenary room No. 4.

For participation in the work of the Stakeholders group from the Drina- Sava region and on the first Stakeholders meeting in Sremska Mitrovica as well as the meetings which will follow, please contact the responsible SWG consultant Predrag Markovic (predrag.markovic@hotmail.com, +381 60 30 20 031; +381 63 77 05 455).

Download: Program for the first meeting in Sremska Mitrovica (in Serbian language)

40 participants of the regional conference held in Dubrovnik, Croatia on March 15^th 2012: representatives of the Governments from South-Eastern European (SEE) countries, SEE regional experts on water and forestry, international development organizations and initiatives and other stakeholders, agreed on a Joint Statement which is addressing the key issues for which action is needed and provides recommendations for future steps about the Regional cooperation and networking in the forestry and water management sector and sustainable development in the river basins of the South-Eastern European countries.

The Joint Statement followed after the presentation of the results of the feasibility study assessment on the current situation and future opportunities for development of functional network and/or commission and the Panel discussion by the experts/participants (the feasibility study was carried out through the SWG GIZ Study Expert Fund (SEF) Project: “Strengthening of the regional cooperation and networking in the forestry and water management sector and sustainable development in the river basins of the South-Eastern European countries”).

The Conference was jointly organized by the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in SEE and the German International Cooperation (GIZ), commissioned by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

You can download the following documents:

Joint Statement of the SWG GIZ SEF Conference

Annex 1_Program

Annex 2_Presentation_SWG GIZ SEF Project Activities

Annex 3_Presentation_Feasibility Study

Annex 4_List of participants

Photo gallery

Mr. Sejad Herceg, president of the Union of Organic Producers from Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is handing over Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Boban Ilic, Secretary General of the SWG for

The 1st International Congress of organic farming and Eco-tourism „SARAJEVO ORGANIC 2012“ was organized by the Union of the Associations of Organic Producers from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a part of the 1st International Fair for Organic production and Eco-tourism “SARAJEVO ORGANIC 2012”.
During the first day of the Congress, Mr. Boban Ilic, Secretary General of the SWG, presented the possibility for future support to the Organic movement in the region by establishment and management of a Working Group on organic production in SEE.

The idea was welcomed by the participants and the foundations of the future Expert Advisory Group on organic production in SEE were laid down during the second Congress day with nomination of 3 delegates from BON (Balkan Organic Network) who will be part of this Group!

Presentation Boban Ilic_1st Meeting SWG EAG_Organic Production_Sarajevo

Programme-1st International Congress Organic_Sarajevo 2012__en

The 1^st Working meeting for representatives of the Paying Agencies from SEE countries took part in Skopje under the auspices of the Agency for Financial Support of the Agriculture and Rural Development (Paying Agency) of the Republic of Macedonia and supported by the SWG Head Office/Secretariat.

Representatives of the existing and future Paying Agencies, as well as representatives of structures for preparation of creation of Paying Agencies, i.e. departments of the Ministries of Agriculture dealing with financial matters in regards to rural payments, participated at the one day meeting and had fruitful discussion which resulted with proposal for conclusions for the future of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for Rural Development (IPARD post -2013) and IPA Framework Regulation. At the same time, important issues concerning the implementation were raised up.

First working meeting PA SEE-Conclusions

Presentations from the meeting

First working meeting PA SEE-Program

The objective of the second working meeting of the Managing Authorities for IPARD from the SEE countries which took part in Skopje and was hosted by the Macedonian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy was “Preparation of a common position and clarification of the needs of Managing Authorities from the region in terms of the new IPARD post-2013”.

Macedonian Minister Ljupco Dimovski joined the participants during the second working day

The Conclusions from the meeting will be submitted for consideration to the EC in Brussels.

You can see and download the following documents:

Second IPARD MA SEE meeting-Conclusions

Second IPARD MA SEE meeting-Program

Presentations_280212SkopjeMacedonia

Gallery Here

Aleksandar Damjanovic SWG on the top of America

SWG RRD flag reached the top of America – incredible moment of a joy for all SWG friends and colleagues!
Mr. Aleksandar Damjanovic, National Forestry expert from Serbia supported SWG even on the highest top of South America’s Andes – Aconcagua at 6962 m.
As Mr. Boban Ilic, Secretary General stated: “Showing honor and deep respect for Aleksandar Damjanovic, the SWG Secretariat likes to share this news with all SWG friends and supporters reminding them that the SWG is still moving and, with the support of good friends and professionals can reach things which for most of us are unreachable!”

The SWG Head Office/ Secretariat for its needs is searching for two (2) Project Assistants for the tasks listed in the Terms of Reference.
Candidates, who fulfill the criteria indicated in the Terms of Reference (ToR), are encouraged to submit their applications.

Along with the application, candidates are kindly asked to submit detailed CV and Letter of interest with salary expectations on the following e-mail address: swgsecretariat@swg-seerural.org

The deadline for submission of the applications is March 2nd, 2012, 16:00 hours Central European Time.

