Italy/Italian Cooperation
(IC)
Allocation and activities in 2007
Currently,
Italy/Italian Cooperation (IC) is involved in the following areas:
Cross-cutting sectors (with a focus on Youth and Gender); Agriculture and
Forestry; Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Peace and Security (with a focus
on de-mining); Good Governance and Institution
Building; Economic
Development and Social Protection (job creation and tourism); Health; Education
(with a focus on higher education); and aid coordination. Italy/IC’s total
contribution in 2007 was approximately €
10.5 million.
Italy/IC
in BiH commits a great deal of its resources to Economic Development and Social
Protection, and to Good Governance and Institution Building.
Interventions in these sectors, which make up € 4.7 million of total funding,
are implemented by Italian organizations, NGOs, and international agencies.
This approach aims to reduce poverty and encourage ethnic integration, thus
promoting the diversification of the rural economy and increasing the value of
BiH’s natural resources. The ongoing initiatives within the Agriculture sector
endeavour to promote sustainable agricultural systems, such as integrated and
organic agriculture.
In
the Environmental Protection sector, Italy/IC’s interventions are focused on
supporting local institutions as they draft Local Environmental Action Plans
(LEAPs). These Plans ensure natural resources management and biodiversity
protection. In addition, LEAPs enhance a system of integrated monitoring for
the management of forests, river basins and landfills. Italy/IC also supports the
modernization of university courses in environmental studies, and offers
refresher classes for experts and academics involved in this sector.
In
2007, Italy/IC was active in the Health sector, to which they contributed € 1.2
million. Their main project in this area was Promotion of Mental Health in
Republika Srpska, which aims to improve the accessibility and the quality of
the services to mentally ill people and their families.
Italy/IC
also funds Cross-cutting sectors (€ 1.16 million), especially activities
regarding Gender and Youth. Italy/IC has been involved in these fields through
several initiatives aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of the most
vulnerable populations like children, young people, and women. In this respect,
Italy/IC sponsors numerous initiatives, which focus on building and promoting
the social inclusion of these groups. Italy/IC’s projects are aimed at
addressing psychological and physical services for youth with special needs. In
particular, efforts implemented by Italian NGOs and Italy/IC itself, fight the
social exclusion and marginalization of minors with special needs. This is
achieved through the promotion of a culture of inclusion by facilitating their
access to educational services, psychological recovery, and physical
rehabilitation. The Italian government’s commitment to this sector includes a
focus on female empowerment. The various activities carried out by Italy/IC in
the Cross-cutting sectors are coordinated by a special “Youth and Gender Unit”
within the Italian Cooperation Office (UTL) in Sarajevo.
Italy/IC
has contributed € 1.16 million to the Agriculture and Forestry sector, as well
as € 0.85 million to the Local Governance sector.
Contact information
The Italian Cooperation
Focal Point: Carmen Giordano
Address: Čekaluša, 5, 7100 Sarajevo,
BiH 1
Phone: +387 33.560.170
Fax: +387 33.667.227
Email: utlsarajevo@esteri.it
Web addresses: www.cooperazioneallosviluppo.esteri.it;
www.utlsarajevo.org
