EU-CSP Assistance Generates Further Humanitarian Assistance to Vulnerable Groups (03/11/2011)
The EU-Community Stabilisation Programme (CSP) is a good example of how EU assistance can generate further contributions to vulnerable groups through its beneficiaries’ in-kind contributions.
Recently, EU-CSP organized a donation of agriculture products to six vulnerable Roma families, who are UNHCR facilitated returnees to Gjilan/Gjnilane town. The donation was an in-kind repayment by an EU-CSP beneficiary, Mr. Tomislav Naskovic, who was supported by the EU Programme in his efforts to expand his agricultural business. From the village of Kmetovce/Kmetoc in the Municipality of Gjilan/Gjnilane, Mr. Naskovic is an experienced farmer who received a 400m2 greenhouse, water pump, and a tractor sprinkle. This assistance enabled him to expand the business, secure two employees and further create two new jobs. As a part of the agreement with EU-CSP, he repaid 5 percent of the total value of the project (5,000 EUR) through the in-kind donation. The EU-CSP team saw the opportunity to extend the in-kind donation to vulnerable groups and coordinated the efforts with local Municipal authorities in identifying the most vulnerable returnee families in Gjilan/Gjnilane.
In September 2010, these six Kosovo Roma families consisting of 45 individuals, returned to the Glama area of the Gjilan/Gnjilane town from Skopje, FYR of Macedonia. Prior to their return, in October 2009, the Municipal Assembly of Gjilan/Gnjilane approved land allocation for these families in the Glama area, located nearby the Roma neighbourhood “Abdullah Presheva”. The Ministry for Communities and Returns allocated funds for the construction of six houses while the Municipality of Gjilan/Gnjilane prepared the technical design of the houses. Although these families returned to their homeland, they faced a lot of existential problems.
Considering that most of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian returnees usually do not possess personal documents, some of them are still not enrolled in the scheme for social assistance and live in poverty. Taking into consideration the size of the families, these families were prioritized for in-kind repayment by the Municipality and EU-CSP. The donation of vegetables provided through EU -CSP will enable these families to prepare winter food and will cover their basic food needs.