Increased efficiency, sustainability of civil society sector

BELGRADE - The officials of 17 civil society organizations presented on Tuesday the results of their engagement in Civil Society for the Future, a project providing assistance to 104 initiatives in 47 local communities across Serbia, worth over USD 900,000.

Civil Society for the Future is a program aimed at strengthening efficiency and sustainability of the civil society sector in Serbia, so that it could continue to play an important role in the public life and to engage directly and successfully in the partnerships with the international donors, business sector, state institutions and other stakeholders.

As part of the project, the citizens taking part in 50 initiatives worth around USD 200,000 have improved living conditions for at least 5,000 people in their local communities.

Also, 21 civil society organizations used advocacy campaigns to influence local decision makers to seek solutions for various issues, while six organizations launched fundraising campaigns and raised USD 69,107 to increase the competitiveness in the social services market.

Civil Society for the Future is a two-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and developed by the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) in cooperation with the Trag Foundation and Zajecar Initiative.

USAID Mission Director for Serbia Azza El-Abd said that the organizations worked hard for two years to help Serbia advance on its path towards the European Union.

USAID Serbia has a long-standing partnership with civil society organizations, and this program has helped initiate a broad range of activities. Civil society organizations proved very successful in advocating regulatory changes and promotion of...