Improved Lives for Over 6,000 Vulnerable People

The quality of life for more than 6,000 citizens from vulnerable social groups has been enhanced through the establishment of socially integrated services and the implementation of 20 projects by civil society organisations (CSOs) in partnership with local institutions. The Government of Switzerland allocated nearly €300,000 to support the execution of these projects, focusing on the needs of vulnerable groups and improving their position in local communities.

The programme "PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature," under which these projects were implemented, organized a conference on November 29 in Nis where civil society organizations presented their results.

These activities, conducted in Sumadija, southern, eastern, and western Serbia, lasted from October 2023 to November 2024. The projects covered various thematic areas, including social protection, education, and healthcare. Topics ranged from preventing risky behaviours and supporting families in crisis situations to advancing inclusive education and empowering marginalized groups through digital platforms.

Ana Nedeljkovic Belja, programme manager, emphasized the importance of partnerships between the public sector and civil society organizations in improving the quality of life for citizens and supporting the most vulnerable groups.

“While cooperation with local governments is key to improving the quality of life, ensuring rights, and making public services accessible to citizens, the role of civil society organizations is equally significant, as demonstrated by the results of these projects. The United Nations Office for Project Services - UNOPS has, through more than two decades of work in Serbia, proven its commitment to supporting civil society organizations, especially in the domain of social inclusion,” stated Ana Nedeljković Belja.

Natasa Ivanovic, the programme’s social inclusion officer, presented the results of the implemented projects.

“It’s not just about the large number of beneficiaries and the diversity of target groups covered by these projects, but also the quality of services provided with a strong cross-sectoral approach as an excellent response to the needs of the most vulnerable community members, with great prospects for further sustainability at the policy and practice level,” she stated. The projects directly benefited nearly 4,000 women, over 2,000 Roma individuals, 2,000 children and young people, and almost 200 persons with disabilities.

During a panel discussion, examples of good practice were shared, and some of the organizations implementing projects in their local communities were presented.

Laura Saitovic from the association “Leskovac Roma Women” in Leskovac discussed a comprehensive campaign to empower Roma women to recognize and report domestic or partner violence, which reached over 250 women in seven Roma settlements in Leskovac.

Ivana Gvozdenovic from the Society for Children and Cerebral Palsy in Smederevo highlighted the importance of providing physical therapy to persons with disabilities, which improved the quality of life for over 30 users, including three children who began walking.

Željko Vidanovic from the association "Center for Digital Inclusion" in Nis presented the digital platform "Resource Center," which contributed to better social inclusion for over 1,500 users through tailored information and supported social enterprises in advertising their products.

Anita Cekic from the "Vuk Karadzic" Elementary School in Nis underlined the importance of collaboration between local institutions and civil society organizations, such as the YUROM Center project, which supported 159 families with young people using psychoactive substances. She particularly emphasized the importance of educating parents as the foundation for shaping children’s attitudes. The project initiative has been included in Nis’s Action Plan for Roma Social Inclusion for the period 2024–2027, with funds secured for implementation over the next two years.

The programme "PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature" is jointly implemented by United Nations agencies in Serbia – UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNEP, in collaboration with the Government of Serbia and with financial support from the Government of Switzerland.