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Today we presented final evaluation findings of the fifth phase of the OSCE Mission to Serbia project “Consolidating the democratization process in the security sector in Serbia” (DEMSEC project). In line with the OECD-DAC standard evaluation criteria and in line with recently adopted OSCE Evaluation policy, the evaluation assessed the relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the project.

SeConS Development Initiative Group actively participates in the “Sunny Schools in the Western Balkans” Initiative, which aims to create a blueprint for involving key social actors – such as state schools, local self-government units, and local communities – in the energy transition process by enhancing their capacities to manage the production of clean/renewable, in this case, solar energy, through photovoltaic technology. By deploying this technology and installing solar panels on school rooftops, enough electricity can be produced to make the schools climate-resistant and energy-neutral. The money saved on electricity bills can be used to finance various school necessities.  

On the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labor, observed on June 12th, the results of the 2021 Survey on Child Labor Abuse in Serbia, conducted by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, and the results of the research “Rapid Assessment of the Abuse of Child Labor on the Streets in Serbia”, conducted by the SeConS Development Initiative Group, were presented at the Media Center Belgrade.

The main findings of the study entitled “Women’s Entrepreneurship – Ten Years Later” were presented as part of the Conference on Women’s Entrepreneurship – Overview of the Current Situation and Opportunities for Empowerment, organized within the German-Serbian Initiative for Sustainable Growth and Employment and UN Women, with the support of the EU project “Key steps towards gender equality”.

The results of the research in Albania show that 31.6% of people aged 65 and over have a need for long-term care due to difficulties in functioning, while among people with disabilities aged 18-64, as many as 98% of those who need long-term care services need it due to great difficulties in performing daily life activities. The study showed that in Albania, on the one hand, there is not a sufficient number of nursing homes for older persons, and on the other hand, they are expensive for older persons and their families. Additionally there is no foster care for older persons in Albania.

As part of the project entitled “Strengthening resilience of older persons and persons with disabilities during COVID-19 and future disasters”, the study “Access to long-term care in North Macedonia” was presented in the premises of the Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia. The gathering was opened by the Secretary General of the Red Cross of RNM, Dr. Sait Saiti, Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Jovanka Trenčevska, Minister of Health, Dr. Fatmir Medžiti, as well as representatives of the Red Cross of Serbia, the Association Humanost and SeCons Development Initiative Group that developed this study.

The SeConS Development Initiative Group was one of the participants in the “Health for All” conference, organized at the Serbian Red Cross headquarters to mark World Health Day.
Participants at the conference noted that a major challenge faced worldwide is the fact that one-third of the world’s population currently has no access to basic health services.

As part of the project “Strengthening resilience of older persons and persons with disabilities during COVID-19 and future disasters”, the study entitled “Access to long-term care services in Serbia” was presented in the Media Center Belgrade.
Project coordinated by the Red Cross of Serbia and supported by the European Union, the Austrian Development Agency and the Austrian Red Cross.
SeConS Development Initiative Group developed this study.

As part of the ERASMUS+ project “Public Policy Making and Analysis (PPMA)”, financed by the European Commission, the publication entitled “In the labyrinth of poverty and social exclusion: social policy and the welfare state in Serbia”, by Marija Babović and Danilo Vuković, saw the light of day.
This book is intended for all those who want to remind themselves of, or gain knowledge about, the problem of poverty and social exclusion, and to direct their work towards that area or improve it.

In Montenegro, 44.9% of people over the age of 65 have serious difficulties in performing daily activities, and among them, there are more women. This is the finding of the study entitled “Access to long-term care services in Montenegro” that was created as part of the three-year project “Strengthening resilience of older persons and persons with disabilities during COVID-19 and future disasters”. The study was implemented in the Western Balkans region with the coordination of the Serbian Red Cross and the support of the European Union, the Austrian Development Agency and the Austrian Red Cross.
Photo: Red Cross of Montenegro / Dejan Kalezić