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Home > Programmes: SIRP – Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme in Serbia
SIRP
Housing
Integrated Strategic Planning and Support to Municipalities
Socio-economic integration
SIRP Team
Implementing Partners
PROGRAMME FINANCED BY THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT
IN COORDINATION WITH

SETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION OF REFUGEES PROGRAMME IN SERBIA

The Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme aims to develop sustainable settlement and integration solutions for low-income refugees and other vulnerable households and to build capacities at Municipal and central levels for replication and upscaling.

The Government of Italy has funded the Programme which is implemented by UN-HABITAT. At central level, SIRP will be executed together with the Ministry for Capital Investments.


At local level it will be implemented in seven selected Municipalities/Cities:
Municipality of Cacak, City of Kragujevac, Municipality of Kraljevo, City of Nis, Municipality of Pancevo, Municipality of Stara Pazova, Municipality of Valjevo.

Timeframe of the Programme The Programme is rooted in the 2001 pledge from the Government of Italy to support the sustainable resettlement and integration of refugees and vulnerable households in Serbia. The Government of Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UN-HABITAT in September 2002 for the formulation and implementation of the Euro fifteen million project.

Programme activities will be implemented over a period of three years.
SIRP was launched on the 9th of March, 2005 with the third Steering Committee session which approved and ratified the First Annual Work Plan.
Overall Objectives

The purpose of the Programme is to develop mechanisms for sustainable and replicable housing and integration solutions for low-income refugees and other vulnerable households in the framework of enhanced development planning process, decentralised capacities and partnerships in selected Municipalities/Cities.

SIRP overall objectives are:
Support provided to the process of national reforms in the Housing Sector and in Local/Regional Development;
Capacity of central and local administrations built up and harmonisation with EU standards facilitated in the fields of social housing, planning for development and support to vulnerable groups.

Integrated Programme SIRP comprises three components to be implemented in an integrated framework:
Settlement of refugees and other vulnerable groups and support for policy and institution development;
Social and economic integration of refugees with support to facilitate integration of vulnerable population in local labour markets, to improve civic behaviour and to develop appropriate social schemes
Capacity development of local self governments with tools for local development planning and development of municipal information systems.

At the local Municipal level, SIRP will:
Build Capacities for Local Housing Agencies
Support to design Local Housing Strategies;
Support the introduction of the Planning for Development approach;
Support Municipal Development Units with the aim of establishing Local Development Agencies;
Support the development of finance instruments for socio-economic development (Local Development Funds) to mobilise resources of various origins;
Build up capacities to mobilise local actors;
Assist in identification of territorial vocations, objectives and priorities for local development;
Improve the Municipal information systems;
Support local administrations in setting up and managing demand-driven social, economic and civic integration programmes;
Enhance mobilisation of financial resources for socio-economic development;
Improve social info systems.

SIRP Expected Results
670 sustainable housing solutions are delivered in 7 Municipalities to low-income refugees and other vulnerable households
Institutional tools and capacities are established at local and central level to develop and manage social housing programs
National institutions and Municipalities/Cities have developed capacities, information tools and implementation bodies to produce comprehensive strategic plans for local and regional development and to implement subsequent sector strategies and action plans
Pilot Initiatives for social, economic and civic integration of low-income refugees and other vulnerable households are agreed and implemented through a decentralized management system

SIRP Main Activities
Support in the development of 670 diverse housing solutions according to needs;
Support in the formulation of Municipal Housing Strategies and Action Plans;
Support the establishment of sustainable training facilities on planning for development, carrying out Training of Trainers modules on main topics: Strategic Planning, Participatory Planning Process, Conflict Management Basic Skills, Territorial Marketing and Local Development, Project Cycle Management, Developing GIS, Developing ICT public service and Decision Support Systems;
Training of stakeholders from 6 Municipalities on planning for development, integrated territorial projects and info-communication systems;
Upgrading municipal info-communication technologies;
Development of Municipal Sectoral Strategies for Development through participatory approach;
Providing 335 direct support packages to beneficiaries of subsidised public rental housing solutions;
Financing at least 24 pilot projects for social, economic and civic integration of vulnerable groups and/or for local development to be proposed and implemented by local stakeholders;
Analysing and disseminating best practices for social, economic and civic integration of vulnerable groups.

Means
Technical Assistance
Grants for Works - development of new constructions, development of alternative housing solutions
Other Grants - pilot projects, direct support packages
Supplies - info-kits hardware and software to upgrade municipal info systems
Training - ToT modules, On the Job Training, Study Tours
Other means - IT and Training equipment, dissemination