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A CzDA project in Bosnia and Herzegovina will help develop and strengthen the mountain rescue service capacity

Even though over ¾ of Bosnia and Herzegovina is mountainous (with minor exceptions for private ski resorts), its mountain rescue service has no professional workers. It is completely volunteer-based and relies for the funding it needs on sponsors, local government, and civil protection units. There is no central telephone number for the mountain rescue service, nor is there any guaranteed nonstop emergency service. Therefore, this year and with assistance from the CzDA, a three-year project has been launched to improve the cooperation between the rescuers in the different mountain areas, to increase their capacities, to assist with equipment, and to transfer experience from the operation of the Mountain Rescue Service in the Czech Republic.

The economic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina means that many roads are in poor condition, and a significant number of locations in the mountains are difficult to access. This makes saving people’s lives very much more difficult if they get into difficulties. Due to the problems with access and subsequent movement in the mountains, specialised mountain rescue services participate in rescues in these hard-to-reach areas, yet “only” operate on a volunteer basis. Meanwhile, their importance cannot be underestimated. “The mountain rescue system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is completely different to its counterpart in the Czech Republic. The main difference is that their mountain rescue service is not centralised, and thus not state-funded. It comprises approximately ten mountain rescue service unions covering around forty independent rescue associations,” says the project guarantor and director of the Mountain Rescue Service, Patrik Jakl.

In the second half of October, therefore, a four-member team from the Czech Mountain Rescue Service launched a project with a five-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, during which they familiarised themselves with the local mountain rescue system and with the needs of the local “mountain servants”. The actual trip was preceded by several months of preparations. The Mountain Rescue Service team commenced their first “mission” in Sarajevo, then travelled across the Vlašič massif, Blidinje Nature Park, and the Medjugorje pilgrimage site , finishing after five days in Mostar, the location of the headquarters of the largest mountain rescue service association Savez Gorskih Službi Spašavanja u BiH (GSSUBIH). During the trip, they had meetings with many rescue associations, at the ministry in Sarajevo, participated in a course for new rescuers, saw a night simulation of a search operation, a cynology demonstration, an exercise for the rescue of an injured person on a steep slope, and met with representatives of the water rescue service.

“The technical equipment in Bosnia is of a lower standard than we are used to in the Czech Republic. Also, the decentralisation means that every association has different equipment and different capabilities. Improving the equipment situation is part of the project,” says project manager Kateřina Mejsnarová. The project plan for the coming months has already been finalised. It will include a total of three training sessions for methodologists from Bosnia and Herzegovina. One winter training in the Czech Republic, and one winter training and one summer training in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, they will jointly prepare a new Bosnian rescue “textbook”. “The first training for methodologists from Bosnia and Herzegovina will most likely take place in February 2021. The plan includes the purchase of the equipment most needed now by rescuers in the Balkans,” said Martin Kocum, another member of the team and a Mountain Rescue Service methodologist from Šumava. in In the first phase, the project budget will be used to purchase GPS units, stretchers, and equipment for winter rescue operations.

A partner group made up of representatives of the Mountain Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and representatives of the Association of Mountain Rescue Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be established for the implementation of the project. Each of these institutions will nominate into a tightknit working group at least one representative to participate in all project meetings and the follow-up communication. The CzDA will supervise the formation of this working group and its plan of activities. “The final impact of the project will be very extensive. We consider the main final beneficiaries to be the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina living in and around the mountains, in hard-to-reach areas, and in remote plains. As over ¾ of the country is mountainous, this means there will be a large number of beneficiaries. The final beneficiaries will also include tourists from the Balkans and from the Czech Republic, who go into the mountains for recreation, whether this means alpine tourism or winter sports,” says Ivana Pejič Povolná of the CzDA, who is in charge of projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As tourist numbers are rising from year to year, the positive impact of this project will continue to grow. Around 5 000 Czech tourists head to Bosnia and Herzegovina every year, and tourism in this country is generally showing a rising trend. This growth in tourism and the trend towards adrenaline and adventure sports in general is resulting in increasing numbers of accidents, which in itself highlights the importance of this contribution towards improving the capacities of the mountain rescue service in this country and support for preventive measures for safe movement in the mountains.

CzechAid Public Contract – „Project Manager for Delegated Cooperation Project in Moldova “Improvement of medico-social care services for people with long-term care needs on both sides of the Nistru River””

The Czech Development Agency (CzechAid) announces, in accordance with Czech Government Resolution of 26 August 2019 on Czech Development Cooperation in 2020, a Small-Scale Public Contract for services „Project Manager for Delegated Cooperation Project in Moldova “Improvement of medico-social care services for people with long-term care needs on both sides of the Nistru River”.

