The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) was established in 1990 and it currently gathers 27 national networks and 23 associations active in EU member states and Norway. The aim of EAPN is joint action in the field of fighting poverty and social exclusion.
At the initiative of SeConS development initiative group, the process of networking in Serbia started as part of the EU programme “Strengthening Serbia – EU Civil Society Dialogue”. The Anti-Poverty Network in Serbia was established by 10 non-governmental organizations: Autonomous Women Centre, Civic Initiatives, Group 484, Amity, Center for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities of Serbia, Association for the Protection and Promotion of Mental Health of Children and Youth, Educational Center of Leskovac, Sunce and Roma Information Center from Kragujevac. The Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government (SIPRU) also supported the establishment of the Network.
During the project implementation, capacities of the member organizations were strengthened in the area of the social inclusion and poverty reduction, the Statute of the Network was adopted, and bodies of the Network were set up. In June 2011, the Anti-Poverty Network – Serbia was admitted to full membership of EAPN at the General Assembly held in Lisbon, and 12 new members joined the Network.
Upon project completion, SeConS has continued to coordinate the work of the Network, so it is still an important actor which continuously operates in the country in a coordinated and organized way, not only as an immediate support, but also on the macro-political level.