Beschreibung: Economic growth in Serbia reached 7.5 % in 2021 despite the pandemic situation. However,
not all social groups benefit equally from this. Unemployment and income inequality
are high, reform efforts within the framework of the EU accession process are progressing
slowly. Almost a quarter of the people are at risk of poverty and social exclusion,
7% of the population live in absolute poverty. Economic and social marginalisation
have worsened, especially for women and girls, members of the Roma minority and people
with multiple vulnerabilities. During the pandemic, there has been an increase in
gender-based violence and a return to traditional role understandings. Every second
woman in Serbia experiences domestic violence. Serbia also has one of the highest
rates of gender inequalities in unpaid care work along gender stereotypes in Europe:
Women spend 16.2% more time caring for children and elders. Equality between men and
women is legally guaranteed by the Law on Gender Equality adopted in 2021, but gender-based
and intersectional discrimination, traditional role models and stereotypes continue
to exist and hamper social and economic participation. Social protection and employment
promotion measures that could counteract these developments are mostly gender-blind
and only insufficiently target the specific needs of disadvantaged groups. The project
Support to Social Inclusion in Serbia aims at strengthening the social and economic
inclusion of disadvantaged groups, specifically answering to the need of women and
girls as well as multiply discriminated people such as Roma, PwD and elderly, in selected
local self-governments (LSG) in Serbia. LSGs, private sector and civil society actors
are supported in providing (1) integrated social services; (2) structures for better
economic inclusion for women; and (3) anti-discrimination measures. A fourth component
aims at increasing policy coherence in the area of social inclusion, in line with
the EU accession process chapter 19 and 23. The "New inclusion Initiative" (output
1 and 2) aim to establish or further develop integrated, gender-responsive, inclusive
social services (e.g. care services, consultation services etc.). Social service providers
(public, private and CSO) in LSGs will receive funding, capacity development trainings
and advisory for policy development and implementation. In parallel, local measures
for economic inclusion will be fostered through enhanced cooperation structures between
the private sector and LSGs. Gender-responsive employment promotion and improved opportunities
for disadvantaged groups including Roma and PwD enhance economic participation and
thus foster social inclusion of these groups. The initiative is accompanied by an
anti-discrimination component provide decision-makers from relevant partner organizations
and institutions with information and education services to reduce discrimination
based on gender, origin and other factors. Gender responsive trainings on intersectional
discrimination will be integrated into existing public training curricula. Digital
campaigns and educational tools are developed to enhance targeted outreach. Lastly,
the project aims at fostering a more coherent design and implementation of policies
in the field of social and economic inclusion of disadvantaged groups. Dialogue and
working group formats between national and local level are to be enhanced, i.e. on
the implementation of the national law on gender equality. GIZ intends to contract
a service provider to for the management of a short term expert pool with expertise
in gender transformative social services, gender responsive employment promotion,
anti-discrimination and (innovative) public administration. Key activities include
technical advice for LSG, private sector and civil society, facilitation of networking
activities and peer-to-peer-learning, contribution to (baseline) studies, M&E and
communication.