The subject of the public contract is to ensure the services of the Project Manager for Delegated Cooperation Project in Moldova called “Improvement of medico-social care services for people with long-term care needs on both sides of the Nistru River”.

The Project Manager will be responsible for the following tasks within the project:

The Project Manager will coordinate and monitor the whole project.
The Project Manager will monitor implementation of activities and outputs of the grant recipient in accordance with the project document and European Commission rules.
The Project Manager will ensure close cooperation with GIZ and Delegation of the European Union (DEU) in Moldova and other relevant stakeholders.
The Project Manager will report of ongoing project results to the CzechAid representative (once per week).
The Project Manager will prepare reports for GIZ and DEU according to the Partnership Agreement and DEU rules.
The Project Manager will represent the Czech Republic in key negotiations with DEU, GIZ and other relevant actors in Moldova in the project implementation.
The Project Manager will ensure cooperation in identifying problems and risks associated with the implementation of the project and proposing modifications to the project.
The Project Manager will participate in negotiations on other delegated cooperation projects in Moldova.
The subject of the public contract is further specified in Annex no. 1 of the Tender Documentation.

Qualification Criteria

Basic qualification
- A copy of extract from the Criminal Register.
- A solemn declaration of the tenderer (in respect of no outstanding tax arrears, no outstanding arrears in respect of payments and penalties of public health insurance, no outstanding arrears in respect of payments and penalties of social security contributions and contribution to the national employment policy).
- A copy of extract from the Commercial Register (or a solemn declaration in respect of not being in liquidation and insolvency).
Technical qualification
- A professional experience in the area of preparation and implementation of the project(s) co-financed by DEU and/or other international donors as a project manager (or at a similar position) for at least 5 years.
- A professional experience in the area of implementation of the project(s) in social sector and/or equivalent professional experience in social sector (e.g. from the ministry) for at least 5 years.
- A knowledge of English (minimum C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
- A knowledge of Romanian (minimum C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
- A knowledge of Russian (minimum C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
- Proof of evidence: A structured professional CV

The bids of the tenderers who meet the qualification criteria will be subject of evaluation.

Evaluation criteria

Bid price in CZK, including VAT (30 points)
Abilities and qualities of the Project Manager – online interview (60 points)
Professional experience in team management (10 points)

The public contract will be implemented based on the procurement conditions defined in the Tender Documentation and its Annexes. The Tender Documentation and Annexes can be downloaded here and here.

Only the Tender Documentation together with all Annexes contain all relevant information for Bid preparation.

The maximum value of the public contract is: CZK 1,394,340.00 including VAT (i.e. EUR 51,000.00). The maximum value of the monthly remuneration is CZK 54,680.00 including VAT (i.e. EUR 2,000.00).

Bids shall be submitted electronically by e-mail at the e-mail address of the CzechAid: tender@czechaid.cz. The time deadline is set to November 4, 2020 until 9 am of CET (Central European Time, UTC+1) which is 10 am in of EET (Eastern European Time, UTC+2).

CzDA project helping develop an integrated approach to farming in Zambia

The majority of Zambian farmers are small or medium-sized. The main problems they face are a lack of knowledge about modern methods and insufficient business skills. Productivity is thus lower, particularly in rural areas, while incomes do not allow the necessary investments to be made and often do not even cover proper nutrition for the family. A CzDA project implemented by a team from Mendel University in Brno is therefore focusing on strengthening business skills and increasing incomes, and thereby the living standards of small and medium-sized farmers in Western Province. Around 8 000 tree seedlings have been planted in four areas of Zambia as part of the second phase of the project.

As a consequence of its difficult geographical and climatic conditions as well as the ongoing consequences of the long-term detrimental and economic isolation policy, Western Province is one of the poorest provinces in Zambia. Although there is potential for agriculture in the floodplain, the lack of a private sector and manufacturing industry means that products are sold in a raw, unprocessed state without any added value.

The most commonly produced crops in Western Province include maize, cassava, and millet. There is also a potential for cultivating rice, mangos, and cashew nuts. Yet crop production is negatively impacted primarily by the less fertile sandy soil and the regular flooding of the fields in the lowlands around the Zambezi River. The province also lacks processing facilities that would add value to the harvest, resulting in higher selling prices, and thus incomes, for the farmers.

