Project development and coordination are among of the prime activities of the Operations Unit. To achieve these ends, operational activities includes a substantial amount of liaising between UNHCR’s nine implementing partners, each of whom implements various projects. UNHCR’s partner, Vasa Prava BiH, provides free legal aid to UNHCR’s persons of concern. This includes refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Our partner, Bosanski Humanitarni Logisticki Servis assists refugees and asylum-seekers, as well as IDPs, through the transport of persons and their belongings, the delivery of goods, and in the local integration of refugees. The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees (MHRR), the Ministry of Security (MoS), and Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Initiative primarily works with refugees and asylum-seekers. MHRR and MoS are responsible for managing and maintaining two reception centres (RCs) in BiH, whereas BHWI ensures effective community services in the RCs and provides various trainings and activities to RC residents.

In addition, BHWI assists in the local integration of the stateless population in BiH. Implementing partners Hilfswerk Austria International and Catholic Relief Services provide income generation and housing assistance to IDPs, while the Foundation for Local Democracy provides support to victims of gender-based violence through psycho-social support and income generation projects. UNHCR’s final partner, United Nations Volunteers provides with office with volunteers to assist UNHCR’s activities.

In addition to project coordination, under direct disbursement the Operations Unit organizes trainings for capacity building for local authorities, legal clinics, and manages the urgent intervention fund. The unit is also responsible for the financial monitoring of its partners, the preparation of budgets, the preparation of sub-project agreements with partners, reporting, as well as other activities.