Support to economical development of municipality Fojnica

"Strengthening of sustainable agro business and ecological tourism"

Basic project data

Partners: Caritas Internationalis Belgium, Secours catholique, Foundation Abbé Pierre, Region Auvergne (France), French Embassy – Sarajevo.

Beneficiaries: unemployed families from rural areas of the Municipality Fojnica that survive by agriculture, livestock, fruits growth and processing of fruits, collection of forest fruits, mushrooms and healing herbs; 

Duration of the project: 3 years (2007-2009).

Project goals

Agriculture sector

• 50 families – producers will have access to necessary information on potential market and other needs (purchase of equipment, expectations, visits, fares, business planning, communication and promotion);
• Creation of network of producers with quality standards;
• Access to modern market (store chains, small points of sale, AMAP baskets of fresh domestic products);
• Strengthening of associations – existing and forming of new ones (logistic support, organized fares and successful producers visits);

Tourism sector

• Definition and benchmarking of walking paths
• Development of village tourism
• Support to tourism of thermal waters
• Support in communication (promotion, seminars);

Environment protection

• Organization of education on environment protection
• Promotion of Fojnica as protected location (natural diverseness, bio diversity and dangers);
• Equipment, panel boards, education at schools, promotion in terms of concerts and youth activity;

Type of action: Educations on requested topics in direction of the 3 sectors of action, visits to fares and successful companies (farms, corporations, associations), issuing of mini grants for support of development of small agriculture, market research, marketing and promotion;

Total project value: 730.883 KM / 373.695 €.

Report for 2008.

Competition for 2008.
Allocated funds for the 8 +1 families to support and develop small business:

- 3 handicraft (Milicevic Ivanka - Raga, Ivica Tuk - Lužine, Nikola Vicic - Fojnica)
 - guest house (Fadil Buharalija - Fojnica)
 - development of apiculture (Refik Pašić - Zivcici)
 - traditional driers for fruit and medicinal herbs (Slavica Tomicic - Fojnica)
 - development of livestock (Mato Tomicic - Lucice)
 - rabbit breeding (Ivan Bosnjak - Bakovići)
 - assistance for the purchase of cows (Zijad Kršić - Ostružnica)

It is about creating business plans, procurement of equipment and reconstruction of necessary space. Users were provided with the expert assistance in all required fields. The next steps to involve going to the market and its expansion, development of Fojnica trademark region, marketing and promotion of products.

Visits, fairs, exchange of experiences 
 - Mostar Economy Fair
-  Mediterranean fair of medicinal herbs Dubrovnik
-  Plums fair in Gradačac
-  Economic Fair Banja Luka
 - International Trade Fair Brčko
-  International Fair of Agriculture Novi Sad
-  Fair Exhibition “Apple days”  Goražde
-  2 workshops on the topic of visual identity and brand protection and Fojnica
 - seminar on the topic of breeding potatoes and modern breeding of fruit in cooperation   with the Federal Institute of Agriculture from Sarajevo
-  seminar for beekeepers association
 - visit to the region of Auvergne (France)
 - participation and presentation of Fojnica products at Emmaus Fair in Paris
- marking on ecology in collaboration with the Ecological Association Fojnica,  Mountaineers Association “Vranica”, primary school and nursery school with various activities and workshops on the topic of environmental protection and environmental
 - financing of cleaning and marking of 72 km of hiking transversal
 - acquisition of professional sports bike for the Youth Center Stella


Actual results in 2008.
-  50 direct and 200 indirect beneficiaries regularly received services by the project
-  database of potential producers and breeders by sectors prepared
-  funds for the 15 +2 family (competition for the 2007th and 2008th) to support the development of small business and rural tourism allocated
-  projects of local NGOs financed
-  exchange of experience between participants in the project realized
-  important fairs in the region visited
-  series of educational workshops and study visits organized.


Plans for 2009
In 2009 the main goal is to continue with the economic growth of municipalities of Fojnica with the maximum assistance to residents to obtain more information from the market, visits and exchange of experiences, the organization and logistical support needed for education and economic support for the development of small business, family and much-needed employment of family members.

In cooperation with the local agricultural cooperative PUP Fojnica, establish fund to help active members of cooperatives through the allocation of mini - credits resources.

Also, the establishment of the Center for the development of rural tourism “Alterural” will follow the example of the Project in Fojnica and spread it to other communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.