“The significant majority of farmers are small-scale ones, for whom agriculture is the sole livelihood. The main problems these farmers face include insufficient knowledge of proper agricultural practices, a lack of quality inputs, poor land management, and adherence to ineffective traditional practices. These problems taken together mean that the productivity of small farmers is low, which impacts their incomes and nourishment for their families. Increasing production by improving existing agricultural practices, increasing the quality of inputs, and additional education is a way to raise the living standards of both small independent farmers and those working together in agricultural cooperatives,” says project manager Martin Danzer from Mendel University in Brno.

The project entitled Developing an Integrated Approach to Farming in Western Province in Zambia has been running since 2018, and is currently in its second stage, which should last until the end of next year. The project includes the strengthening of farmers’ capacity to effectively manage their animal and plant production and its practical application on farms, as well as a demonstration and breeding farm that will give farmers a source of accessible quality breeds and seed stock. Other important components of the project include afforestation and anti-erosion measures to improve the sustainability of the agricultural activities developed in the region, as well as the use of a holistic management approach to the land and livestock to promote the regeneration of degraded areas.

The project’s goal is to increase agricultural production and productivity by small and medium-sized farmers through the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices. “The project contributes towards this goal through the intensification and diversification of agricultural production and the introduction of an integrated farming approach with the interconnection of plant and animal production. All with the maximum possible use of farm resources while taking into account the available natural resources and also the social aspects of rural development. The project’s activities are already leading to improved access, in particular for small and medium-sized farmers, to production resources and agricultural inputs,” says Barbora Žáčková of the Czech Development Agency, adding that the approach to increasing agricultural productivity will take into account local natural resources and possible climate change impacts.

The project is being implemented by a team from Mendel University in Brno, which already has long-term experience with development projects in Zambia. The project promotes partnerships and mutual cooperation between the public and private sectors, and between farmers and other players in the production, processing and retail chain, agri-business, and financing and advisory services. Important project partners primarily include the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, the Copperbelt University in Zambia, and the Grass Roots Trust non-profit organisation. The project fully conforms to the priority area of foreign development cooperation of the Czech Republic, in accordance with which it focuses on improving agricultural productivity and diversity, and the stabilisation and economic prosperity of the rural population.

The European Union, in partnership with GIZ and CzDA, provided 2 pulmonary ventilators for a hospital in the Transnistrian region, in the context of support to the Republic of Moldova for COVID-19 response

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020, the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova and the World Health Organization launched an extensive awareness-raising campaign aimed at consolidating the actions of development partners to support the health sector in its efforts to diminish the spread of new coronavirus in the Republic of Moldova.

In response to this call, on behalf and with the financial support of the European Union and Government of Germany, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in cooperation with the Czech Development Agency (CzDA) have organised the procurement of 2 pulmonary ventilation devices (PV) HAMILTON C1, manufactured by Hamilton Medical in Switzerland and valued at approx. 30 thousand Euros (600 000 lei).

The devices are of the latest generation with proven efficiency in COVID-19 therapy, intended as a treatment for adults and children, due to the non-invasive and humidified lung ventilation regimes. The compact design assures maximum flexibility in various situations of use, whether long-term care, intensive care, emergency, or mobile respiratory care providing a simultaneous service capacity for two patients.

On September 23, at the GIZ office in Chisinau, the equipment was handed over to the NGO „Association for Health and Sports“, the representative of the “Health Platform“ under the General EU Confidence Building Measures Programme, which has randomly applied to various development partners in the Republic of Moldova for possible aid in combating the pandemic in the Transnistrian region.

On September 25, the event of donation and installation took place in the intensive care unit of Slobozia hospital where 236 patients with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized. The installation will be carried out by the representative of Global Biomarketing Group – the representative provider in Moldova of the Swiss manufacturer. In the coming days, two training sessions for device operators are planned, so that the devices are integrated into the treatment process as soon as possible.

Disclaimer:

The content of this text is the sole responsibility of the Czech Development Agency and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

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The selection procedure: Consultant for Greening Agriculture Support Schemes

The European Union Support to Agriculture Competitiveness and Rural Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU4Agri) is a 4-year project (2020-2023) primarily funded by the European Union (EU) under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). Worth EUR 20 million, the project is implemented jointly by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Czech Development Agency (CzDA). In line with the Strategic Plan for Rural Development of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018-2021) – Framework Document, the project objective is to increase the competitiveness of agricultural production and rural jobs and services. In this context, the project will focus on raising investments in the agri-food sector and increasing the knowledge and skill levels of agricultural producers and other participants in the value chain through the expanded provision of advisory services, as well as on improving economic opportunities in rural areas. The project will also enhance the policy environment through a coherent and complementary set of activities, including strengthening of institutional capacities and services, as well as improvements in policy and regulatory frameworks.

