Transitional Assistance Programme for Discharged Soldiers

TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME FOR DISCHARGED SOLDIERS (TADS)

Bosnia and Herzegovina is undertaking a major defence reform initiatives in an effort to stabilize the country and make it a credible candidate for both NATO’s Partnership for Peace and the European Union Stabilization and Association Agreement process. These efforts include a drastic downsizing of the armed forces in both entities and the subsequent demobilization of soldiers. For a soldier, discharge from the military and reintegration into civil society are two distinct phases. Discharge is the process of removing soldiers from the military, and reintegration is the process of assisting former soldiers make a successful return to everyday civilian life. Many of the former soldiers find this transition challenging as most have spent their working years in the armed forces and must now try to find employment in difficult economic circumstances.

IOM’s TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO FORMER SOLDIERS IN BIH (TADS)

In cooperation with the FBiH and RS Ministries of Defence, IOM provides assistance to former soldiers to facilitate their financial independence and assist them in their transition to civilian life with as little economic and social disruption as possible.

IOM aims to facilitate the soldiers’ reintegration by:

• Profiling, registering and establishing a database of soldiers who have been discharged;
• Informing discharged soldiers about post-military opportunities for gainful employment in the civilian sector;
• Engaging the business community in the public and private sectors;
• Providing individual counselling tailored to the needs of the discharged soldiers;
• Enhancing marketing skills through further education and vocational training;
• Providing business counselling and, if required, business planning and training;
• Providing trade and agricultural tool kits to former soldiers, so that they are able to engage in sustainable employment.

All former soldiers attended civic education seminars organized by IOM, focusing on the importance of democracy, human rights and civil society.

“IOM’s assistance involves not only economic but also social and psychological components of reintegration. By engaging former soldiers in productive activities, the programme gives them confidence while also stimulating social dynamics conducive to solidification of peace and development.”
Independent evaluation by Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs

“IOM’s performance is impressive in terms of sustainable employment opportunities.”
Independent evaluation by the Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC), Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF)

ACHIEVEMENTS (April 2002 – March 2006)

• 7915 former soldier registered, 5928 interviewed, 2962 assisted and 843 in the process of being assisted;
• Areas of reintegration:

• 80% expanded their small business;
• 72% took on additional employees;
• The income of assisted ex-soldiers is twice that of those not yet assisted

DONORS:

The Governments of Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States (through USAID)

REPORTS:

FROM BARRACKS TO BUSINESS:
An Evaluation of IOM's Transitional Assistance Program to Former Soldiers in Bosnia and Herzegovina
FINAL REPORT by Jessica Alexander, Jennifer DePiazza, Augustin Flory Alan Moseley, Amra Sabic–El–Rayess, Regina Reza, Samuel Rikkers
SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Click below to download report
Final Report IOM TAFS Bosnia Columbia

TURNING SOLDIERS INTO A WORK FORCE
Demobilization and Reintegration in Post-Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina
by BICC - Bonn International Center For Conversion DCAF - Democratic Control Of Armed Forces

Click below to download report
BICCDemobEvaluation

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