The selection of the applicants will be done taking into consideration the professional competence and experiences.

Sincerely,

SWG Head Office/ Secretariat

Terms of Reference_Project Assistant – call is closed

Area Based Development (ABD) is considered to be an innovative approach enabling breakthrough in sustainable growth of rural cross-border regions.

ABD is perceived as suitable for targeting defined geographical areas in cross-border regions in the Western Balkans, characterized by specific complex development problems. The approach as its core principles uses a methodology, which is inclusive, participatory, and flexible and ensures integration and coherence.

It is suitable in particular for areas where one or several of the following development situations are present: poverty gap, post-natural or human disasters, post-conflict environment and exclusion issues.

The ABD approach was recently initiated in the region as part of the EU-financed (DG AGRI) study, carried out in close collaboration with SWG. The study titled “Facilitating an area-based development approach in rural cross-border areas of the Western Balkans” was carried out by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre – IPTS. It covered the Drina-Tara Region – a cross-border area between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia – and, as part of the study, developed a methodology for designing and applying the ABD approach to cross-border regions.

The SWG Assembly has, beside the Drina – Tara region, selected three cross – border regions in the Western Balkans to be involved in the process of Area Based Development.

The selected regions are as follows:

• Drina – Sava region (cross – border region between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia)
• Prespa region (cross – border region between Albania and Macedonia) and
• Shara (cross – border region between Macedonia and Kosvo (UNSCR 1244)).

Project Aim and Outputs

Aim

• The main aim of the Project Preparation Facility is to prepare a project proposal for implementation of ABD in the above mentioned cross-border regions of the Western Balkans.

Output

• The output will be a project fiche and technical annexes related to the selected cross-border regions (in-depth analyses and development Strategies and Action Plans for each of the regions), which would provide a basis for the multi-annual ABD project in the selected regions of Western Balkan countries.

The project started in September 2011 and its duration is foreseen till May 2012.

Minister Dimovski addressing the Forum on behalf of the SWG RRD

“Europe should use the opportunity for cooperation and investments in the SEE region” – this was the key message from the GFFA Regional panel on SEE sent to the participants by the Macedonian Minister for Agriculture Ljupco Dimnovski, the actual chairman of the SWG RRD.

During the panel discussion entitled “Modernization partnership South Eastern Europe – increasing efficiency, protecting resources – Perspectives of cooperation between Germany and the South Eastern European countries”, Dimovski also stressed the fact that the SEE offers new market possibilities for the EU especially in relation to direct investments supported by the improved business environment stating the following:

“The region is “hungry” for investments which will modernize the agricultural production. Our countries have understood the importance and give priority to the EU integration processes. We have intensified the cooperation in order to move forward in accordance with the EU agenda.
All SEE countries made remarkable progress in their political, social and economic sectors. Regional cooperation is one of our priority goals and we committed to its strengthening by promoting trade, market-oriented economy and improvement of the infrastructure, environment, research technology and development. These changes have moved the region towards efficient modernization of the agricultural sector and the overall economy.”

High ranking representatives from Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia and important business representatives from Germany discussed on concrete strategies which need to be implemented in order to intensify the future cooperation.
Except the significance of Foreign Direct investments for modernization and intensification of the agriculture (in particularly in Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia), the plenum concluded that the present organic farming and organic food processing in the Southeast European region will be capable of covering the European Union’s constantly growing demand for organic products!

The panel discussion was attend by high ranking representatives of politics and economy from Germany and the region (as well as the SWG delegates) and took place at the international Congress Centrum in Berlin on January 19th as part of the world largest consumers’ show – the International Green Week Fair.
It was organized by the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations as part of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture – GFFA in co-operation with the SWG RRD.

The SWG activities and services were also promoted during the International Green Week fair within the one day event “Cooperation Market”.

Photo gallery

The SWG Head Office/ Secretariat for the needs of the SWG GIZ ORF project:”Improving the competitiveness of companies and organizations from South-Eastern Europe in the agricultural and food sector through the implementation of food quality standards and increased regional networking” is searching for two (2) consultants for the tasks listed in the Terms of References.

Experts who fulfill the criteria indicated in the Terms of References (ToRs), are encouraged to submit their offers.

Along with the financial offer, the experts are kindly asked to submit detailed CV on the following e-mail address: swgsecretariat@swg-seerural.org

The deadline for submission of the offers is January 17th 2012, 16:00 hours Central European Time.

The selection of the experts will be done taking into consideration the professional competence and experiences of the expert, as well as the financial offer.

Sincerely,

SWG Head Office/ Secretariat

Download Terms of Reference for consultant for implementation of requirements for food safety and quality standards in Bosnia and Herzegovina – call is closed

Download Terms of Reference for consultant for implementation of requirements for food safety standards in selected green markets in Serbia – call is closed