SER Culture for Democracy

01.03.2025 - 31.12.2028

Independent culture & arts are strong drivers for improved social cohesion, tolerance and democratic practice at the local level. Building on this potential CfD will support quality cultural and artistic initiatives, mainly outside of urban centers. Strengthening the resilience and strategic focus of independent cultural actors will open up more spaces for critical thinking and reflection and ultimately contribute to stronger foundations for social cohesion, tolerance and democracy in Serbia.

From Education to Employment (E2E)

01.05.2024 - 30.04.2028

To raise labour market participation and address the growing workforce shortage affecting the Serbian economy, in partnership with the Serbian Ministry of Labour, Swiss approaches and instruments for labour-market insertion will be adopted and scaled by key labour-market actors from the central and local Government, civil society and the private sector. Serbian companies will be capacitated to train their workforce independently and sustainably, and to fill vacancies through improved job matching services.

For an Active Civil Society Together (ACT)

01.11.2023 - 31.10.2027

ACT-2 improves citizens’ participation in decision making at the local and national level through and with the support of civil society organizations (CSOs). Selected mission-driven CSOs are supported to strengthen constituency, diversify funding and effectively engage in advocacy. They jointly advocate with complementary CSOs and informal groups to increase impact and legitimacy. CSOs initiate dialogue and collaboration with local authorities, private sector and media to achieve development results.

Contribution to implementation of SCTM Strategic Plan

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026

This contribution will support the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) to implement its cross-sectoral strategic plan, promoting decentralization, good governance and local governance reforms and assisting the implementation of the Serbian Government’s Local Government Reform Programme. SCTM will improve capacities of local governments (LG) to act efficiently, accountably, in the best interest of citizens, and defend LG interests at the central level.

Local Governance for People and Nature

15.12.2022 - 31.12.2026

The contribution to this joint UN programme will improve key services and policies in 99 eligible local governments. By supporting them to enhance good governance in managing their affairs with a special emphasis on social inclusion and environmental protection, the program will result in more equitable, open and efficient local administrations, improved local service provision and citizens’ quality of life. By pooling the efforts of different UN agencies, Switzerland contributes to the implementation of the UN system reform.

SDGs for All – Fostering the participatory implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Serbia

01.10.2022 - 30.09.2025

The project fosters participatory implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Serbia, aiming at citizen-oriented and inclusive policies that contribute to sustainable development. Civil society, business and academia are enabled to shape development priorities through multi-stakeholder platforms and to monitor government’s work relevant to the 2030 Agenda. The Government is supported to better coordinate, mainstream and finance Agenda 2030 implementation and to improve the quality and availability of SDG indicators.

SME Hub - Connecting Private Service Providers, Public Agencies and SMEs

01.07.2022 - 30.09.2036

In order to grow and create more and better jobs and higher incomes for their workforce, Serbian manufacturing companies urgently need to raise productivity. The most productive ones are those that manage to access the supply chains of large, export-oriented corporations. By partnering with the private sector, Switzerland aims to bundle and connect the so-far fragmented services and subsidies of relevant private and public actors into an accessible offer tailor-made to the needs of SMEs- the SME Hub.

Civil society resilience strengthening

18.02.2022 - 17.02.2027

This project, in delegated cooperation with USAID, supports democratic development in Serbia by fostering an enabling environment for civil society and strengthening its resilience. It improves capacities of civil society to perform its monitoring and advocacy roles, to facilitate citizen’s engagement and to engage in constructive dialogue with the government. Ultimately, this leads towards a more resilient, inclusive and pluralistic society.

Green Agenda in Serbia: Get Started, Take Action and Scale Up

01.01.2022 - 30.06.2026

With this project SDC contributes to efficient, inclusive and sustainable implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, envisaged by the EU Green Deal. It will improve policy and base-conditions for its more efficient rolling-out and support pilot projects for future scaling-up. This contribution to UNDP will tackle these challenges with the aim to increase national and subnational government capacities, provide financial support for local public and private actions, and help Serbia reach its climate targets.

Swiss Support to the Serbian dual VET System, Phase 1

01.08.2021 - 30.06.2027

The Government of Serbia has introduced dual vocational education and training (VET) at secondary level in 2018, resulting in 8’000 youths currently enrolled in formal dual apprenticeships. Switzerland will expand the advisory support and technical assistance provided since 2018 to the Serbian Ministry of Education to strengthen its dual VET system, and jointly with Austria, support the Serbian private sector in delivering labor-market oriented apprenticeships in line with the law on dual education.

Municipal Development in Eastern Serbia

01.05.2021 - 30.09.2025

Private Sector Development in South-West Serbia

01.06.2017 - 31.12.2026

The Private Sector Development (PSD) South-West Serbia Programme supports the development of more inclusive, equitable and non-discriminatory market systems, through interventions in the sectors of traditional products (raspberry and honey) and tourism. This will provide rural population and specifically young people and women, access to employment and income opportunities, as well as improved access to finance, social benefits and know-how.