IMG was established in 1994 at the initiative of UNHCR as an ad-hoc technical group to address the specific technical and infrastructure problems faced in Bosnia Herzegovina at the height of the conflict. IMG is governed by a Steering Committee composed of donor governments as well as international/regional organizations that cooperate with IMG not only as contributors but also as implementing partners. With the financial and in-kind support of ECHO, UNHCR and several countries(*) – mainly, but not only EU member states - IMG set about assessing the damages to the Bosnian infrastructure and making recommendations and proposals for remedial action.
IMG continues to focus on supporting the efforts of the host countries where it is engaged, by implementing projects which clearly meet their development objectives. In doing so, IMG always seeks to cooperate closely with authorized government bodies and agencies and relevant Ministries. IMG hopes to increase its area of activity and expand to manage new projects in new regions worldwide.
Background
In November 1994, a working-level meeting of the Humanitarian Issues Working Group (HIWG) in Geneva granted IMG a legal status and was empowered to function as an independent body.
A major part of the reconstruction programme for Bosnia Herzegovina (particularly in the sectors of transportation, water, energy, telecommunication and housing was developed in 1995 – 1996 by IMG experts in the field.
During this period IMG also managed directly reconstruction funds for many donors such as The European Commission (DG Relex and ECHO), Austria, Norway, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Switzerland and Turkey. IMG still is active in Bosnia Herzegovina.
In November 1998, IMG was further requested by The European Commission to immediately commence a damage assessment in Kosovo to quantify the damages to housing being wrought by the ongoing conflict between the Yugoslav security forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army.
In the spring of 2002, IMG has been engaged by the European Commission to undertake a comprehensive damage assessment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and to quantify the damages done to infrastructure. This resulted in the creation of a very sophisticated damage and reconstruction database known as the DARD which has just recently been transferred to the ownership of the Palestinian Authority.
In 2004, IMG has signed with the Italian Directorate General for Development Cooperation, an Agreement on Cooperation which has permitted IMG to expand its geographical reach and to provide the DGCS with an effective instrument for implementing difficult and complex projects world wide. As a result of this cooperation, IMG is present or has been present and managing projects in Latin America (Uruguay), Africa (Sudan & Somalia) and Asia (Afghanistan & Laos) in addition to managing projects in the Western Balkans.
In 2006, IMG, at the request of the European Commission, has established an office in Iraq to assist with the development of an EC –bilateral action for the country, to provide technical assistance to identified authorities and to assist with the monitoring of projects implemented with Commission funds through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI).
Since 1994, IMG has managed almost 500 Contracts with an approximate value of €560 million to directly project manage, coordinate or otherwise provide technical support to more than 2000 projects with a total value of €3.9 billion.
Field of Activities
IMG actions respond to the needs of the country being assisted. IMG is capable of undertaking various responsibilities in projects covering: energy, rural development, water and sanitation, education and promotion of good governance, the promotion of small and medium sized enterprises, data base design implementation.
