1 Costing of Services Experiences of Social Innovation Fund, Serbia, Belgrade South East Europe Consultation Reform of the Child Care System: Taking Stock and Accelerating Action Working Group 6 Costing and Financial Flows for Child Protection Services Vladan Jovanovic, Serbia, Belgrade

2 Social Welfare System Reform and Social Innovation Fund - Basic Information -

3 Contexts – Reform of Social Welfare Reform of Social Welfare Part of political, economic and social reforms in Serbia, since 2001 Mixture: Bottom up and Top down approach The Social Welfare Development Strategy Adopted in December 2005 Harmonized with Poverty Reduction Strategy (adopted in 2003)

4 Social Innovation Fund - Background - MoLSP with support of EAR/UNDP, Norwegian Government partnership Funding local project Objectives development forms of community based social services provide of state funds, budget and donations for implementation of reform interlinking of all social welfare actors at the local level piloting innovative ideas / initiatives knowledge management and knowledge transfer provide inputs for decision makers on local as well as national level

5 Social Innovation Fund - Basic Principles - Partnership between State Agencies NGOs Local Authorities Entrepreneurs Competition Transparency & Accountability Decentralization Sustainability

6 Tenders / Public Calls for Project Proposals and Project Funding 2003, Tender 88 local projects funded / supported 1.7 mil. (1.0 mil. Donation of Kingdom of Norway, 0.7 mil. from State Budget) 2004, Extension of support 38 projects 0.5 mil. (From State Budget) 2005, Tender 51 project 1.3 mil. (0.9 mil. Donation EU through EAR/UNDP, 0.4 mil. from State Budget) 2006, Tender 35 projects 1.6 mil. (0.9 mil. Donation EU through EAR/UNDP, 0.7 mil. from State Budget)

7 Children as a Target Group and Social Services for Children

8 Children as Target group in Local Projects Children and youth deprived of parental care placed in social institutions placed in foster families with disability placed in social institutions placed in foster families in primary families with behavioral problems and young offenders victims of domestic violence and victims of peer violence in dysfunctional families members of vulnerable groups (Roma, Refugees, Families with Low Incomes…)

9 Social Services for Children Funded / supported services for children and youth, e.g. Specialized foster family placement (for children with disability, Roma children, urgent foster family placement…) Supportive Programmes Rise parental competencies Rise quality of childs life in social institution / foster family Preparation for independent living Supported living in community, Half-way Houses Day care centers Safe homes Clubs (peer support) Psycho-social support, Counseling, Therapy … Mediation (family mediation, victim-offender mediation)

10 Children in SIFs Projects Number of Projects / Rate in Total Funds First Tender 36 out of 88 projects Second Tender 24 out of 51 projects Third Tender 21 out of 35 projects 0.7 mil. out of 1.7 mil mil. out of 1.3 mil. 1.2 mil out of 1.6 mil.

11 Funding Services Through SIFs Projects

12 Preconditions for Funding Social Service can be funded within project / as a project activity After Public Call for Project Proposals (CfP), Announced by MoLSP/ EAR/UNDP/SIF Meeting with priority issues of the CfP On the basis on rules/procedures established by MoLSP/EAR/UNDP/SIF

13 Criteria in Evaluation/Assessment of Project Proposals Project management capacities and partnership Feasibility Importance Measurability Compatibility with tender goals and priorities Quality of programme Sustainability Budget To what extent are planned expenses necessary for the project implementation?

14 Costing Example Project: Street Kids – Harm Reduction Programme Service Provider: NGO Center for Youth Integration, Belgrade

15 Basic Information on Project Objective Reduction of the physical and social harm of young people with risk in behavior Through Drop-in Center Outreach activities Overnight stay Street kids detection Urgent health care interventionsInformation on service Safety ensuring Outreach urgent intervent. Counseling NGOs Main Partner City center for Social Work in Belgrade

16 Structure of Costs (Human Recourses) Project management fees Project Coordinator Drop-in Center Coordinator Outreach Activities Coordinator Project Assistant Administrative and technical fees Keeper of accounts Security Cleaner Direct service providing fees Psychologist Social worker Nurse Supervisor of Outreach activ. Supervisor of Drop-in Cent. ac.

17 How are Fees Usually Defined? SIFs rules Maximum Fee Amount on the Basis of Man per Hour (MpH) Principle experts, net 5.5 MpH technical staff, net 2.8 MpH Rate of Costs for Human Resources is not limited within Total Project Cost Negotiation on fees can take place, within comprehensive negotiation on project proposal

18 Structure of Costs (II) Traveling costs, accommodation costs, perdiem Equipment, material resources Nutrition of Drop-in Center beneficiaries Office costs Office supplies Rent Communications Public utilities Other cost

19 Lessons Learnt

20 Lessons Learnt (I) Tendering and competition are preconditions for quality of services NGOs are appropriate service providers in number of community based social services Partnership is a base of integral social service providing approach

21 Lessons Learnt (II) Founding new community based service, imply Start-up costs, e.g. Adaptation Equipment Specific piloting costs, e.g. Information Dissemination Evaluation

22 Lessons Learnt (III) Commitment of local authorities (LA) is a sustainability factor Some LAs have established piloted services as a part of local social welfare system Some LAs have adopted tendering as a regular procedure - Buying social services Start-up costs, funded through SIF, fostered some LAs to takeover project and transform it to local social service

23 Challenges

24 Sustainable Local System of Social Services Important preconditions for sustainable Local System of Social Services Standards of Services Licensing of Service Providers Standards & Licensing Rules – have to be defined by National Authorities

25 Costing of Services Lack of standardized Price Lists for Social Services Lack of Systemic Rules and Procedures on payment for services established on intermunicipal level