As part of this assignment, the Consultant is expected to perform the below tasks:

Conducting desk review and training for the project team
Providing technical assistance for greening agriculture support schemes deployed by the project
Preparing case studies on good greening and sustainable practices in the agri-food sector

The expected timeframe for the assignment delivery is August to December 2020, with the estimated level of effort of 20 expert days. The entire service will be delivered in English.

Required skills and experience:

Academic Qualifications/Education:

University degree in economics, development cooperation, agriculture and rural development, sustainability, or other relevant fields.
At least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in the field of economics, agriculture and rural development.
Proven previous successful experience in designing and implementation of at least two (2) private sector engagement measures (e.g. grant schemes) fostering sustainable food supply/green economy in agriculture or similar.
Proven knowledge of green technologies, resource and energy management practices and sustainability in agri-food sector.
Proven knowledge of the economic and environmental protection legislations in BIH as well as of the EU related frameworks and strategies is a strong asset.
Previous experience in working with UNDP or EU is an asset.

Languages Requirements:

Fluency in both written and spoken English language is required.
Knowledge of one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina is an asset.

Other Requirements:

Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

The deadline for application is August 17, 2020 (Midnight New York, USA).

Czech Development Agency supports responsible agricultural production and safe food project in Bosnia and Herzegovina

One of the most serious problems for agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina is seen as the lack of competitiveness of its agricultural products. This is primarily due to persistent obstacles to exports and the low level of compliance with food safety standards. The Czech Development Agency is, therefore, supporting a bilateral project in the country with the objective of strengthening the food safety control role of the competent authorities. The project is in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal No. 16, as it focuses on supporting effective and transparent institutions at multiple levels.

One of the main problems related to agricultural and food production in Bosnia and Herzegovina is food quality and safety. Control mechanisms in this area are either lacking or are completely inadequate. Foods that pose a risk to human health may be produced as a consequence. The uncontrolled application of pesticides and fertilizers also has a negative impact on the environment, particularly on surface water, groundwater, and the soil. In addition, the food does not meet standards for import to the EU Member States and is thus not competitive in those markets.

This project, entitled Improving Food Safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina and implemented between 2017 and 2020, is based around the current priorities of partner organizations and is fully in accordance with European Commission food safety recommendations. The project also follows on from previous Czech Development Agency projects implemented here in the agriculture and rural development sector.

The need to create a control plan for food additives, pesticides, and salmonella

“It is clear that better food safety will have a positive impact both on the incidence of illnesses caused by unsafe food and also on the environment by reducing the agrochemical burden on the land. If, in addition, Bosnia and Herzegovina produces safe food, it will then be able to export to the EU Member States. Our project, therefore, determines appropriate procedures and systems in three control areas: pesticides and fertilizers, salmonella, and food additives,” says Jan Rosmus of the State Veterinary Institute, the joint project implementer together with the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture.

The first part of the project thus focused on creating a control system for pesticides and fertilizers and an integrated production system. After the completion of the project, Bosnian laboratories will be capable of detecting fertilizer and pesticide residues and a fully functional register of plant protection products and fertilizers will be created. The Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Plant Health Protection is a key partner at the state level.

The second part of the project focused on salmonella control. Activities included planning and the introduction of official sampling. This part of the project will include an audit of official control and legislation workplaces and a plan for an official sampling system will be created. At least 10 inspectors and at least 20 staff from 10 producers and processors will also be trained in planning and official sampling. Here the main partner is the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The third part of the project focuses on the control of food additives. The food additives issue is not harmonized with the EU throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, even though the relevant rules and regulations were issued in September 2017. The main partner in this part of the project is the Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The project’s direct target group is administrative staff with competencies for food safety. These are institutions and administration at both state and entity-level that will benefit in particular from the newly introduced control systems and new methods contributing towards improvements in food safety. The farmers themselves will also be direct beneficiaries, as they will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge through training and obtain integrated agricultural production certification,” says Sara Miličić, in charge of projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Czech Development Agency.

The project’s final beneficiaries can be considered the entire population of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as better food safety will result in health and environmental benefits over the long term. Consumers in other countries to which food is exported from Bosnia and Herzegovina will also profit from the project. Thanks to the project, more types of food in Bosnia and Herzegovina will meet food safety standards and will be eligible for export to the EU Member States – in particular Croatia, a traditional customer for Bosnian production, as exports to this country from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been limited since Croatia’s accession to the EU in 2013 primarily due to failures to comply with European standards.

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