Introduction

The International Management Group (IMG) was established in 1994, as a specialized intergovernmental Agency in accordance with the UN resolution 179, dated November 21, 1947.

IMG operations relate to the accountability of the IMG Steering Committee formed of the members representing the European Commission, ECHO, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.

Additional support members:

OHR: Office of the High Representative (Bosnia)

UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Following the collapse of Yugoslavia and during the conflict in Bosnia & Herzegovina, the founding members were, for the first time, confronted with a variety of needs that could not be covered by other existing profit and non-profit organisations or institutions. The needs were specially focused on an organisation that could instantly act upon request, having at all times a broad range of experienced, qualified and professional human resources available to meet a very short mobilisation time even under extreme circumstances.

To fulfil these needs IMG was formed with the objective to be able to assess the needs of a country or region and to assist the International community in developing, managing and monitoring tailor made emergency aid and development programmes.

In addition to a very active involvement in the overall reconstruction of Bosnia & Herzegovina, IMG has played a very substantial role in various Programmes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, the Former Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the Republic of Croatia.

Fields of activities

The main IMG activities can be identified as emergency reconstruction, rehabilitation and development programming covering in particular the main areas of the countries’ infrastructure.

Emergency reconstruction

IMG’s involvement starts in principle during or soon after the time of the conflict or disaster. IMG is able to prepare in a very short time and with a high accuracy the damage needs assessment.

Simultaneously, emergency activities including programming in the area of infrastructure are being prepared and data information systems are being developed to provide wide range of country/area/sector/population related data and demographic maps.

Based upon the needs assessment and working in close coordination with International institutions or Donors, reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes are drafted to ensure that the implementation can start immediately following the stabilisation of the situation.

During the phase of reconstruction, IMG has the expert capacity to undertake the implementation of the planning, management, supervision and monitoring of Programmes, including the development of specific databases.

The early experience and knowledge of the country both during and after a conflict enables IMG to play an important role in providing technical assistance to European Commission, International organisations, World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as well as to the local institutions (governmental and regional authorities).

In addition to the reconstruction programmes which focus mainly on the overall rehabilitation of the infrastructure, IMG has the capacity to develop and manage programmes that aim at future development and the transfer of project related knowledge.

These capacity and institutional building are the key elements for the further growth and development of the country.

IMG fields of expertise

The wide range of expert involvement of IMG in projects comprises a broad range of activities including bi-lateral support. These include:

Feasibility studies and due-diligence,

Damage and needs assessments,

Technical assessment and evaluation,

Financial assessment and evaluation,

Project identification and preparation,

Project implementation and project management including financial control and accountability,

Design supervision and overall monitoring,

Capacity and institutional building,

Technical support and advisory services,

Ad hoc (technical) consultancy, and

Database development and GIS.