Empowering informal waste pickers through public-private partnerships

A two-day final workshop was held in Belgrade as part of the technical support provided through the “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” Programme, focusing on the economic empowerment of waste pickers through public-private partnerships. The aim of the gathering was to support local governments in developing sustainable cooperation models that contribute to integrating waste pickers into the formal structures of work and community life.

The workshop featured specific proposals and tools for improving local plans and policies, as well as opportunities for establishing inclusive partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Through experience sharing, analysis of the local context, and hands-on work on collaboration models, participants worked to identify solutions that are realistic, useful, and applicable in their respective communities.

At the heart of the discussion was the question of how to transform the position of waste pickers—from informal and often marginalised roles into a recognised and supported part of the local economy. Special attention was given to social entrepreneurship, inclusive employment policies, and green jobs as a foundation for long-term change.

The workshop demonstrated that even small steps can have a major impact—when they stem from cross-sector collaboration, local insight, and a shared commitment to action.

The PRO Programme remains committed to supporting local partnerships in developing a fairer and more sustainable waste management system—one that recognises and empowers those who have worked from the margins for years.

The Programme "PRO - Local Government for People and Nature" is jointly implemented by the United Nations agencies in Serbia - UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP, in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland.