Experts Exchanged Key Lessons for Improved Social Protection at the Local Level

On December 5, 2024, an event titled "Identifying Lessons Through the Process of Technical Support in the Field of Social Protection" was held in Belgrade. The gathering brought together experts and institutional representatives to exchange experiences and improve the local social protection system.

Participants had the opportunity to listen to presentations on lessons identified through technical support processes. Consultants Brankica Jeremić and Irina Slavković addressed the challenges in enhancing social protection at the local level, emphasising the need for capacity building and more efficient service implementation.

One of the key topics, presented by consultant Slavica Milojević, was inter-municipal cooperation as a solution to growing challenges and limited capacities. It was highlighted that a joint approach by multiple municipalities could improve the availability and quality of social protection services. Participants also discussed obstacles to establishing inter-municipal cooperation and received recommendations on how to avoid potential difficulties.

Ivana Maksić, a consultant, spoke about strengthening the capacities for licensing civil society organisations, stressing the importance of standardisation and professionalisation in delivering social services. She underlined that establishing a licensing system is a significant challenge, carrying obligations but guaranteeing the expertise, credibility, and reliability of all organisations and professionals in Serbia's social protection sector.

The event provided a platform for discussing key issues in social protection, enabling participants to share experiences and propose solutions for improving the system at the local level. It was concluded that continuous education and cooperation among various stakeholders are essential for achieving sustainable results in this field.

The workshop was conducted as part of the “PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature” program, jointly implemented by the United Nations agencies in Serbia - UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNEP, in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with financial support from the Swiss Government.