About us

AGENCY FOR COOPERATION, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT – ACED
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

What is the Agency for Cooperation, Education and Development?

ACED is a development agency registered as a non-governmental, non-profit organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its overall aim is to initiate and enhance the progress and prosperity of the society. ACED implements sustainable development projects, including economy and society development, environmental protection, as well as humanitarian assistance projects. The main statutory goals of ACED are to promote modern environmental, social, economic, health and humanitarian activities in cooperation with authorities, business entities and other non-governmental organizations in the country and abroad. In accomplishing its mission, ACED adheres to the highest professional standards while ensuring full accountability to the public and its donors.

• ACED’s mission is to provide programs, which will contribute to the social, economic and cultural development of citizens, their communities and society as a whole.
• The vision of ACED is a modern, cultural and economically prosperous society based on the principles of justice, equality, tolerance and mutual respect. Each member of the society is an active citizen in community building and improvement.
• ACED’s approach in each activity to respect the individual and to protect the environment ensures that all implemented projects lead to sustainable development of involved parties.

Who benefits from ACED?

ACED’s activities primarily bring benefit to its project beneficiaries, but also develop immediate communities. By implementing its project activities with other partner organizations, ACED also ensures their progress and improvement.

Current projects

So far, ACED has been granted a total of 82 projects. In the first half of 2020, ACED had 5 ongoing projects with an operating budget if over EUR 2.4 million for the next three years. Current projects are funded by international donor agencies and BiH institutions. The project activities can be classified as follows:

• Civil society capacity building for NGOs, student groups, youth organizations, women, and associations of people with disabilities;
• Economic development – improvement of competitiveness of SMEs and enterprises; competency building for (self-)employment, assistance to start-ups; and
• Social Entrepreneurship – setting up an enabling environment in BiH for this combination of social and economic development.

What is ACED’s work experience?

ACED was founded by local representatives of the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) at the initiative of the IOCC Headquarters in Baltimore, USA, with the intention of continuing its presence and achievements in BiH. ACED was founded in 2007, however, its staff brings along enormous experience in project cycle management gained in BiH and Southeast Europe. Each core employee of ACED has 23+ years of experience in implementing development projects, as well as humanitarian assistance projects. ACED’s employees – its main asset – possess tremendous experience in implementing projects in the fields of building economy and civil society, rural and agricultural development, return and reconstruction, income generation activities, as well as emergency response, with the value of implemented projects amounting to over EUR 25 million.

What types of services does ACED provide?

ACED offers program services in:

1. Education and training – education of leaders, organizations and individuals who advocate for their community and promote common well-being
2. Entrepreneurship development – programs that provide people with tools to exit poverty with pride
3. Empowering youth organizations – encouragement of youth leadership and participation in their communities
4. Agriculture and rural development – helping the rural population improve their methods of food production in order to increase nutrition, living standards and provide greater economic benefits from agricultural production
5. Social wellbeing – providing material and technical assistance to social institutions
6. Environmental protection – better living conditions and sustainability of natural resources for future generations
7. Community mobilization and development – increasing the opportunities of individuals and community organizations to apply “local initiatives to local issues”
8. Refugee return and assistance – programs enhancing reintegration of returnees/displaced persons in their pre-war communities
9. Natural disasters and emergency relief – programs responding to the needs of people who experience natural disasters, war or social unrest

Values and principles

Through its many years of applying international standards while engaged in international NGOs, ACED staff has been committed to the following core values and principles:

1. Independence and autonomy – an independent non-governmental organization with the autonomy to carry out its own decision-making processes
2. Transparency – ensuring financial transparency and implementing its activities using best practices in the sector
3. Inclusion – non-sectarian, non-religious organization providing assistance solely on the basis of needs without religious, ethnic, political or economic discrimination
4. Trust – maintaining an accurate reporting system in order that its donors, beneficiaries, partners and other parties receive current information on the agency and effectiveness of its programs
5. Integrity – its representatives undertake not to place themselves under any personal financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might seek to influence the
6. performance of their duties
7. Objectivity – whether awarding contracts or selecting beneficiaries all decisions will be based solely on merit and a demonstrated need
8. Accountability – in all of its decisions and actions to the public and to its donors
9. Leadership – by the agency and its representatives promoting and carrying out these principles through their conduct and actions