Prof. Marija Babović, PhD, Director of Programs at the SeConS Development Initiative Group, participated as a panelist in the interactive dialogue at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York. The dialogue centered on “Inclusive Development, Shared Prosperity, and Dignified Work”, where participants engaged in discussions about innovative strategies for gender-inclusive economic policies, national care systems, and the effects of digitization and artificial intelligence on women’s employment and the digital gender gap.

Prof. Marija Babović, PhD, who serves as Director of Programmes at the SeConS Development Initiative Group, has been awarded the “Anđelka Milić” Award for 2025. In recognition of her remarkable academic and research achievements, as well as her long-term dedication to advancing social inclusion and gender equality policies, Prof. Marija Babović, PhD, has been honored for her significant contributions to science, social development, and the improvement of the status of women in Serbia.

On Saturday, November 16, the Sociology Students’ Association hosted a “Career Day” event in the Ceremonial hall of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. This is the first activity of a kind organized by the Department of Sociology, designed to familiarize students with the employment prospects for those holding a bachelor’s degree in sociology, by highlighting the professional experiences of such graduates across various fields.

On November 14, 2024, the Red Cross of Serbia hosted a conference to mark the launch of the project “Strengthening Health, Access, Participation, and Social Equity in Western Balkan Countries (SHAPE).” The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection of the Republic of Austria. It aims to improve the status of at-risk groups, mainly the homeless and older individuals, with a specific emphasis on older women and persons with disabilities.

The SeConS Development Initiative Group continues a series of training sessions in September titled “Technology Transfers in Agriculture for the Promotion of Gender Equality.” These sessions are intended for the network of advisers at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management and aim to enhance the capacity for the provision of gender-responsive services. Participants from all advisory services will gain practical knowledge on identifying variations in farm owners’ requirements and adjusting the work and training they offer to male and female farmers in rural areas.

A four-year project entitled “She Knows”, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Impact Hub Belgrade in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Serbia), the Center for Development of Jablanica and Pčinja Districts (CRJPO), and Erste Bank, was officially launched in Belgrade on June 20. The aim of this project is to enhance women’s economic inclusion by improving employment, self-employment, and business opportunities while reducing barriers and gender biases in the workplace.

The European Anti-Poverty Network Serbia, in collaboration with the “Journalism-prize goes international” initiative and with the support of the ERSTE Foundation, granted the National Award “REFLEKSIJA” for exemplary reporting on poverty and social exclusion throughout 2023-2024.  During the Award Ceremony, Smiljana Milinkov, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, delivered a presentation on the Analysis of Media Reporting on Poverty and Social Exclusion. Milica Stević, a researcher from the SeConS Development Initiative Group, presented the Poverty Watch report for the year 2023.

The “Journalism-Prize Goes International” project, which has been implemented since 2016 with the support of the ERSTA Foundation, was the subject of a two-day international meeting of partners in Zagreb in May. As a representative of the European Anti-Poverty Network Serbia, Milica Stević, a researcher from the SeConS Development Group, attended the meeting.