The Chair reported that CRIM has finalised the legal procedures for reconstruction of Cat 3 and Cat 4 houses and has set technical standards and issued a technical pamphlet which is to serve as a sample for agencies undertaking Cat 3 and Cat 4 reconstruction works. Copies of these documents are available from the UNHCR Shelter Coordinator’s Office.

The Chair reported on a meeting the day before at the Mayor of Kumanovo’s office in which international organisations, NGOs, representatives of the CMC and local authorities and representatives of the IDPs took part. In the meeting, the Mayor of Kumanovo expressed concerns that the ethnic Macedonian and Serb IDPs from Lipkovo who are accommodated in host families (HF) and collective centres (CCs) are not informed of the shelter repair and reconstruction works undertaken in the places of their origin. The UNHCR Shelter Coordinator is therefore conveying a strong message to the shelter group that agencies concerned should extend their "info campaigns" to IDPs too in order to target all the members of the community. UNHCR will visit concerned villages in the area to explore the reasons that are preventing the return of the IDPs from the said villages.

The Mayor of Tearce informed the Chair that a number of houses in the Tearce municipality were not assessed or committed for repair and reconstruction yet. The Mayor is identifying the gaps, as well as preparing a list of houses that need urgent intervention. The Chair will meet with him next week to compare the shelter group’s and his assessments and will report back to the group in the next shelter meeting.

IMG reported that it had so far identified 540 owners of the houses to be reconstructed and completed 300 social assessments.

IRC is cancelling the engagement in Lavce (Tetovo) due to security concerns.

The Chair presented the new AoR spreadsheet format created further to the discussions in the last meeting. He made a note that some negative figures appear for Cat1 and Cat 2 houses in the new format which may be result of the engagement of several agencies on the same house, e.g. for winterisation and repair.

A note was also made that there should be no major need for repair works or commitment of new funds for Cat 1 and Cat 2 houses.

The latest updates of the AoR and the Progress in Repair and Reconstruction spreadsheets (new format) were presented. Agencies’ comments were invited, based on which new updates will be made.

Update of the informal coordination of the progress of the school and ambulanta rehabilitation was also made.

Ms Theresa Obradovich made a short presentation of the 2002 UNHCR QIPs Programme which will support return and general cohesion, stabilisation and reconciliation through funding community based projects not only in infrastructure, but in agriculture, economic development of small businesses, capacity building, training and other activities too.

Unlike in 2001, when the limited QIPs funds were made available late in October for emergency infrastructure projects that had to be completed by end December, the 2002 programme is designed more as QIPs should be – more funds will be provided through a longer period of time to support community based activities proposed by, primarily, village boards, municipal offices, teachers and other community associations. Gender perspective will be included to provide ownership of the QIPs by the entire community. In addition, although the programme will target the crisis affected regions, it intends to provide small amount of funds for projects proposed by vulnerable communities outside the crisis areas.

Thus, in 2002 a total of US$ 3 million will be provided for the QIPs projects that are to be implemented within a maximum 3-month period until the end of November 2002. Although the focus is now on the communities, international NGOs, which were principal implementers of the 2001 QIPs, will still be eligible to apply for funds. Details on the criteria, proposed formats and application forms are being finalised and will be announced in the next meeting.
 

The 2002 QIPs implementation will differ from 2001. Although there will still be an UNHCR focal point, which remains to be Ms Obradovich and an umbrella agency, which this time is CRS (Catholic Relief Services), a more comprehensive approach will be taken by UNHCR in promoting, accepting and monitoring of the QIPs at filed level. The UNHCR Field Teams (for Skopje and Skopska Crna Gora, Kumanovo and Tetovo areas) will have the main role in informing communities of the programme and will review every project before it is approved to assure that the proposed activities are those that are much needed, as well as monitor its implementation.

The QIPs coordination at field level will be facilitated through the UNHCR Satellite Offices in Kumanovo and Tetovo. The first panel meetings on the QIPs will hopefully be organised at these offices in the following 2-3 weeks. Handouts will be provided with QIPs information that can further be shared with local NGOs, comunities.

The next Shelter/Infrastructure Coordination meeting will take place on Friday, 15 February 2002, at 09:15 hours at the UNHCR Office.